Most cost effective video camera options?

I am not a computer tech type guy.  Does any one have a good video camera brand that could be used for putting videos on the computer?  I have seen a go pro, but never used one.  What is the easiest to use?  What is the toughest?  I think it needs to be farm duty.

Following.

I've got an older GoPro (Hero3+, no viewfinder) which has been fun to use, especially since using the app since that serves as a viewfinder, and mounting options are handy, they are small so an extension pole/selfie stick is possible.
Also an older Ipod touch, and an Iphone6.

What's you expected use? handheld? tripod? aerial/drone shots?

I want to do how to videos on many homestead things and fixing it things.  Probably a tripod sometimes.  I think I can talk the wife or son into filming most of the time.

Replace your phone with Samsung Note 20 or higher version. Their video quality is really good. Also, it is a phone :-) two birds with one phone.

A consumer ready vlog type camera like the dji pocket 2 might be a great option.

Tho Gurkans suggestion is also spot on. Here is a review that compares the pocket 2 with an iPhone 12:



I’d till prefer the dji option for stabilization and smoothness purposes and if you can get the lav too that helps with audio quality a lot.

Is your computer running Windows? Or Mac/Linux? Usually a phone or GoPro can just be plugged into a computer and it will open like a drive so you can copy/paste the video file to the computer, and from there it's the software you run that will make things easier/tougher. I have a Linux machine so the software choices are different than Windows or Mac, but I don't have a specific suggestion for software. I would look for articles on the best software for your operating system and perhaps look at some Youtube videos of people using that software to see which might work best for you.

Hi Mark. I am using a Mac.  I have a Thinkpad for work with windows I can use anytime too.

What's the battery life on a go-pro?

When I watch 'how to youtube' videos, they all suggest you start with a smartphone and the camera that is there.  Make videos.  Then upgrade to match your style.

I don't have a smartphone, so I use my canon mirrorless and it gets the job done.

It's a catch 22.  You need to know your style of filming so you can know what camera to buy.  But you need a camera to find out what your style is.  

Going by brand alone does not really work anymore. Most brands make good video cameras and almost all also have quite bad ones.
Personally i highly dislike phones, so a mirrorless or dlsr would be my suggestion for non-professional use. Real video cameras are even more expensive and can't take photos.
Do you have relatives or neighbors who could lend you a camera to get an idea of what you want?

Regarding toughness: If you want something waterproof and indestructible, a GoPro in a waterproof case is probably one of the few options. However the video quality will be suboptimal.

Canon and Nikon build fairly rugged cameras but the lenses are very delicate and if dirt gets into the camera it will be close to impossible to get back out.
I had a bridge-camera many years ago (Konica Minolta Dimage Z10) and it survived taking photos half submerged in clean water (and drying out afterwards). It almost survived being dropped from a kite some 20 meters, but the autofocus never really worked after that. The video quality was a disaster.

So I think you have to decide between video quality and being indestructible.

Battery life on the GoPro? It's been a while, but I'm thinking at least 1:30 possibly more like 3:00? I think some depends on capture settings. It is a removable battery, so a spare could be used.
The GoPro is nice for its toughness, and mounting options. I've used mine underwater with no trouble. In a recently watched YT video, I noticed a GoPro mount stuck to a vise on a metalworking machine.

Upon further review... I have a wide range of camera gear available to test out... all of it older gear, batteries are probably the tricky part...
The GoPro Hero3+, and a bunch of mounting gear
a couple of Flip Minos *one of them free, found at the transfer station...
Ipod touch
Iphone 6S
a Nikon camera (mirrorless? bridge?) *free, found at the transfer station...
a Canon D-10 DSLR.
a set of Big Softi lights, a mechanical stabilizer
plenty of tripods from the film camera days...

I'm thinking about making YouTube videos as well, and really need to get a start at shooting and editing some video to get in the groove. I've never done any editing, and I'm sure that will inform camera setup a lot.
My feeling is that the less capable cameras, might make for usable "B roll" or POV shots that I wouldn't risk a DSLR to get. Although I may be fooling myself, as shifts in quality might be visually jarring? At the very least, it might be a way of trying out multiple camera angles with fewer takes.

I see it's been a while since you've posted, but I just want to ask if anyone has tried using a used GoPro or older smartphone mounted on a tripod for budget filming? I've had some luck with this setup using free editing apps, and I'm curious if others have tried similar low-cost options and how they’ve worked out for things like garden or workshop videos.

Hi Kat.  I am still just using the android phone.  I have never edited anything either.  I was planning on learning that stuff some day, but the homestead is just too busy at the moment.