Topic: Video Cameras (Read 4656 times)

Admin · « **on:** 28 July 2006, 21:15:02 »

I will throw this out to those who hopefully know a lot more than me on this subject.

Want to get a video camera, price £300-£400.
Only pre-requisite is that it is dvd cam.

Suggestions please?

Thanks

Dave

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 July 2006, 22:03:33 »

As mentioned before, the ones getting the top reports are the Sonys which support DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW....watch the Panacronics, they are DVD-RAM and dead pricey. Often they dont come with USB ports but hey, its a disc, it goes in a DVD drive which is a hell of a lot quicker.

The convenience factor on them is great, instant access, DVD quality, most have dolby dig sound.....

.....the only down side is the need to covert them to anaologue audio when transfering to full size DVD although you can always not bother and simply drop the disc in the DVD as it is (the standard editing on the camera is very good !)

RonaldMcBurger · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 July 2006, 22:43:56 »

I would suggest you forget all about the DVD bit. They are not that good and only use 8cm DVD's which cost £9,000,000 each disk.

Go for a Canon XM1. I had two and they were superb. DV in/out plus 3CCD and flourite lens. XSuperb cameras and quality is unbeatable without getting into DVcam.

Not that I know anything about filming of course. yes another string to my bow......

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 July 2006, 22:45:07 »

Quote

I would suggest you forget all about the DVD bit. They are not that good and only use 8cm DVD's which cost £9,000,000 each disk.

Go for a Canon XM1. I had two and they were superb. DV in/out plus 3CCD and flourite lens. XSuperb cameras and quality is unbeatable without getting into DVcam.

Not that I know anything about filming of course. yes another string to my bow......

Clearly know nothing about formats

I pay 3 quid for a re-recordable disc...

tunnie · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 July 2006, 22:54:52 »

I vote Sony too for cameras, good picture the super steady shot stuff they have is very good. Most of them have nice touch lcd screen's and fairly priced too.

I know Sony is not what it used to be, and some people can't stand them (Jamie?)

From my experiance they are good little camera's the DVD Re-write ones are brilliant because there is no transfer involved.

Remember you need a fairly meaty PC to do any video editing, with lots of storage. When capturing video from a normal camera with a DV tape, 1 hour of video uncomressed will be huge!!! talking over 10Gb's

You then have to compress it down to smaller size to fit on CD / DVD and that takes a long time, the higher the compression the longer it takes. And Tbh its all farting around and is a pain.

RonaldMcBurger · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 July 2006, 23:20:30 »

Steady shot?

?? Thats for girls! As for sony camcorders, never again as far as I'm concerned. I am talking more pro-user than holiday stuff here though, but sony - no,no.

Canon XM1 or XL-1 if you want to go the whole hog.

Plus DVD cam compresses the image into MPEG2, which DV doesn't. Format my ring piece!

Martin_1962 · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 July 2006, 23:25:04 »

If you are not going Hi Def I would fully recommend a mid range Sony MiniDV, I have one, purchased after a lot of research and it is excellent.
No camera on the fly encode will match good PC software on a two pass encode.

Martin_1962 · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 July 2006, 23:27:23 »

Quote

Steady shot??? Thats for girls! As for sony camcorders, never again as far as I'm concerned. I am talking more pro-user than holiday stuff here though, but sony - no,no.

Canon XM1 or XL-1 if you want to go the whole hog.

Plus DVD cam compresses the image into MPEG2, which DV doesn't. Format my ring piece!

I'm surprised you are not keen on Sony - I think their video cameras in general are excellent.

My first was a HVC4000P with a SLF1UB portable Beta deck, I now have a TRV33 MiniDV with anamorphic support, I will be going HDV as soon as I can afford it

TheBoy · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 July 2006, 23:33:03 »

Quote

I know Sony is not what it used to be, and some people can't stand them (Jamie?)

I refuse to have Sony stuff in the house any more. Overpriced junk, and never do what it says on the tin

Martin_1962 · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 July 2006, 23:34:44 »

Quote

Quote
I know Sony is not what it used to be, and some people can't stand them (Jamie?)
I refuse to have Sony stuff in the house any more. Overpriced junk, and never do what it says on the tin

Funny that I have loads of Sony gear and I have never had problems with it.

TVs, VCRs (Beta) video cameras, some HiFI, car audio, AV receiver

TheBoy · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 July 2006, 23:39:15 »

I used to only consider Sony, and was happy with it. But in about the last 4yrs, every single piece of Sony equipment - DVD players, TVs, cameras, even their bloody alarm clocks have fundamental problems. Some, like the well publicised issues with their 100hz Wega CRT TVs Sony fixed elsewhere in the world, but Sony UK refused, stating to fix the faults on the stuff they sold was too expensive.

I cheapo, no brand, Tesco special always outperforms Sony's overpriced, incapable junk.

Admin · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 July 2006, 08:09:34 »

Well this has stirred up a good debate!

I have to say, to me, DVD seems the way forward.

As for Sony.... Well I don't dislike quite as much as Jaime, but I agree they are generally overpriced.

So, how about some (camera) models for me to check out?

Taxi_Driver · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 July 2006, 09:05:59 »

Quote

I used to only consider Sony, and was happy with it. But in about the last 4yrs, every single piece of Sony equipment - DVD players, TVs, cameras, even their bloody alarm clocks have fundamental problems. Some, like the well publicised issues with their 100hz Wega CRT TVs Sony fixed elsewhere in the world, but Sony UK refused, stating to fix the faults on the stuff they sold was too expensive.

I cheapo, no brand, Tesco special always outperforms Sony's overpriced, incapable junk.

I have some Sony stuff in my house including an alarm clock (no probs there) and a 100hz 32" Wega CRT Tv......altho i have to admit im on the 3rd one......1st one had a deguassing prob on install (it wouldnt!)....2nd one lasted 2 weeks....guns went out of alignment...(3 images all at the same time, red blue, green) 3rd one has been fine for ummm must be 8/9 years (bought it when they first came out whenever that was and has survived 4 house moves)

And i also must admit i got a 4yo Sony portable CD/Radio/Tape in bits at the moment, i suspect a dry joint on the PSU board....as it powers on ok if you flex the PSU board.....but then since ive had it the radio has been on for at least 10hours a day practically everyday.....so carnt complain really.

I havent bought anything Sony recently so carnt really comment if they have recent build quality issues.

boss · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 July 2006, 14:46:22 »

My t'pence worth....

Sony used to be 'state of the art' but in recient years they're products have been less than they used to be. Had no end of problems with sony stuff....from incompatibility to just breaking down.....never been a big sony fan.

Only sony in my house now is my digi cube alarm clock and a cybershot digi cam 8-)

TheBoy · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 July 2006, 19:23:43 »

My Wega 100hz TV - the 4th one they have given me - has out of focus on left of screen (to the point of teletext being unreable), geometry wise, the top of the picture is 1" smaller than the bottom, and I have interference bands scrolling right to left all the time. As the is the 4th I've had, Sony UK have said thats just the way it is

My Sony alarm clock, which works OK, but is so bright it lights up the room. What a crap design.

I had a Sony DVD player, multiregion, but couldn't play NTSC disks.

There is always a story behind Sony junk now. Used to be good stuff, worse than the cheap Goodmans/Aiwa type rubbish now.

x25xe · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 July 2006, 22:48:47 »

OK

I agree with Ronnie - forget about DVD cams. Mini DV is the way to go and Ronnie's recommendation of the Canon XL1 is right. Personally, I have the Sony equilavent the DCRVX2000E. This is also a 3 chip camera and the results are simply superb. 3 Chip means there is one imaging chip in the camera for Red, Green and Blue.

You can obtain software from the likes of Pinnicle that will edit the footage and you can make a DVD from there. The results will be a whole lot better. Personally, I use Adobe Premire Pro but this is on a different level.

At the end of the day it depends upon what you want to do with the footage you shoot. If you want to make videos that have high quality pictures and you want to sell / distribute then this is the route to take. If, however, you only want to shoot the occasional holiday for example and want to show to friends, then the DVD option is OK.

What ever you get, don't be sucked in by the gimicks like 100x digital zoom, endless dissolves and fades (you can do this at the editing stage) dolby surround (how can a mic on a camera be surround sound?) etc. What you do want is a proper manual focus ring (preferably a zoom ring as well although hardly any camers have these now) control over white balance, back light facility etc.

Finally, I have found my Sony cam to be excellent. The results from this semi pro unit are superb and it looks the part when filming weadings etc. I have the extended info lithum battery and this powers the cam for an entire day and evening.

Sorry if I rambled a bit and I hope this helps.

mr des · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 August 2006, 14:08:00 »

http://panasonic-broadcast.com/index.cfm?uuid=A130E452C09F11269B89B84D8643F16D&CatID=4287&PID=11473&search_text=dvcpro

what do you think of my new toy? just ordered it today

x25xe · « **Reply #17 on:** 03 August 2006, 14:22:33 »

Hi,

That looks VERY nice indeed. You will get superb results with that cam mate. Out of interest, what did you pay?

I have always fancied a shoulder mount cam but never been able to afford or justify.

mr des · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 August 2006, 14:35:15 »

for the camera without lens but with viewfinder, on board mic(just for atmos sound), and tripod plate it was about €6,200 less duty, VAT, or shipping from singapore, but they retail at over €10,500. found a place on the net. can only justify it because its my job. i might be persuaded to part with my old DVCPRO camera but its only 4:3 no firewire etc...

Martin_1962 · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 August 2006, 21:58:14 »

Hmm my TV is a nearly 7 year old Sony 50Hz Wega, it has had 2 free visits for upgrading*, free updates via PCMCIA card when necessary

* Digital text and CAM support

My digital video camera is very good - only dropped twice this last week

It was one of the first Mini DV with a proper anamorphic mode.

Sony did a free repair on my wifes 3 year old digital camera (CCD problem - known bug).

Other makes I rate are Pioneer, Pace, and Castle

Kev · « **Reply #20 on:** 10 August 2006, 22:09:16 »

I agree with you on the Sony. I've had a DCR-TRV33E Mini DV for a few years now. I use Adobe Premiere for getting the movies onto my PC.

An excellent piece of kit. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Tip. Saved a fortune by buying online, from Comet. Saved £300 pounds on the price i would've paid at my local store! I understand it costs them less when you go online, but that saving was astonishing, and it wasn't even a sale.

Another Tip. If you're doing a lot of editing on your PC, you should think about an upgrade to XP x64, makes quite a difference.

rob114 · « **Reply #21 on:** 10 August 2006, 22:14:25 »

My own personal experience-avoid dvd cams!! Had a Hitachi one that went wrong & was a nightmare to get repaired then replaced!!

I totally agree with other replies - mini dv or a hd camcorder is the way 2 go!

Thing is the dvd cam sounds a good idea but in practice isn't cause you almost always edit footage on a pc. This pretty much negates the advantage of playing the dvd disc straight from camera!

Also,some makes of dvd cam encode with a unique manafacturers format which means any editing means encoding again! In addition, I invariably wanted to put my footage onto a full size dvd - something that can be done easier & cheaper with non-dvd cameras!

Now I have a cheapo Samsung mini dv camera which has very good video capture although admittedly the still photo's aren't as good.

Martin_1962 · « **Reply #22 on:** 10 August 2006, 23:44:21 »

Quote

I agree with you on the Sony. I've had a DCR-TRV33E Mini DV for a few years now. I use Adobe Premiere for getting the movies onto my PC.

An excellent piece of kit. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Tip. Saved a fortune by buying online, from Comet. Saved £300 pounds on the price i would've paid at my local store! I understand it costs them less when you go online, but that saving was astonishing, and it wasn't even a sale.

Another Tip. If you're doing a lot of editing on your PC, you should think about an upgrade to XP x64, makes quite a difference.

I was one of the first people to get a TRV33 in the UK. I caused them a number of sales and still do not understand why it won so few awards.

I price matched Jessops to £600, do a search on the camera at avforums

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Author Topic: Video Cameras (Read 4656 times)

RonaldMcBurger

RonaldMcBurger

Martin_1962

Martin_1962

Martin_1962

Taxi_Driver

Martin_1962

rob114

Martin_1962