top camcorders low light image
jml210
I'm looking for a digital video camera, but i'm also looking for more information about them. I'm not sure what a mini dv is. I think thats what its called. I see some cameras have sd memory sticks. I like to use my computer to make movies and chapters chapters. I had an analog camera and putting videos on the computer didn't have the best quality. Mainly I want a camera to take to events and to the races. I'm not sure what a decent megapixel would be. I don't need something top of the line. brand doesn't matter. Something practical and easy to use.
Answer
Short answer... I'd recommend Sony, first. it is the only brand of camcorder which has 'night vison'... which is, the ability to record in zero-lux (no light... complete darkness)... as well as low-lux (low light levels). No other brand can do that.
Model would depend on your needs/wants. I don't like the CD-burning thing... using battery power for the laser and the CD-transport motor, whenever the camera is turned on... : ( And then shock/vibration can be an issue... sometimes. Mini DV's are like small tapes... it's still digital. Tapes are cheap and easy... downside = with any tape, moisture/humidity can be an issue (but I've got several brands of cams, and my Sony has never let me down).
Memory sticks... well, if you can get them with a large-enough capacity, without costing an arm... it might be easier to xfer to computers, and some HDTV's. But video takes-up a lot of space, unless you trim-down on the size and quality of the image... and that's why I'm still using Mini's.
I think the top 3 are going to be Sony... Panasonic... and Sharpe. I've got a Panasonic, too... it's not bad... has a couple of features my Sony doesn't... but i still prefer Sony... cuz of the night-vison.
When you're shopping... pay attention to where the media is loaded from. Think about the cam being mounted on a tripod, and having to swap-out to fresh media... if it's loaded from the bottom, that can be a real bummer. And think about the process of swapping-out and handling DVD's, at the races... or during any event. All it takes is a spec of dust or dirt... a fingerprint... smudge... and it may or may not record properly.
Short answer... I'd recommend Sony, first. it is the only brand of camcorder which has 'night vison'... which is, the ability to record in zero-lux (no light... complete darkness)... as well as low-lux (low light levels). No other brand can do that.
Model would depend on your needs/wants. I don't like the CD-burning thing... using battery power for the laser and the CD-transport motor, whenever the camera is turned on... : ( And then shock/vibration can be an issue... sometimes. Mini DV's are like small tapes... it's still digital. Tapes are cheap and easy... downside = with any tape, moisture/humidity can be an issue (but I've got several brands of cams, and my Sony has never let me down).
Memory sticks... well, if you can get them with a large-enough capacity, without costing an arm... it might be easier to xfer to computers, and some HDTV's. But video takes-up a lot of space, unless you trim-down on the size and quality of the image... and that's why I'm still using Mini's.
I think the top 3 are going to be Sony... Panasonic... and Sharpe. I've got a Panasonic, too... it's not bad... has a couple of features my Sony doesn't... but i still prefer Sony... cuz of the night-vison.
When you're shopping... pay attention to where the media is loaded from. Think about the cam being mounted on a tripod, and having to swap-out to fresh media... if it's loaded from the bottom, that can be a real bummer. And think about the process of swapping-out and handling DVD's, at the races... or during any event. All it takes is a spec of dust or dirt... a fingerprint... smudge... and it may or may not record properly.
Where can I go to do in-depth research on camcorders?
juilletang
I'm thinking about buying one (either a DVD or DVR) and I want to find out ALOT about what they can do. I've looked for web sites and found stuff on Wikipedia & How Stuff Works. I want a site that has practically EVERYTHING on camcorders and the different types. Can you help me?
Answer
Check out www.camcorderinfo.com if you really want to learn about camcorders. They go farther on indepth testing than most consumers have the stomach to read, and even though they can't test every single camcorder on the market, they get to most of them, let alone the important ones. You'll find info about a camcorder low light capabilities, controls, and other stuff that will allow you to make clear comparisons between models better than you will any where else. If your looking at prosumer or professional level, they've done limited reviews on some, but ultimately you'll have to just find what reviews you can on the web or sites like dv.com, videographer.com or look up cinematography.
If you just want to shoot and watch, then DVD's OK. However, I haven't read or experienced anyone that I know whose been able to get miniDVD or DVD into an editor without a lot of pain, if they got it at all! DVD camcorders are not made for the shoot and edit videographers, because when the DVD is finalized, it's formatted in the same filetype as commercial DVDs to ensure it's playability in set-top DVD players. A photographer I know bought a DVDcam which came with software for editing. As far as editing goes, it was more limited than movie maker, but what was absolutely intolerable was that it wouldn't keep the audio in sync with the video. Not good! Another way is buying a third party software to rip the video off the DVD, but it's a crapshoot getting it to display properly.
If you're going to get into editing, tests have proven that miniDV cassettes handled properly have a shelf life nearly equal to DVD! The only drawback is that it's more time consuming to transfer the video off tape than it is off of a HDD camcorder, or a DVD (assuming you can.) I'm only guessing that by "DVR", you mean HDD, because DVR actually refers to a tape or hard disc recorder/player. HDD seems really cool for the transfer rate or even being able to review footage in a nonlinear fashion in the camcorder, but make sure your nonlinear editor supports it before blowing the money, and finding out you can't make your movies.
Another place you check out is Cnet.com. It's not as extensive, but a good second opinion if the review is there. If there are any others, you may be able to find them off of those sites. Good luck to you, it's neat finding someone else who actually wants to learn about camcorders.
Check out www.camcorderinfo.com if you really want to learn about camcorders. They go farther on indepth testing than most consumers have the stomach to read, and even though they can't test every single camcorder on the market, they get to most of them, let alone the important ones. You'll find info about a camcorder low light capabilities, controls, and other stuff that will allow you to make clear comparisons between models better than you will any where else. If your looking at prosumer or professional level, they've done limited reviews on some, but ultimately you'll have to just find what reviews you can on the web or sites like dv.com, videographer.com or look up cinematography.
If you just want to shoot and watch, then DVD's OK. However, I haven't read or experienced anyone that I know whose been able to get miniDVD or DVD into an editor without a lot of pain, if they got it at all! DVD camcorders are not made for the shoot and edit videographers, because when the DVD is finalized, it's formatted in the same filetype as commercial DVDs to ensure it's playability in set-top DVD players. A photographer I know bought a DVDcam which came with software for editing. As far as editing goes, it was more limited than movie maker, but what was absolutely intolerable was that it wouldn't keep the audio in sync with the video. Not good! Another way is buying a third party software to rip the video off the DVD, but it's a crapshoot getting it to display properly.
If you're going to get into editing, tests have proven that miniDV cassettes handled properly have a shelf life nearly equal to DVD! The only drawback is that it's more time consuming to transfer the video off tape than it is off of a HDD camcorder, or a DVD (assuming you can.) I'm only guessing that by "DVR", you mean HDD, because DVR actually refers to a tape or hard disc recorder/player. HDD seems really cool for the transfer rate or even being able to review footage in a nonlinear fashion in the camcorder, but make sure your nonlinear editor supports it before blowing the money, and finding out you can't make your movies.
Another place you check out is Cnet.com. It's not as extensive, but a good second opinion if the review is there. If there are any others, you may be able to find them off of those sites. Good luck to you, it's neat finding someone else who actually wants to learn about camcorders.
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