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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Greetings,
I am looking for a new video camera. My last one was the VHS version, so one could understand my knowledge of the new stuff. I borrowed my brothers samsung a few times and it was ok. I liked the fact that my old one had manual focus, but it seems most new ones do not. Does that matter?
If you could give me an idea of a good one to get I would really appreciate it. I plan to take my wife to Best Buy today or tommorrow on our way to the northwoods and pick one up. Maybe they make something weather resistant?
Also a recomendation on a good digital camera would be helpful too, though I am thinking I should look through the archives here for that. Jomusky recomended a Kodak, and I'll look at those to start with. I have an Olympus film camara now and love it and will look at those too. I was told to stay away from digital zoom though and go for optical zoom.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Jason S.
Edited by Reef Hawg 5/26/2005 8:26 AM
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Posts: 507
| We use a Cannon GL1, but that's probably more unit than you need. My personal Mini DV (the format I'd recommend) is a JVC GR-G33U, about $350 anywhere. I have used this camera several times covering OutdoorsFIRST events, it does a great job.
Do a search onsite for digital cameras, there are several really informative threads on the one. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | so mini dv is the way to go? I was looking at a jvc on the home shopping channel but I can't seem to ever find the tapes. The one i was looking at was a bit bigger than a wallet. Is that the video camera you refer to? I'll look it up now.. |
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Wal Mart carries several brands of Mini DV tape, usually about $5 per tape. Each tape will record about an hour, and they are re-recordable several times before compromising quality. I transfer the taped material to a CD or DVD. If you are going to edit long clips, I suggest you get a Seagate external hard-drive, so you don't freak out your 'puter with the huge raw video files. About $150 for a 120 Gig unit. |
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Posts: 222
Location: Hartland, WI | We use the Canon XL1.
Might be more than what you are looking for.
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcat...
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Posts: 317
Location: Grafton, WI | I have a JVC GR-DX77 model. Great little camera for the novice / amateur.... when I say little, I mean little. If you can palm a basketball, this is not the camera for you. That is the only drawback, big hands might be a bit cramped. It's only 2" deep x 3.5" high x 3.75" long.
http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027157&pathId=26
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Posts: 336
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | I have had good luck with the JVC over the past couple of years, but my parents just picked up a Sony Handycam, and thats what I will be purchasing sometime soon. It is very easy to use and takes quality footage. It has touch screen menu's, night vision, and a bunch of other cool features. If you have any other questions about features, drop me a PM. Hope that helps.
Lazer |
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| I have an "old" Sony Digital 8 camera that works great. It can play any 8mm tape as well as records digitaly on 8mm or digital 8 tapes. I actually got another exact camera on ebay for $90 bucks. I would love a much higher end camera but right now i am happy with what i have. FYI: "old" means 5 or 6 years ago. |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | To add on to Steve's comments I use Pinnacle V9 video editing software( About $90 ) easy to use and works great, it has a ton of cool features such as GREEN SCREEN where you can add a different background, add your own music tracks as either main audio or background and tons of other stuff
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Thanks a ton. Now I just have to decide whether to go with the bigger 8mm or the smaller mini dv type. Your recomendations here really help point me in the right direction. I will start by looking at the JVC, and work my way from there. I heard there are video cameras that record onto dvd. I'll have to check them out too.
Thanks again!
Jason |
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | If you intend to edit and upload the videos, then make sure the camera has a firewire port, too. |
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| You can also go to www.cnet.com where reviews are done of camcorders as well as posts made from people who have purchased various camcorders.
Here's a link that may answer a few questions for you.
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,102518,pg,2,00.asp
Air |
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| Worrall makes a good point. Whatever camera you get, make sure it has a firewire port. Actually, i think most or all digital cameras do nowadays. This is the only way to download digital quality video to you computer with no loss in quality. As for video editing software. It all depends on what you want to do. AS John said the pinnacle 9 level editors do very well for what alot of people are looking for and for a great price. The higher end ones do virtually everything you might want to do in video editing but the cost is also proportionaly higher. |
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Posts: 32944
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have both Pinnacle and Vegas Video 4, I like Vegas Video a bit better. Media Shop Movie Shop isn't bad, either, nice program. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Right now it is down to deciding between the Sony hc-21 and the hc-32. Basically the same cameras, but the 32 offers a memory stick for stills. I was told that the stills obtained from the video camera would not be that good anyways, so why bother with it. the 32 also offers a handy port to set the camera into for charging and conecting, also a super night shot feature, though the hc-21 offers a night shot feature but not super night shot(which I do not know the difference). Just trying to decide if the 32 is worth the $100 more. I plan to purchase a digital camara soon as well, so the memory stick on the vid. might not be neccessary. Also, I have found these camreas on various websites(like digital fuze for example) for up to and over $100 less than the prices at Best Buy. I was wondering if anyone ever bought these types of things online.
That said, I am also in the deciding mode for my digital camera as well. It is between the Olympus which is weather resistant and withstands up to a 10 second submerging, but only has a 4X optical zoom, and the kodak which has a 10X optical zoom.
Also, would you recomend the extended warranties offered for these products? I have never been sure of their worth. They run about an additional $100.
Thanks again for any input. I wish I was not so picky. So does my wife. |
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Posts: 91
| Jason, If the still camera is going to be your "boat" camera have someone stand 8 - 10 ft away and act like they are holding a fish (a 50" of course!) and see if 4x is enough zoom to frame a fish pic. water proof would be awful nice, especially for dunks but also for rain. water and cameras don't mix well. As an old camera geek both companies make good products, so just compare features. As for the extended warranty, I don't think they are worth the money, always thought they were a bit of a scam. my 2cents |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Thanks dude!!! I would think the 4X zoom would be fine, but the more I think about it, the 10-12X might be cool for other outdoor shots. I think, though, that the weatherproof nature of the Olympus might win us over.
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Posts: 20266
Location: oswego, il | Dude, I can set you up. You have mail. |
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video camera recomendations