Camcorder Recommendations

On a sunny day (Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:34:40 -0700) it happened Jim Thompson wrote in :

For 15 years ... he will need editing software too.

Canon HV20

Martin

On a sunny day (Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:03:50 +0100) it happened Martin Griffith wrote in :

I think he said 'almost' ;-)

It's quite cheap, actually, for the performance it gives.

The OP did say "newest game in town", so I gave it. He didn't ask for a camera/phone. Maybe his kid is talented, who noes?

Martin

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

If you expect to do any editing, you are probably best off with a tape based camcorder. If this is an HD camcorder, you really need to dig in to the tradeoffs between tape, Hard Drive, semiconductor, and DVD. People I know who are into this seem to sneer at the DVD based recorders.

Tam

Sony digital (kind that uses a tape). I have a small Mini DV Sony that takes wonderful movies in 16:9 or 4:3. Has a touch screen display, Super Night Vision, remote, USB etc...etc... and fits in the palm of your hand.

I have seen really bad reviews on the touch screen, and would go with Canon or Panasonic. Most important is to be sure it works with whatever editing program you plan to get, Adobe, Pinnacle, and Roxio; probably in that order.

I have a non HD Canon (16:9 & 4:3) and use it mostly with Pinnacle Studio. For low light use, the Panasonic is a lot better because of the 3 CCD pickup.

Tam

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

I'll probably get totally flamed for even thinking this... But my recommendation is to get a Casio EX-V7 Camera.

Last year, on a trip to Japan I bought a Sony DVD - I have the DCR mini-dV at home but did not want to lug the camera around so I could transfer images and video into the computer. The DVD concept was neat as heck, and the super Night shot was great! But, within a month, I'd given up using it - it was a power-hog and the DVD's were prone to errors.

Then I bought the under-$300 Casio camera - a 7-MPix camera with a 7x optical zoom that also takes hi-res Mpeg4 video with stereo sound (playable with Quicktime and others). It uses SD and SDHC cards - currently up to 8GB capacity are available and you can fit about 1 hour of video on each GB. The package is about the size of a deck of playing cards without any protruding lens. I've since taken over 40 hours of video and untold hundreds of images with excellent results. And I can carry it everywhere all the time in my jacket pocket.

So, get the Sony or the recommended 3-ccd job, but get the Casio as well. In all likelyhood, you'll end up using the little digicam more that all your other video toys put together!

QS

The new Hi-Def MiniDV's are out. While that may sound great, they store compressed video onto the tape, in contrast to standard MiniDV's which store raw uncompressed data. Haven't tried one though so can't comment.

One's with a 3 CCD sensor have much better low light performance.

"True" 16:9 widescreen performance is a must have i.e. a widescreen sensor and not just a software solution where you sacrifice resolution. No reason to shoot 4:3 these days.

Definitely get a MiniDV tape, and not the hard drive or DVD versions.

External MIC input and mounting point is very nice. Most of the cheapies with the built-in mic you can actually hear the low level tape motor noise in the background. Ok for casual use, but you regret it when you need it for more demanding uses.

Dave.

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Canon's got a pretty nice miniature HDTV Camcorder for about $950 street price, the HV10.

If you've got that kind of display may be worth it.

Robert H.

What about the ones that store to flash (SD or Sony Memory Stick)? (combined with a DVD writer and/or HDD).

With 4G+ available on a tiny card, what is the advantage of slow noisy mechanical tape mechanisms? Cheaper media, I suppose.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Mine is 4 years old and works flawlessly. You're going to have isolated problems with any brand. As far as software goes, Pinnacle works fine with Sony stuff.

My sony works in no light.

It works. Some people find it annoying as hell, though.

Tam

Something to be said for the HV10 and HV20. They contain an A/D converter which allows you to connect any analog source to the camcorder, and download it to a PC via Firewire as digital. I know Jim's old camcorder does not work, but when I was in the same shape I borrowed an HI8 camcorder from a friend so I could make digital copies of my old HI8 tapes. I used a PCI analog capture card, which I would not have needed with one of these Canons.

If you look at the HV10, look at the HV20 also. Both have Firewire. You don't want to have to use HDMI.

Tam

We use the Canon Elura 85 around the lab for making promo and product videos and as yet, there hasn't been a thing I've needed that it didn't have.

Jim

-- "If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." --Henry Ford

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

I second the Canon brand. Seems to be more reliable and have better features than most other brands.

What do you use for a video editing program?

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Here's a thought... Drop in on the SBE Meeting (Society of Broadcast Engineers - Chapter

I'd call the chapter president first. (Visitors are almost universally welcomed at SBE!) And you'll get the straight dope from those in the business!

I saw a really, super nice broadcast-quality Sony HD cam at one of the local meetings last year that I definitely woudn't mind having...if I didn't want the $70K cash more, that is.!

While you're at it, looks like they're looking for Super Bowl help too....

-mpm

Cyberlink's Power Director.

Jim

-- "If you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." --Henry Ford