Camcorders
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Elder User
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From: Los Angeles, California
Camcorders
I am looking to buy a camcorder, and I am having a hard time deciding between digital and Hi8... Does anyone have some ideas? I have looked at the Canon and the Sony but everything has low light problems, wich makes me think I should go with the Hi8 and convert to digital in the end...
What do you guys have and like?
I would like to shoot stills and video if I go digital.. or just shoot nice video if I go Hi8.... Price range around $500
I have been going crazy reading conflicting reviews, so I thought I would see what you all have to say with your infinite knowledge
What do you guys have and like?
I would like to shoot stills and video if I go digital.. or just shoot nice video if I go Hi8.... Price range around $500
I have been going crazy reading conflicting reviews, so I thought I would see what you all have to say with your infinite knowledge
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From: N. Florida - The "No 4x4
I vote digital. Unless the majority of your "filming" is done in really low light. It simply gives you more flexibilty in the finished product - and at a lower total cost than digitizing hi-8 "film".
. . but with that said . .
There is about to be another quantum leap in digital video recorder technology hit the public sector that will make current generation digital video look plum cavemanish by comparison.
You know how that goes; for the first six months or so it will be ~astronomically~ priced, and then it will drop like a rock.
Of course, it doesn't sound like you want to wait almost another year to buy one . . .
So I dunno what is best to recommend.
. . but with that said . .
There is about to be another quantum leap in digital video recorder technology hit the public sector that will make current generation digital video look plum cavemanish by comparison.
You know how that goes; for the first six months or so it will be ~astronomically~ priced, and then it will drop like a rock.
Of course, it doesn't sound like you want to wait almost another year to buy one . . .
So I dunno what is best to recommend.
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From: Los Angeles, California
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ctfuzzy
[B]I vote digital. Unless the majority of your "filming" is done in really low light. It simply gives you more flexibilty in the finished product - and at a lower total cost than digitizing hi-8 "film".
When you speak of cost to digitize the hi-8.. do yo umean by sending it out or
Can I do it myself? I have final cut pro and can film edit and all that myself, but I am not sure what I have to do to convert to my computer.. Can I audio feed into my machine? if so
I have no problem going with the Hi8 but....
if that is not possible I also feel digital would be best
any thoughts ctfuzzy?
[B]I vote digital. Unless the majority of your "filming" is done in really low light. It simply gives you more flexibilty in the finished product - and at a lower total cost than digitizing hi-8 "film".
When you speak of cost to digitize the hi-8.. do yo umean by sending it out or
Can I do it myself? I have final cut pro and can film edit and all that myself, but I am not sure what I have to do to convert to my computer.. Can I audio feed into my machine? if so
I have no problem going with the Hi8 but....
if that is not possible I also feel digital would be best
any thoughts ctfuzzy?
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From: N. Florida - The "No 4x4
Kundalini, Dennis has recommended a great little camera. ~if~ digital is what you decide at this time, I have to strongly back his recommendation - this is a goodun!
Regarding digitizing hi-8 . . as I am sure you realize; the editing software is only half the battle. Getting the recording into the computer while maintaining all the image quality that camera can offer is . . expensive. It requires a mechanical devise that runs a mathamatical algorythinm to PUT BACK the missing parts of the captured (but not renderd) signal being feed to the "outside ports".
oh, so yes, I am saying that the video image your camera transports to a monitor (or computer) via the Svideo connector is not ~nearly~ at the upper limit of the camera's resolution capability. It requires costly additional hardware to actually get a digitized analog image to rival (technically speaking) a original digital image.
In closing; you can simply plug in the svideo connector and go with no looks back, for the average home user - but if you really want high quality raw material to work with, it cost a lot more to do it via analog to digital conversion that digital from start to finish.
. . gosh, I have almost sucessfully confused myself. I sure hope you are fairing better!
Regarding digitizing hi-8 . . as I am sure you realize; the editing software is only half the battle. Getting the recording into the computer while maintaining all the image quality that camera can offer is . . expensive. It requires a mechanical devise that runs a mathamatical algorythinm to PUT BACK the missing parts of the captured (but not renderd) signal being feed to the "outside ports".
oh, so yes, I am saying that the video image your camera transports to a monitor (or computer) via the Svideo connector is not ~nearly~ at the upper limit of the camera's resolution capability. It requires costly additional hardware to actually get a digitized analog image to rival (technically speaking) a original digital image.
In closing; you can simply plug in the svideo connector and go with no looks back, for the average home user - but if you really want high quality raw material to work with, it cost a lot more to do it via analog to digital conversion that digital from start to finish.
. . gosh, I have almost sucessfully confused myself. I sure hope you are fairing better!
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From: S.W. Oregon
I just went through all of this. I sympathize with you!
Really though, after much research, I went with the PVDV73 from Panasonic. Got it online at chiefvalue.com Was very happy with their price and service. Love the camera.
There are lots of good cameras out there, and lots of reviews online. I did not like the new touch screens on the Sony's. The Cannons had trouble in low light. Some were just too small for my hands. I really like the larger than normal LCD screen on my PVDV73. We will probably get a separate plug in microphone to improve the audio even more. * Anyone have any suggestions on which one is good? *
Whatever you get, be sure to get plenty of tapes online also as they are much cheaper than local. Use the brand of tape that matches the brand of camcorder you get and don't change brands over the life of the camera.
Also get a spare battery with a larger capacity than the one that comes with the camera. Use the smaller original as your backup. You will need it.
I have been amazed with the quality of our videos, compared to the camera we had 10 years ago. We transfer the videos onto a high quality VHS tape and can see virtually no reduction in quality.
Really though, after much research, I went with the PVDV73 from Panasonic. Got it online at chiefvalue.com Was very happy with their price and service. Love the camera.
There are lots of good cameras out there, and lots of reviews online. I did not like the new touch screens on the Sony's. The Cannons had trouble in low light. Some were just too small for my hands. I really like the larger than normal LCD screen on my PVDV73. We will probably get a separate plug in microphone to improve the audio even more. * Anyone have any suggestions on which one is good? *
Whatever you get, be sure to get plenty of tapes online also as they are much cheaper than local. Use the brand of tape that matches the brand of camcorder you get and don't change brands over the life of the camera.
Also get a spare battery with a larger capacity than the one that comes with the camera. Use the smaller original as your backup. You will need it.
I have been amazed with the quality of our videos, compared to the camera we had 10 years ago. We transfer the videos onto a high quality VHS tape and can see virtually no reduction in quality.
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I have a Sony Digital-8. At first I thought it was best decision. Hi-8 tapes but digital quality. I wish I had just bought a straight digital camcorder. At the time though the cheapest digital was still almost $1K.
I hate still having fast fwd and rewind. My vote is for digital. There also some new ones that record straight to the new mini-DVDs that can be played in most new DVD players and portable DVD players.
I hate still having fast fwd and rewind. My vote is for digital. There also some new ones that record straight to the new mini-DVDs that can be played in most new DVD players and portable DVD players.
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From: WA
Thecamera of my coice is the Cannon XL-1, or GL-1, with Mini DV. It really depends on what you want to do with your camera though.
Hi-8 will work for you if you don't plan on doing anything professional, there will be a loss of quality there still though.
Hi-8 will work for you if you don't plan on doing anything professional, there will be a loss of quality there still though.
Last edited by acerockola77; Dec 20, 2003 at 02:04 PM.
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I bought a Sony DCR-TRV11 Mini DV a couple years back. I like it a lot, and get great video, and decent stills. It cost a little more than some, but to me it's worth it. It's a lot better than the S-VHS I was using before. It has the "Fire Wire" for true digital into the computer for editing.
It has a glass lens, some have plastic. I have purchased lots of accessories and tapes on eBay at great prices. Sony batteries seem to last longer, and you can get different power batteries. I don't seem to find these features in some other brands.
It has a glass lens, some have plastic. I have purchased lots of accessories and tapes on eBay at great prices. Sony batteries seem to last longer, and you can get different power batteries. I don't seem to find these features in some other brands.
Last edited by 94van; Dec 21, 2003 at 10:47 AM.
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From: S.W. Oregon
Originally posted by Mil1ion
Have a look at the new Toshiba Digicam.
Have a look at the new Toshiba Digicam.
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From: Los Angeles, California
Originally posted by Shepard
I thought the Toshiba Digicams were all still cameras, not camcorders. I did a google search and indeed all the ones turned up for me were stills. Do they make a new camcorder?
I thought the Toshiba Digicams were all still cameras, not camcorders. I did a google search and indeed all the ones turned up for me were stills. Do they make a new camcorder?
Anyone have a canon digital video cam? i was looking at those as well....
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From: S.W. Oregon
Originally posted by Kundalini
I went looking as well and could not find one....
Anyone have a canon digital video cam? i was looking at those as well....
I went looking as well and could not find one....
Anyone have a canon digital video cam? i was looking at those as well....
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I would go digital. Digital 8 is fairly inexpensive. They are probably better cameras than micro8. Sony makes the best Digital 8 cameras. If you don't need to take still pictures with it save $100 and get one without the memory stick in it. If you intend to upload to your computer be sure to get one that has a firewire port. I believe all the Sonys have one.
FYI to clarify. Digital is digital. There is no quality difference between Digital 8, micro 8, or the ones that record on DVD. The latter sounds nice and truely does cut down on some hassle. It's not the ticket for me since I like to edit my tapes a bit.
FYI to clarify. Digital is digital. There is no quality difference between Digital 8, micro 8, or the ones that record on DVD. The latter sounds nice and truely does cut down on some hassle. It's not the ticket for me since I like to edit my tapes a bit.
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From: Los Angeles, California
I kinda thought that the still ability would hamper the filming... I will also edit my own pictures on the computer. I just want the quality and the ease to upload to my machine.. I do have firewire, and I am on a Mac with Final Cut Pro.... I can make my own DVD's so that is not an issue...
I will look into the Sony's a little closer now
I did also read read that the Canon's performed poor in low light but it also seemed that way across the board...
Thanks
Kundalini
I will look into the Sony's a little closer now
I did also read read that the Canon's performed poor in low light but it also seemed that way across the board...
Thanks
Kundalini
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From: N. Florida - The "No 4x4
Originally posted by Kundalini
. . I will look into the Sony's a little closer now . .
. . I will look into the Sony's a little closer now
. .
Well, I hope you are not the bashful type. 'cause you can see folks naked with that one . . . if you want to.