Video camera recommendations please!

GavinBKK · 04-30-2007, 06:19 AM

Looking to get a movie cam - any recommendations/experience from the learned membership much appreciated. Storage options, etc.

TIA

Gavin

Reacher · 04-30-2007, 07:47 AM

www.camcorderinfo.com is a good place for user reviews and a comprehensive rating system. It helped me make an informed decision.

For what it's worth, I bought a Canon Elura 100 last autumn and I'm quite pleased with it.

Jay Carr · 04-30-2007, 11:28 AM

Now, now, you should know by this point that if you want any advice you have to give us some idea what you are going to be using it for

.

kel101 · 04-30-2007, 11:28 AM

what are you looking for eg price range, memory type, or even a HD camera?

GavinBKK · 05-01-2007, 01:33 AM

Well, the whole base behind my post is that I know zilch about them and the plethora of options is overpowering.

What do I want to use it for: Well, I have a young son who will take his first steps soon, so domestic stuff like that and some outdoor stuff, such as sports, like tennis, etc.

HD? what ads/disads do these have? I want a large capacity but a small device. Still being very shaky, I need the best image stabilisation available.

I will have a look at that review site but I need to narrow down the options a tad first, in order to get a feel for which reviews to read. Reading all of them might take some time....

How am I doing?
:-)
Thanks again,

Gavin

schneb · 05-01-2007, 01:32 PM

NTSC vs HD - Think "resolution". Which looks better on a print, a 720x480 picture, or a 1080x1440? That will give you an idea. However, you will not be able to transfer that resolution onto DVD because DVDs are 720x480. However, it will look awesome playing back on your computer. I have both a Sony TRV900 and a Sony HDR-HC1 HDV cam (which I am selling to upgrade). When I need something quick like a rare snow we had, I break out the TRV900 because I know I do not need the higher res. But when I go to Disneyland to chronicle our ride experiences, I use the HD cam and play the full res off my computer onto my Home Theater. It is just like being there! The kids love reliving the rides. My home theater screen is 80" wide, so I can really tell when I am using 1080x1440 over 720x480.

kel101 · 05-02-2007, 02:56 AM

go on http://shop.pcmag.com/shop/result/Camcorders/118.aspx that will give you the options of narrowing down your options, even though your not in the US it will still give you an idea of what models to look out for

GavinBKK · 05-03-2007, 03:46 AM

I am more blown away than ever now....

It seems that HD is the way to go but none of the reviews I have read really recommend anything directly. In other words, there does not seem to be any single device that really stands out. In fact I found the reviews quite negative, either on build-quality or low-light shootability.

Also, on this and other fora, many people are quite anti Sony, so should I factor that in???

kel101 · 05-03-2007, 12:10 PM

Im not sure why? sony are meant to be very reliable and build good products. The thing with hd cameras are that you have to spend along time compressing it to a dvd format and im sure but i think you loose a bit of quality when burning it to dvd, but it will still have better quality then a normal camera, even better if you have a hd tv,
But you have to consider the rate technology is moving and that every year a new generation of hd cameras will be made and they will obviously be more expensive... so you may consider getting a decent and cheaply price camera now, and wait a few years untill then "next big thing" comes out

schneb · 05-03-2007, 01:37 PM

Well, low-light shoot ability is a factor when you consider that your chip area has been increased 400% or more. However, with a little messing with the manual controls, I was able to record inside the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland with quite good results.
The reason why people are anti-Sony is because of decision to go with proprietary capture cards, and rootkits on music CDs. As for their product, I find their repair centers to be an excellent value when it comes to camcorders.

sk8nerd · 05-03-2007, 06:41 PM

This is a REALLY tough question considering you give no price range. In that case I highly recommend the Sony vx2100. (~$2300) You may find some good deals on craigslist for a good condition Sony vx1000 or vx2000. Canon GL1 or GL2 are good also.

Ive had my Sony vx2000 for over 5 years and it has been invaluable. I highly recommned it for a 'prosumer' or anyone looking for a great quality handycam. I used to have the Sony TRV900 but exchanged it on the 13th day at Good Guys for the vx2000...its the s*** !

I havent done much research on HD cameras but imo its not necessary unless you are producing or broadcasting. A good 3ccd (3chip) mini dv is a good solid proven format. If for some odd reason a nice 3 chip camera is not enough, you could always upgrade.

sk8nerd · 05-03-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schneb


	I have both* a Sony TRV900 and a Sony HDR-HC1 HDV cam...*

Arrg...I am JEALOUS! Great plan - use the smaller one for quick and dirty filming, and the big gunz for important stuff. The trv is a good choice for a small semi compact camera with 3chip quality.

styrafome · 05-03-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GavinBKK


	It seems that HD is the way to go but none of the reviews I have read really recommend anything directly. In other words, there does not seem to be any single device that really stands out. In fact I found the reviews quite negative, either on build-quality or low-light shootability.

It's probably because consumer HD cameras are still new. They are not refined yet, so they are being sold on the basis of HD, "if you want HD this is what we have." With more time, competition, and economy of scale, HD will go down.

HD is where DV was 7 years ago. I say this because I bought a Canon Elura DV camera seven years ago when it was over $1000. Now a comparable camera probably costs $200.

If you don't need HD now, save your money by getting an inexpensive highly refined DV camera now, and pick up HD later when they get good at them and learn how to make tons of them cheap.

schneb · 05-04-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sk8nerd


	Great plan - use the smaller one for quick and dirty filming, and the big gunz for important stuff. The trv is a good choice for a small semi compact camera with 3chip quality.

Mind you, the TRV900 is no slouch! And the 3 chips make the color pop. If all I was doing was NTSC DVDs, the 900 would be all the camera I would ever need. The rub came in when I got my Home Theater built and could play HD video via my iMac. That is when you could tell the difference between a 4:3 DV and a 16:9 HD picture. Although I got pretty close using the Anamorphic setting on the TRV900 which my home theater projector handled nicely.

eValuone · 05-04-2007, 07:08 PM

schneb, and others,

What do you think of canon hv10? Apple Store has it.

A query on hv10: can I record directly to MAC OS X HD as I am filming?

Too, does it have a power adapter which will allow use longer than battery charge?

thanks,

eValuone.

Reacher · 05-04-2007, 09:36 PM

Based on the review I read, I was sold on the HV10 until it mentioned that the microphone is situated at the rear of the camera (next to the user's face), and there is no input for an external mic.

johngpt · 05-04-2007, 09:47 PM

I've been very happy with my Canon ZR500. Got it when it became just under the top of that particular line. I use it primarily for shooting my son's football matches, and now gait/running analysis of patients.

kel101 · 05-05-2007, 08:04 AM

im happy enough using my 5mp camera to record things, iv only rarely felt the need to use a proper video camera

04-30-2007, 06:19 AM	#1
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 3,359	Video camera recommendations please! Looking to get a movie cam - any recommendations/experience from the learned membership much appreciated. Storage options, etc. TIA Gavin __________________ LoadsaMacs.

04-30-2007, 11:28 AM	#3
Jay Carr Hall of Famer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Springfield, MO, USA Posts: 3,110	Now, now, you should know by this point that if you want any advice you have to give us some idea what you are going to be using it for . __________________ ~ Long ago I was called Zalister, keep that in mind when reading responses to my old posts.

04-30-2007, 11:28 AM	#4
kel101 MVP Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,906	what are you looking for eg price range, memory type, or even a HD camera? __________________ 27" imac 3.4ghz i7 16gb Ram 1TB HD GTX680 Mx imac core duo 1.83ghz: OS X 10.6.8, 2gb ram, 1Tb internal

05-01-2007, 01:33 AM	#5
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 3,359	Well, the whole base behind my post is that I know zilch about them and the plethora of options is overpowering. What do I want to use it for: Well, I have a young son who will take his first steps soon, so domestic stuff like that and some outdoor stuff, such as sports, like tennis, etc. HD? what ads/disads do these have? I want a large capacity but a small device. Still being very shaky, I need the best image stabilisation available. I will have a look at that review site but I need to narrow down the options a tad first, in order to get a feel for which reviews to read. Reading all of them might take some time.... How am I doing? :-) Thanks again, Gavin __________________ LoadsaMacs.

05-01-2007, 01:32 PM	#6
schneb MVP Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 2,300	NTSC vs HD - Think "resolution". Which looks better on a print, a 720x480 picture, or a 1080x1440? That will give you an idea. However, you will not be able to transfer that resolution onto DVD because DVDs are 720x480. However, it will look awesome playing back on your computer. I have both a Sony TRV900 and a Sony HDR-HC1 HDV cam (which I am selling to upgrade). When I need something quick like a rare snow we had, I break out the TRV900 because I know I do not need the higher res. But when I go to Disneyland to chronicle our ride experiences, I use the HD cam and play the full res off my computer onto my Home Theater. It is just like being there! The kids love reliving the rides. My home theater screen is 80" wide, so I can really tell when I am using 1080x1440 over 720x480. __________________ Tour Israel and Jordan via CD-ROM Last edited by schneb; 05-01-2007 at 02:52 PM.

04-30-2007, 07:47 AM	#2
Reacher Triple-A Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 209	www.camcorderinfo.com is a good place for user reviews and a comprehensive rating system. It helped me make an informed decision. For what it's worth, I bought a Canon Elura 100 last autumn and I'm quite pleased with it.

05-02-2007, 02:56 AM	#7
kel101 MVP Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,906	go on http://shop.pcmag.com/shop/result/Camcorders/118.aspx that will give you the options of narrowing down your options, even though your not in the US it will still give you an idea of what models to look out for __________________ 27" imac 3.4ghz i7 16gb Ram 1TB HD GTX680 Mx imac core duo 1.83ghz: OS X 10.6.8, 2gb ram, 1Tb internal

05-03-2007, 03:46 AM	#8
GavinBKK Hall of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Thailand Posts: 3,359	I am more blown away than ever now.... It seems that HD is the way to go but none of the reviews I have read really recommend anything directly. In other words, there does not seem to be any single device that really stands out. In fact I found the reviews quite negative, either on build-quality or low-light shootability. Also, on this and other fora, many people are quite anti Sony, so should I factor that in??? __________________ LoadsaMacs.

05-03-2007, 12:10 PM	#9
kel101 MVP Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,906	Im not sure why? sony are meant to be very reliable and build good products. The thing with hd cameras are that you have to spend along time compressing it to a dvd format and im sure but i think you loose a bit of quality when burning it to dvd, but it will still have better quality then a normal camera, even better if you have a hd tv, But you have to consider the rate technology is moving and that every year a new generation of hd cameras will be made and they will obviously be more expensive... so you may consider getting a decent and cheaply price camera now, and wait a few years untill then "next big thing" comes out __________________ 27" imac 3.4ghz i7 16gb Ram 1TB HD GTX680 Mx imac core duo 1.83ghz: OS X 10.6.8, 2gb ram, 1Tb internal

05-03-2007, 01:37 PM	#10
schneb MVP Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 2,300	Well, low-light shoot ability is a factor when you consider that your chip area has been increased 400% or more. However, with a little messing with the manual controls, I was able to record inside the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland with quite good results. The reason why people are anti-Sony is because of decision to go with proprietary capture cards, and rootkits on music CDs. As for their product, I find their repair centers to be an excellent value when it comes to camcorders. __________________ Tour Israel and Jordan via CD-ROM

05-03-2007, 06:41 PM	#11
sk8nerd Triple-A Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CA Posts: 78	This is a REALLY tough question considering you give no price range. In that case I highly recommend the Sony vx2100. (~$2300) You may find some good deals on craigslist for a good condition Sony vx1000 or vx2000. Canon GL1 or GL2 are good also. Ive had my Sony vx2000 for over 5 years and it has been invaluable. I highly recommned it for a 'prosumer' or anyone looking for a great quality handycam. I used to have the Sony TRV900 but exchanged it on the 13th day at Good Guys for the vx2000...its the s*** ! I havent done much research on HD cameras but imo its not necessary unless you are producing or broadcasting. A good 3ccd (3chip) mini dv is a good solid proven format. If for some odd reason a nice 3 chip camera is not enough, you could always upgrade.

05-04-2007, 07:08 PM	#15
eValuone Triple-A Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 90	schneb, and others, What do you think of canon hv10? Apple Store has it. A query on hv10: can I record directly to MAC OS X HD as I am filming? Too, does it have a power adapter which will allow use longer than battery charge? thanks, eValuone.

05-04-2007, 09:36 PM	#16
Reacher Triple-A Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 209	Based on the review I read, I was sold on the HV10 until it mentioned that the microphone is situated at the rear of the camera (next to the user's face), and there is no input for an external mic.

05-04-2007, 09:47 PM	#17
johngpt MVP Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 1,093	I've been very happy with my Canon ZR500. Got it when it became just under the top of that particular line. I use it primarily for shooting my son's football matches, and now gait/running analysis of patients. __________________ John My Flickr

05-05-2007, 08:04 AM	#18
kel101 MVP Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,906	im happy enough using my 5mp camera to record things, iv only rarely felt the need to use a proper video camera __________________ 27" imac 3.4ghz i7 16gb Ram 1TB HD GTX680 Mx imac core duo 1.83ghz: OS X 10.6.8, 2gb ram, 1Tb internal