I'm finding myself in need of one in a few weeks time, with a budget of ~£100/110Euro. Just wondering if any of you guys have ventured into the world of moving photos and have any advice/suggestions ;)
if not, I'll post a list of possibilities and you can decode the specs - seriously, what requirement is there for cameras to be quite so complicated (or more likely, linguistically complicated) when it comes to specification? Pah :P
A formula for life: P+P = P, or, PASSION + PERSEVERENCE = POSSIBILITY
If you want a "tape" camcorder then you might have to buy a used machine. And you would want a mini-DV tape machine, not the old analog tape.
Alternatively, there are the newer pocket HD video cams for around $100 EU - the one that I have is the Kodak Zi8 - it's now over one year old.
The "Flip" video cameras are widely available: Review
My personal experience is with the Kodak Zi8 - it came with software that made it super simple to download from the video camera and upload to YouTube in HD. And here is my first attempt with that camera:
It was hand held while I was pedaling. . .some of the squeaky noise is from my pedals (or something in the boat). This camera performs well in outdoor lighting but has some poor reviews for interior low light levels - which I have not yet tried. Hope that helps. . .
Hm I am probably going to be using it outside and for its main purpose sound is irrelevant, the quality of that video is about what I'm after though I think. Not sure about getting an old tape one, what exactly is the benefit? In terms of editing I'll be importing it all into Premiere so software with it isn't a priority.
Originally posted by PacificNorthWest on 17/03/10 @ 17:08 ...it came with software that made it super simple to download from the video camera and upload to YouTube in HD.
When you have a Mac (like I do), no software can beat iMovie (non HD) / Aperture 3 / Final Cut for editing / sharing your video :)
MY Camcorder (recently in the shelve as now I use my 550d) is a Sony DCR-HC51 That I will probably use eBay to sell it.
The advantage of tape is that you can record up to an hour on most mini-DVD tapes. The Kodak Zi6 came with a HD chip which only captured about one minute. I had to upgrade to 4GB chip - sorry, I don't know what the time capacity is for it.
At the time that we chose the Kodak over the Flip it was because the Kodak had replaceable batteries - the Flip did not.
Software: I to have a Mac Pro, imovie and Final Cut Pro - some of the best video editing software available. However, the Kodak produces an .mov file - but when I edited it on the Mac's Final Cut Pro, the results were not as satisfactory as the results from the Kodak software. I'm sure that I could get the codec for the Mac right then I could match the Kodak quality, but for simple point and shoot, some simple editing, the Kodak software was much easier.
So, bear in mind; DVD tape will give you longer video time, a wider choice of software, probably a wider choice of tape cameras with better zoom ratios.
Flip or Kodak will give you much smaller size, it's less conspicuous, less zoom (unless they've improved since a year ago) a need to upgrade the chip size, cheaper and more easily found replacement batteries, and I don't know what else.
Right, I've ordered the Zi8 - weighing it all up it seemed to be the best option for me. For the recording I'm gonna do I can make sure the light is there and I'm getting a 16GB SDHC card with it to address the two main issues (light and time). There's also a zoom issue but apparently a firmware update addresses that.
Won't get it for a week or so it being easter but I'm hopeful from all that I've read about it!
Oh, I will, be a few months though ;), just one question for you actually, do you prefer to use it in 1080p or 720p? I've read that 720 generally gives better results as 1080 can pick up noise and generally "seem" lower quality than at 720
A formula for life: P+P = P, or, PASSION + PERSEVERENCE = POSSIBILITY
Originally posted by Jezmeister on 04/04/10 @ 17:09 . . . do you prefer to use it in 1080p or 720p? I've read that 720 generally gives better results as 1080 can pick up noise and generally "seem" lower quality than at 720
I've yet to see any difference in 720 or 1080 and that's because I've viewed them on monitors only. . .and never burned a DVD to play on my 50" plasma. When the weather clears up I plan to rig a chest strap for it and have a scooter ride about the town with it on. That might be worth burning a DVD.
camcorders...
