Although our Canon camera has served us well since 2008, it’s time to upgrade to something with more than 3x zoom and 720p video. Finding a new camera is a daunting task amongst all of the various models out there – and if you recall from our first article, finding something with decent audio recording capability at a concert venue is not easy. We literally scoured the Internet for months looking at various camera review sites and forums for the right replacement. We thought we found it in the Panasonic DMC-GF3XK, a micro four-thirds (mini-DSLR) camera with a Lumix 14-42mm interchangeable lens and adjustable audio gain. We purchased one and took it out for some testing. The video quality was beautiful, but we were not impressed with its limited zoom. We quickly learned that the optical zoom capability of a standard lens is determined by dividing the larger number into the smaller number. In the case of this 14-42mm lens you divide 14 into 42 arriving at 3x optical zoom. So we returned it and were back to the drawing board.

After more research we narrowed our search to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS10 and the Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9V. Both of these P&S cameras are widely regarded as the best current models available for shooting video. Looking purely at specifications, it would be hard to choose between the two. Both shoot 1080p HD video, offer 16x optical zoom (24-384mm lens equivalant), have image stabalization, and record stereo audio. We’re not concerned with the other feature differences as we’re focused on shooting concert videos. One thing we noticed right away is the superior quality low light characteristics offered by the Sony HX9V. Many reviews note the ZS10 as having noisy blacks in low light conditions. We were finally convinced in the superiority of the Sony after watching the video below demonstrating the “Indoor Video Shooting Comparison” between both models. Of course, audio quality is another matter we have mentioned time and again and this is something we couldn’t test without taking each camera to a concert. Fortunately, we were able to find some examples on YouTube of people using each camera. To be honest, neither model blew us away, but we did notice the Panasonic sounded somewhat muddy and had less gain. Both had noticeable distortion in the low end frequency range, but both were easily tolerable and sounded quite good compared to the garbled distortion captured by most other cameras.

Indoor video comparison        Sony HX9V video         Panasonic ZS10 video        

With superior low light results and better audio quality, the obvious all-around winner and our new camera is the Sony DSC-HX9V. Along with the camera we purchased two extra batteries, a wall charger and a case. Each battery lasts about an hour shooting video so be prepared with spares. We found a deal for two genuine Sony NP-FG1 batteries to use as backups. Our only complaint about the camera is that it only comes with a cord to plug into the base of the camera for charging. The Sony BC-CSG wall charger solves that problem so you can charge a battery and still use the camera. Finally, a genuine Sony LCS-CSQ leather case helps protect your new camera. We kept the same 32GB SD card from our old camera and can record about 2.5 hours of video at 1080p HD with the new camera.

Well there you go, our suggestion on the killer camera setup for recording concert videos. Stay tuned for the next article in this series on how to record better concert audio than what you get from the onboard camera microphone.

The type of camera you use is the single most important aspect of capturing great video. Most cameras available today record 720p or 1080i HD video, so getting great picture quality isn’t too hard – it’s the audio quality that’s difficult to obtain. Even the best current camera models that capture HD video and Dolby stereo sound deliver distorted audio when faced with extremly loud volume from a concert venue. Unfortunately there isn’t anywhere on the side of the camera box where it reads, “Works well at 140db concerts!”. Finding a camera which works well in this environment is mainly hit or miss, and the best solution is to look at videos shot by others and ask them which camera they use.

The camera I use is the Canon SD780. This tiny point-and-shoot has 3x optical zoom, is as tall and wide as a credit card and only 0.7 inches thick, shoots 720p HD video, and best of all it captures great audio quaility in a loud concert environment. A couple of months ago we lost our SD780 while on vacation and I experimented with a couple of newer Canon models, the SD940 and SD1400. Both are replacements to the SD780 and offer 4x optical zoom, more megapixels and a wider maximum aperture. Almost identical in appearance and supposed upgrades over the older SD780, I was shocked after I took each to different concerts and returned with subpar heaviliy distorted audio! I called Canon tech support about my findings to which they could offer no explanation other than, “Our cameras aren’t meant to be used in such loud environments.” Unfortunately, the SD780 is a discontinued model so buy one as quickly as possible while supplies last.

Along with your digital camera you are going to need an extra battery and a large memory card. I have found that each song averages about 1gb, so plan on a 16gb or 32gb card in order to capture an entire show. Also of consideration is the type of card you buy, as there are different SD speed class ratings for SD(HC) memory cards that indicate the actual transfer rate of data the card can sustain. I found this out the hard way as I had a 32gb class 4 card that kept causing intermittent blank glitches in my audio. I now use a class 10 card without issue, and highly recommend a class 8 or 10 to capture HD video.

The next most important part of capturing great footage is your location in the audience. Using a camera with only 3x optical zoom, you need to be as close as possible in order to get some great close-ups unless you are more interested in fitting in the entire stage. For me, front row is the only way to go. Aside from not having to deal with anyone in front blocking your view, front row allows you the ability to rest the camera on the rail while also giving you enough distance from the typical mosh pit a couple of rows back. Holding the camera steady is also a lot easier in the front row as you aren’t being pushed around in the audience. Getting up to the front row is another matter, and is most easily done by attending general admission shows and arriving 6-10 hours before the show starts to secure your place in line. For those shows without general admission, getting front row or even close to it can be a lot more challenging and is mainly about buying tickets within seconds of them going on sale. If you attend a lot of shows you tend to see a lot of the same faces and these friends can be very useful for helping one another get better spots in the venue. It also pays to become friendly and familiar with the security guards, crews, and anyone else who might be able to help you.

There you have it, how to capture great concert video footage. Hope this has been helpful and I look forward to seeing all of your great concert footage!

Kicking off the show was Halestorm, a local band from York, PA with a female vocalist and an absolute animal for a drum player. Coincidentally these two are brother and sister in the band, Lzzy and Arejay Hale, hence the band name. They did a great job of getting the crowd going and energized for the rest of the show.

Chevelle took the stage for an hour long set including their biggest hits. “The Red” was by far the crowd favorite and left the crowd roaring and ready to go for more. Personally, I was excited for Shinedown to take the stage as I have seen them live before and they put on an incredible show. Not to dissappoint, Brent and the band put on an electrifying show with their hits “45″, Heroes”, “Fly From The Inside”, and “Second Chance”. Brent’s enthusiam and interaction with the crowd was definately the highlight of the show!

Finally, Staind exploded on stage with “Raw” and continued their set with crowd favorites “Right Here, “So Far Away”, “For You”, and other hits before closing the show with “Mudshovel”. Aaron came down into the crowd to perform an acoustic set for “Outside” and “It’s Been Awhile” which was a treat for those further out in the audience. I was hoping to hear Aaron’s rendition of Pearl Jam’s “Black”, but it wasn’t to be tonight. Overall, their performance was great as they sounded incredible. My only gripe would be their stage presence, which lacked enthusiam similar to the gents in Van Halen we saw a few months back, but I had been tipped off by a friend and it was expected so I wasn’t as dissappointed as I might have been. Overall it was a terrific show!

The most imporant aspect of the show, the music, was incredible. You could close your eyes and think you were listening to the original recordings – they sounded that good. They roared through the hits without any misses. Sure, a few mistakes here and there, but what stood out was how clean the show was. How absolutely perfect. How “sterile”. And not in a good way.

There were no fancy pyrotechniques. No fancy light show. Heck, even the keyboardist was kept off stage and relegated to the pit. Eddie’s 16 year old son, Wolfie Van Halen (who replaced original bassist Michael Anthony), exhibited far less energy than his 50 year old bandmates and strolled around stage playing bass and never cracked smile. There just wasn’t much action on stage.

David Lee Roth, forever the perfect frontman and master showman, possessed a stage presence as sassy as his sparkling torso-baring jackets. Beaming perpetually, Eddie sometimes spun and sprung as his fingers, which were granted frequent close-ups on the big screen behind the stage, worked their wizardry.

Overall it was a pretty good show. The music was impeccable; the show just wasn’t much to behold. The energy seemed to be lacking and the crowd wasn’t very involved. I don’t know, perhaps since I’m not the biggest VH fan I just wasn’t in to it. Here is a clip from last nights show, judge for yourself: