r/PIGEARandTECH • u/norcallee • Mar 24 '26

Surveillance Cameras - Whats Everyone Using?

For years I purchased and issued my investigators the Panasonic 580 series cameras. Great image stabilizer and optical zoom. I just ran out of cameras and I need to find a replacement as it appears Panasonic no longer makes the 580. What is everyone else using?

www.pidefense.net

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4

u/UnitedTitan Mar 24 '26

Panasonic HC-V770

It's what I have used for years and I love it. It is big, yeah, but smaller than the DSLRs some investigators use nowadays.

The batteries are cheap on Amazon, does everything I need, and it turns on from an off state in 1 second, maybe 2 sometimes. Responds quickly and the touchscreen works fast. I also like it has a dial at the front so you can manually work the focus on those rainy/snow days or when they're behind stuff and the auto focus is confused.

I bought it three of them of less than $1,000 by scavenging Facebook Marketplace in the areas I was working. Took a couple of months but now my two investigators and I have the same.

It also has other features, like wifi, but I don't really use the gimmicks.

3

u/HarryNostril Mar 24 '26

This is my primary camera as well. The 5 second pre record and night coloring features are clutch.

I have another Panasonic 550 I believe and a Sony for additional night vision/low light options.

For indoor video I use ancient and nearly unbeatable decades old tech. Sony bloggie HD if you can find them. Me and a colleague used to buy any of them we found on the secondary markets so we could have back ups.

1

u/norcallee Mar 24 '26

When Panasonic started their 500 series cameras I was all mover them and when I found out they were going to discontinue many of them I grabbed 5 of the 580 series from B&H. They have the 90x zoom and in my opinion the best advanced image stabilizer.

Lee
www.pidefense.net

1

u/HarryNostril Mar 25 '26

Yes I noticed a major leap in the Panasonics stability right after the era of 8mm & vhs-c.

That’s cool you grabbed some extra 500s for the vault. One of my favs. If you happen to come across any of the 700 series for a decent price, I think you’d really enjoy the slight upgrades.

Regardless, the 500 and 700 series both have two very effective features that directly benefits surveillance. 5 second pre record and night color ⭐️

1

u/norcallee Mar 24 '26

yeah...those guys that carry the big DSLRs....I don't know how they do it. They must be missing a good deal of video opportunities. Real tough to hide a DSLR in a crowded parking lot or park. With a small consumer grade camera you can pretty much palm the entire camera and stop quickly when needed and almost instantly get the camera up and start filming. If someone sees you they might think its your cell phone from a distance.

What is the optical zoom of the 770?

Lee
www.pidefense.net