Digital HD Video Camcorders - Thoughts??
10-30-2008, 11:49 AM
#1
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: S of Sugarland, TX
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Digital HD Video Camcorders - Thoughts?? I am looking for a good, economical camcorder to take to the track, etc...that is easy to upload onto the computer...thoughts?
10-30-2008, 12:54 PM
#5
Banned
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Okinawa, Japan/Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i use a Sony HCR-DC52 and its a dream, very affordable and the video quality is excellent. You will not find a better nighshot and it also has a touch screen and amazing audio, I have used alot of more expensive camcorders and none of them seemed to compare. Check it out.
-Jeremy
-Jeremy
10-30-2008, 01:06 PM
#7
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i use a Sony HCR-DC52 and its a dream, very affordable and the video quality is excellent. You will not find a better nighshot and it also has a touch screen and amazing audio, I have used alot of more expensive camcorders and none of them seemed to compare. Check it out.
-Jeremy
-Jeremy
Trending Topics
10-30-2008, 03:14 PM
#10
Look into the Panasonic GS400. I bought one back in 05 and paid 900 ish for it. But I'm sure you can find a used one or maybe a new one for less. It's super nice and small. Uses mini DV and is 3CCD.
10-30-2008, 03:38 PM
#11
Banned
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Okinawa, Japan/Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not unless you have a really fast upload and people prolly wont watch them as much, plus editing hd video requires a pretty serious computer. Video editing takes alot of processing power, i would just go with a standard def camcorder. HD is cool but you arent producing films and prolly dont have the hard drive space or processor to even edit the vids. Im no expert on this subject but I think the vids Ive made are really high quality and I only paid $210 for my camcorder. Plus if I drop it out my window or accidentaly break it I wont be as upset, I like to abuse my **** a lil bit and I would be way too scared to hang a $500+ camcorder out my window.
10-30-2008, 07:08 PM
#14
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (94)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Huffman, Texas
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is the Camcorder I have It takes really good video's and very easy to load on the computer. It even comes with the docking station.
http://www.broadwayphoto.com/cat/Cam...order_(Black)/
http://www.broadwayphoto.com/cat/Cam...order_(Black)/
10-30-2008, 08:21 PM
#15
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I mainly use the sony HDR-SR5, dark shots are fair but in full light the video looks GREAT! There models range from SR1, SR11, SR7, etc....they just offer additional features as well as Hard drive capacity. I have a 40GB hard drive in mine, and I have created nearly 1 dozen films with it over the course of a year and i still havnt filled it up!! But you will go through hundreds of battery charges before you run out of disk space.
Also, note that SONY HDD (hard disk drive) camcorders are incredibly sensitive to vibrations, and as a safety feature they just shut off. Therefore its not practical to use it for in-car/mounted shots, but as long as someone holds the camera your find.
There are some other quarks about the Sony HD line, if your intersted feel free to PM me so i dont take over this thread
BTW...Here is my last film shot almost entirely with my HDR-SR5, the incar shots were with a different camera.
http://qb2productions.com/videos/julyinhouston.wmv
Also, note that SONY HDD (hard disk drive) camcorders are incredibly sensitive to vibrations, and as a safety feature they just shut off. Therefore its not practical to use it for in-car/mounted shots, but as long as someone holds the camera your find.
There are some other quarks about the Sony HD line, if your intersted feel free to PM me so i dont take over this thread
BTW...Here is my last film shot almost entirely with my HDR-SR5, the incar shots were with a different camera.
http://qb2productions.com/videos/julyinhouston.wmv
10-30-2008, 09:51 PM
#17
TECH Addict
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 2,264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I'm not one to ask about doing it cheap. Between software, camera, computer equipment, lighting, grip accessories, etc., I'm over $8000.00 into it. $500 won't get you much and certainly won't get you a decent HD camera. Avoid cameras that record directly to DVD disc because those pre-compress to MPEG and you will lose a lot of quality.
Credit for the following goes to directorik (Rik Carter) who hangs out with all of us aspiring filmmakers at http://www.indietalk.com:. We get asked a dozen times a week about which camera to buy.
My camera (Standard Def):
Credit for the following goes to directorik (Rik Carter) who hangs out with all of us aspiring filmmakers at http://www.indietalk.com:. We get asked a dozen times a week about which camera to buy.
There are three things that are VERY important when getting a camera:
Three CCD’s
Manual controls for the iris, shutter, focus and white balance.
A microphone input.
Unfortunately, there is nothing like that in the $300 range. In the around $1,000 - $1,500 range there are currently only 5:
The JVC GR-X5 is a nice starter camera with manual controls and a mic input. It can be found for under $800.
The Panasonic series (PV-GS300, PV-GS400, PV-GS500) are terrific 3CCD cameras. It seems the 400 is hard to find and that’s too bad. It’s a great little camera. But the 500 is still an excellent starter camera with the essentials.
Sony DCR-HC1000 is very similar to the Panasonic cameras. If you’re more comfortable with Sony, this is the camera for you.
Several cameras are now moving from tape to hard drive. Called HDD (hard disc drive) there are a few in this price range that should be considered. The major downside is the MPEG-2 compression.
Sony DCR-SR300 has a 40GB non-removable hard drive. It holds 9.5 hours in HQ mode. As is all too common with Sony there is no mic or headphone jack so this camera is not acceptable for movie making - it’s stuck in the “vacation” level.
I like the new JVC GZ-HD7. I’ve seen these on line for as little as $1,200. A really nice Fujinon lens makes a huge difference and full manual controls is important. Three 1/5’ 16:9 progressive scan CCD’s are pretty impressive for a camera in this price range. It records directly to a built in 60GB hard drive.
Close is the Canon HV20. It records in HDV (1080i) and 24p (60i), has a mic input and manual controls of white balance and focus but it uses one 1/2.7” CMOS sensor rather than 3 CCD’s. For me the jury is still out on the CMOS. And it’s so small the handling is difficult.
Three CCD’s
Manual controls for the iris, shutter, focus and white balance.
A microphone input.
Unfortunately, there is nothing like that in the $300 range. In the around $1,000 - $1,500 range there are currently only 5:
The JVC GR-X5 is a nice starter camera with manual controls and a mic input. It can be found for under $800.
The Panasonic series (PV-GS300, PV-GS400, PV-GS500) are terrific 3CCD cameras. It seems the 400 is hard to find and that’s too bad. It’s a great little camera. But the 500 is still an excellent starter camera with the essentials.
Sony DCR-HC1000 is very similar to the Panasonic cameras. If you’re more comfortable with Sony, this is the camera for you.
Several cameras are now moving from tape to hard drive. Called HDD (hard disc drive) there are a few in this price range that should be considered. The major downside is the MPEG-2 compression.
Sony DCR-SR300 has a 40GB non-removable hard drive. It holds 9.5 hours in HQ mode. As is all too common with Sony there is no mic or headphone jack so this camera is not acceptable for movie making - it’s stuck in the “vacation” level.
I like the new JVC GZ-HD7. I’ve seen these on line for as little as $1,200. A really nice Fujinon lens makes a huge difference and full manual controls is important. Three 1/5’ 16:9 progressive scan CCD’s are pretty impressive for a camera in this price range. It records directly to a built in 60GB hard drive.
Close is the Canon HV20. It records in HDV (1080i) and 24p (60i), has a mic input and manual controls of white balance and focus but it uses one 1/2.7” CMOS sensor rather than 3 CCD’s. For me the jury is still out on the CMOS. And it’s so small the handling is difficult.
Last edited by CySevans; 10-30-2008 at 10:04 PM.
10-30-2008, 10:00 PM
#18
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: The Back Door...
Posts: 796
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Buy a good standard def....he's right on the serious computer...not only that there's not a very good selection of software that will edit HD video.... usually the software included with the HD camera's suck.... I have a good HD camera and the files are BIG, it's not as easy to upload video because it's not mainstream yet...
....Play with the Canons....even if you don't end up getting a Canon, they are usually very solid performers and you can use them to compare the others against..... just my 2 cents...
Don't get me wrong I love mine, but most people don't want the hassle of extra software, much less converting it to something that you can upload to the internet....
....Play with the Canons....even if you don't end up getting a Canon, they are usually very solid performers and you can use them to compare the others against..... just my 2 cents...
Don't get me wrong I love mine, but most people don't want the hassle of extra software, much less converting it to something that you can upload to the internet....
10-31-2008, 03:21 PM
#19
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: S of Sugarland, TX
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bad Chad...I actually found that same videocamera on Craigslist that a lady bought new 2 months ago and is now getting divorced wanting to sell..$300
Looks like a good deal and meeting her in the am....thanks everybody, great feedback
Looks like a good deal and meeting her in the am....thanks everybody, great feedback
