Mon Dec 05, 2016 6:52 pm
OK, but most cameras I. The $1-3K range are a similar or less quality build than the Micro camera, which are actually very robust, not the delicate build of the Pocket camera. The Pocket camera design, makes it not cost effective to repair an issuemlike the HDMI, as you need to rep,ace the entire board, an old standard was, if a repair cost more than 1/2 the cost or current value of the equipment, you replaced it instead of repairing it. This s where the Pocket is, repair would cost almost the replacement cost.
BM does have very good support, do not judge it based in this single Pocket camera experience. I had an issue with the Video Assist, BM fixed it and had it back to me witching 10 working days, including shipping time. A bigger camera like the Ursa, and a Ursa Mini on the other hand are more apt to be repairable, and are again more robust build. BM is relatively new at building and supporting cameras.
Sony or Panasonic is going to be the same issue, but they have more repair centers, and charge more for their products and repair support. Sony once made an ENG camera with a soldered in LiPro battery TI support the camera's memory and initial boot up, when the battery died (had a 3-5 year life span) the camera was dead, Sony charged about $300 to replace the battery, and you had to send the camera to a Sony service center to get it replaced. On the next models out, they changed this to a battery that was user replaceable. BM Support is not going to do that, if a repair (replacing the main board in the Pocket camera) is going to be excessive due to the cost of parts and labor, they simple say, "not repairable" or "we can not do the repair", when they should be saying, "the repair would not be economically feasible" and you should consider replacement instead.
The camera market is rapidly changing today, and inexpensive cameras like the prosumer video cameras are outdated in a couple of years, and are not made to be repairable or overbuild to last Odr "years of pro use", so many cameras under $3K are not going to be economically repairable either, a camera company simply replaces it under warranty (which BM does with the Pocket camera) or if out of warranty either quotes a price equal to, or sometimes exceeding, the replacement cost. So be aware of this, when buying your next camera.
If you only need a HD camera for live streaming, consider getting a larger pro camera, either in good used condition, or a new one. The Panasonic GH4, while use your existing lenses from the Pocket camera, but it has a Micro HDMI connection also, and cable clamp setups are available for it without needing a cage. To get a Canon Video camera like the Micro cameras, is going to cost you $3K-5K, and will not use your existing MFT lenses. Same with a Sony, except you could get something like a A6300 for under $3K. A JVC MFT camera like the LS300 is going to cost $3800 (currently on sale by B&H for $2800), and would also be an excellent choice for you, compact, but still a more traditional camcorder form factor, and has 3G-SDI & 4K HDMI Output, and you can still use your existing MFT lenses.
But for a compact live streaming package, you are going to be hard pressed to get a fairly solid setup like the Micro Cinema or Micro Studio 4K cameras for under $2K.
If a HD video signal out is all you need, I have a new Panasonic AF100A with a heavy duty base alloy plate (replaced the weaker plastic one), and 15mm rail kit, supports frame rates up to 1080p60 out the HDMI port, and has SDI out for external recorders. Yours for $2K. PM me if you are interested.
Cheers
Denny Smith
SHA Productions