digital camcorders

nhonetschlager · 08-30-2005, 09:09 PM

hey do you guys have any advice for a good digital camcorder? I'm going with MiniDV of course. I saw this Panasonic PV-GS250 that looks pretty good, but I really dont know which way to go. I thought of waiting a few years and getting a really good one like a gl2 or something, but what do you guys recommend?

svosen · 08-30-2005, 10:41 PM

Why are you "going with a MiniDV of course" ?

I can't really make suggestions until I know for sure what your intentions are for the video you will be taking.

My personal experience with MiniDV has been thus:

1) The quality, as played back on the TV using the camcorder as an overly expensive VCR is outstanding - couldn't ask for more.

2) The ability to transfer crappy-quality video to email is great.

3) The ability to transfer crappy-quality video via XP, make edits using XP or other simple software, then burn a crappy-quality VCD is readily accessible.

4) The ability to transfer high-quality video to a computer for the purpose of editing or simply transfering to a DVD in MPEG-2 format (the whole purpose of MiniDV, as I understood it prior to making the investment) is INSANELY complicated, if not utterly impossible without the magical (mythical?) combination of the exact right hardware and the exact right software.

In other words, if you're wanting to make home movies and keep an archive of little MiniDV cassettes to whip out and play in your camcorder, then I highly recommend it. The image quality is superb, and most cameras will probably be very easy to use for filming (my Sony is).

If, however, you're wanting to make snazzy little edited movies and/or archive them on DVDs, don't waste your money on MiniDV.

Assuming that the DVD camcorders record directly in MPEG-2 format (that's purely an assumption on my part), I would go with one of them. I see Hitachi put out a DVD camcorder to rival Sony's finally. I'd check them out.

Oh, and make sure you buy an extended warranty plan. I haven't heard a single person say they expect any camcorder to last more than a couple of years under normal use.

Hope that helps.

edit: If you're just wanting to capture some video in digital format with the intention of keeping your archive on the cassettes you filmed them on, you might give serious consideration to the Sony Digital 8. It has many of the features of Sony's MiniDVs, and it's considerably cheaper.

For that matter, I seriously think I would have been every bit as well off to have simply purchased an SVHS camcorder for $200, gotten a video capture card for another $100, and captured my analog video to MPEG-2 that way. As it is, I've got the MiniDV, and I'm almost to the point of using a video capture card with my camcorder's analog-outs just so I can get some usable video on my computer. It's really that much of a hassle. Honestly. There are entire forums devoted to the struggle.

nhonetschlager · 08-31-2005, 02:50 PM

i already use my parents crappy, old analog camcorder with a capture card. It really isnt doing it for me anymore. I would like crisper video for the short movie we were planning to make, and I think a digital one would allow me better bluescreen extractions on my editing. We were going to make a star wars short film, or a fanfilm as they're called, but it seems to be falling apart now due to my actors participation in sports.

08-30-2005, 09:09 PM	#1
nhonetschlager Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 194	digital camcorders hey do you guys have any advice for a good digital camcorder? I'm going with MiniDV of course. I saw this Panasonic PV-GS250 that looks pretty good, but I really dont know which way to go. I thought of waiting a few years and getting a really good one like a gl2 or something, but what do you guys recommend?

08-30-2005, 10:41 PM	#2
svosen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Central Montana Posts: 1,963	Why are you "going with a MiniDV of course" ? I can't really make suggestions until I know for sure what your intentions are for the video you will be taking. My personal experience with MiniDV has been thus: 1) The quality, as played back on the TV using the camcorder as an overly expensive VCR is outstanding - couldn't ask for more. 2) The ability to transfer crappy-quality video to email is great. 3) The ability to transfer crappy-quality video via XP, make edits using XP or other simple software, then burn a crappy-quality VCD is readily accessible. 4) The ability to transfer high-quality video to a computer for the purpose of editing or simply transfering to a DVD in MPEG-2 format (the whole purpose of MiniDV, as I understood it prior to making the investment) is INSANELY complicated, if not utterly impossible without the magical (mythical?) combination of the exact right hardware and the exact right software. In other words, if you're wanting to make home movies and keep an archive of little MiniDV cassettes to whip out and play in your camcorder, then I highly recommend it. The image quality is superb, and most cameras will probably be very easy to use for filming (my Sony is). If, however, you're wanting to make snazzy little edited movies and/or archive them on DVDs, don't waste your money on MiniDV. Assuming that the DVD camcorders record directly in MPEG-2 format (that's purely an assumption on my part), I would go with one of them. I see Hitachi put out a DVD camcorder to rival Sony's finally. I'd check them out. Oh, and make sure you buy an extended warranty plan. I haven't heard a single person say they expect any camcorder to last more than a couple of years under normal use. Hope that helps. edit: If you're just wanting to capture some video in digital format with the intention of keeping your archive on the cassettes you filmed them on, you might give serious consideration to the Sony Digital 8. It has many of the features of Sony's MiniDVs, and it's considerably cheaper. For that matter, I seriously think I would have been every bit as well off to have simply purchased an SVHS camcorder for $200, gotten a video capture card for another $100, and captured my analog video to MPEG-2 that way. As it is, I've got the MiniDV, and I'm almost to the point of using a video capture card with my camcorder's analog-outs just so I can get some usable video on my computer. It's really that much of a hassle. Honestly. There are entire forums devoted to the struggle. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." -- Ephesians 4:2

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ask a black Guy! You ppl probably know I'm not serious	Omega_Destroyer	Off-topic Forum	38	03-12-2004 06:44 PM
Help needed on pictures	Linkin Park 47	Help Line	2	06-09-2003 02:53 PM

08-31-2005, 02:50 PM	#3
nhonetschlager Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 194	i already use my parents crappy, old analog camcorder with a capture card. It really isnt doing it for me anymore. I would like crisper video for the short movie we were planning to make, and I think a digital one would allow me better bluescreen extractions on my editing. We were going to make a star wars short film, or a fanfilm as they're called, but it seems to be falling apart now due to my actors participation in sports.