I want to buy a camcorder. Should I buy a Hard Disk Carmcorder or DVD camcorder?Video quality is top priority?

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suraj

I am planning to buy a camcorder for personal use. If i buy a Hard Disk Camcorder and transfer the video to DVD, will it differ in quality when compared to Video that is directly recorded to DVD in a DVD camcorder. Also, throw some light on the maintenance issues.

Answer
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) camcorders and DVD camcorders both record to MPEG2 format, so the video quality sure be about the same.

Whats a good camcorder to get?

Scott Elwo

I am planning to buy a camcorder for a website that I run. I will be doing various things with it, so it should be able to perform in various lightings.

The main thing that I am looking for in it though is computer compatibility. I will be hosting the videos I create on a website, and won't be using it for 'Home Video' use. So USB or Firewire or HDD are highly preferable.

Price range should be below $500, so any helpful tips on what to buy?

Answer
Recommend that you visit the cnet site. It has reviews of all the models, identifies which are the top sellers and provides a decent comparison between different makes and models. Based upon your budget apetite, you can narrow down the search too at this site.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Camcorders/2001-6500_7-0.html?tag=dir

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How good is the audio quality on Flip camcorders?

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DearPruden

I'm wondering if the sound quality on Flip camcorders is good or if it sounds fuzzy and/or muffled like most cameras that take video. I'm thinking it's probably better because the Flips are made specifically for video, but I want to know for sure what I'm getting before I buy it. (I'm considering the Ultra - older model - all I can afford.) Thanks.

Answer
Warning I bought a Flip and it didn't work at all. changed the batteries still didn't work. Took it back to walmart, the employee couldn't get it to work. I got my money back and went to an electronics store and bought a real camcorder and it works.

How to access the camcorder without opening flip in LG enV3?

Compgeek78

I just got the enV3 a couple days ago, and I know you can use the camcorder without having to opening the flip, but can you get to camcorder without opening the flip?

Answer
Not that i have found and i have had the phone for about 5 months or so

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What kind of camera should I get for Hawaii?

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LouEvil

I'm going to Hawaii for my honeymoon, and I want to get a new camera before I go. I don't need anything top of the line, but I want to get something that is going to capture the best images of the scenery and the activities we are going to do. Also, I think I'd prefer something that's less bulky to carry around.

Any suggestions?

Answer
I can strongly recommend the Panasonic DMC-TZ5 or the new DMC-ZS3 (DMC-TZ7 in Europe)... while I have a bunch of film and digital SLRs, I think this makes a fabulous small/pocket camera.

In particular, you're going to see all kinds of stuff in a place like Hawaii... you need a camera with a good lens and lots of range: wide angle for close quarters or "sweeping natural vista" type shots, good telephoto for close ups. The TZ5 offers a 10:1 zoom ratio, which was rarely found in pocketable cameras until fairly recently (more of a big camera and camcorder thing).

These cameras use SD/SDHC cards... I get about 2000 photos at top quality on an 8GB SDHC card, that's likely to be enough for any trip. The lens is above average for this kind of camera, the optical image stabilization really helps eliminate any shakiness, and the electronics and auto exposure downright uncanny.

In fact, I had bought my wife a lower cost Panasonic a year before I bought my TZ5... mainly because it was one of the only small cameras with optical image stabilization. She shoots photos of her 2nd grade class every year. She used to borrow an old Canon (Pro90IS) for this, and got decent results, though I usually had to correct each photo in Photoshop to render them all pretty much the same, in terms of lighting and exposure. First year with the Panny, and they were virtually all perfect. So when I decided to get a pocket camera, I looked first at Panasonic, despite years of being primarily a Canon and Nikon guy (Panasonic is rather new to the still camera world, but they're a major name in video cameras, pro and consumer, and they've teamed up with Germany's legendary Leica for their optics).

I'm not sure if this is small enough for you.. it certainly fits a pocket, but doesn't get lost in there (it's not the smallest available digital camera for sure, but one of the smallest with a wide zoom, and the new one offers even more zoom range and a somewhat thinner body). I really wouldn't take any other small camera, if I were going to Hawaii.

Have fun!!

What is the best camera for me to get?

Alex Payne

I want to take really good quality video and pictures. With digital memory and long battery life and can be plugged into an AC outlet and I can put it in my pocket.
What are some of my best options? What should I look for and what websites should I check out?

Answer
Check out the pocket camcorders like the Flips by Pure Digital, Sony Bloggie and Sony Webbie. The two top user rated pocket cams are the Kodak Zi8 and the VadoHD. Most, if not all record in HD, some use an A/C power charger, some use memory cards, etc. You will see that the Kodak Zi8 comes the closest to your needs.

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How do you lose the camcorder Icons when burning to DVD?

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TopTech200

I have a JVC GZ-MG37U camcorder. The DVD burner is a Sony. When I burn to DVD the Camcorder Icons are on the DVD. I would like to only see what I am trying to record. Thanks for any assistance.

Answer
That shouldn't be happening, try calling the camera peoples tech support.

Is there a free way to copy MOD video files to a dvd disk?

dpsa98

If I would have known that it was a hastle to copy home movies from my canon fs-10 camcorder to dvd I would have purchased something else. I am trying to transfer some MOD video files from my computer to DVD and you cant seem to do it without some type of software. Do any of you know any freeware that lets you do it or do you have to pay for all of them?

Answer
Aunsoft Final Mate, a great and useful camcorder assistant software, has everything needed to directly capture/backup AVCHD (*.mts, *.m2ts), AVCHD Lite, AVCCAM, NXCAM, TOD, MOD recordings from Hard Disk Drive/SD Card Camcorders to PC, to import, edit and create spectacular movies on a timeline. It is also powerful enough to play/convert native 1080 60p/50p footages and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.

Powerful timeline-oriented editing features like split/trim video, splice clips, crop, do color correction, deinterlacing, replace audio, adjust volume, etc help you create satisfied film results. Merge/combine native/raw avchd (*.mts, *.m2ts), AVCHD Lite, TOD into only one file without re-encoding or loss of any quality. Then just have a seamless streaming of video files via media players, NAS drive at home.

Export/convert edited camcorder video to other editors (Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, WMM, Pinnacle Studio, etc), media devices (iPad, iPhone4, droid x, nokia n8, galaxy s, hdtv, projector, etc), or common formats (mov, avi, wmv, mp4, mpg, mpeg-2, etc) with the high quality and least amount of clicks. Ultra extreme performance with support for NVIDIA® CUDATM and Intel while encoding.

http://www.aunsoft.com/final-mate/

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how slow can I get my camera to film?

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Ace

I want to make my camera ( http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/professional_camcorders/xa10#Specifications )

the canon hd xa10 ($2000)
film in slow-mo but I don't know how to adjust the settings to make it like 500fps or 250fps or whatever amount. when I make it slow the quality sucks. help?

Answer
The question is why don't you just do some tests?

That would be the most straight forward way to find that out.

The reason that the image quality is reduced is because video cameras that can shoot at high frame rates, the resolution could be as low as 340 x 240 pixels so is much, much smaller than a Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080p)

That said, I just looked in the user manual and 250 fps and 500 fps are not options with that camera. Page 50 lists the available frame rates

Best camcorder and microphone to use for Youtube music cover videos?

Anna Farme

I want to start putting my covers up on Youtube. However, I want to use a good camcorder and a good microphone, but preferably something affordable. Is there anyway to make a Macbook camcorder look professional through editing? If so, how do I do that? Just need advice to make my covers look good.

Answer
look into dslr cameras...I'm a filmmaker and i have a t3i and a rode videomic..I like it a lot.. not to big of a wallet buster too...Get good at editing. Edit with Adobe After Effects or final cut if you have a mac. Great and powerful editing programs.

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How do i put video from my camcorder to the computer?

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tayhawk24

i have a samsung dvc camcorder....i had to reboot my computer a year ago, and i never really used the camcorder...now the disk is crack...i now cant install the dvc media for it.....i dont even want to put the whole film up, jus some clips.........how can i do this? can i do it with the windows movie maker? or windows media player? or can i d/l something from a site? plz help

Answer
Okay first go here
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/index.asp

pick your product number

then on the screen on the top go to softwear and download the needed softwear then go to drivers and download the drivers,

next plug in your camcorder and folow the steps allowing the computer to reconize your camera. i believe your camcorder uses tapes, you have to rewind to the place where you want to start uploading

next use a video editing software to upload the video

here are 2 options:

WMM: if you want to do really simple stuff like not very exact cuts use windows movie maker,

PINNACLE: if you want to do more advanced stuff go out and buy pinnacle studio 10 (or 11 which was just realeased) it costs around 100 USD and works great

Now you can upload the movie and edit it however you want

how can I measure the quality of a camcorder? mega pixels or 1080p?

Smarty

what does 1080p stands for? and why there are camcorders that say HD 1080p with 3.2mp? what does the mega pixels mean at this point? ps: I'm totally new in movie making.

Answer
1080p means the image is high quality because each frame is made up of 1,080 tiny lines, one on top of the other (imagine drawing 1,080 lines accross a page of paper from top to bottom). Normal television images are made up of 575 lines (USA) or 625 lines (UK).
The 3.2 megapixels probably refers to the amount of dots used to make up the still image when taking a photo with the camera, ie- 3.2 million dots. To give you an idea, most modern mobile phones can take a picture with that detail, a decent digital stills camera these days uses 10 megapixels. However, the quality of the still imaging does not really relate to the quality of the video image. A HD 1080p video image should be excellent.

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What camcorder should I buy?

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jordan55

I am looking for a consumer grade camcorder, similar to the old Canon Opturas, for under $500. The cameras will be for student use, so quality is not top priority, though the camera MUST have the standard horseshoe mount on the top as well as a external mic input.

I am having trouble finding a video camera that fits these descriptions. Please give me model numbers or links if possible. Thanks for your help!

Answer
Did you look here? http://www.easycamcorders.com/d/Reviews&level_b=Camcorder&level_c=Canon&level_d=MiniDV.htm
Some have mic in with accessory shoe hot, whatever that means.

How to get pro camcorder for cheap?

Zachary

Hello,
I am a 13 year old video enthusiast who dreams of one day becoming a director and want to try and buy a pro camcorder XH A1S for example. Problem is I don't have $4,000...is there a time of the year or a place to buy it cheaper. Thank you :)

Answer
The best way to get a great camcorder, cheap, is to look back a generation of cameras.

Yea, the XH is a great camera. You might be able to find a good one used for between $1000 and $2500. Myself, if I went this route I'd go the lower end, and then send it to Canon for a thorough cleaning and tune-up. Also, plan on nearly $100 for batteries and make sure you have the computer and software to deal with high quality video bitrates.

If this is still too high, consider standard def DV cameras like the GL or XL series. Both were top of the line for video quality and STILL GET A BETTER DATA RATE than any consumer HD camcorder. In fact, unless you have the ability to author Blu-ray disks, the XL and GLs will vastly surpass what you need to create a DVD.

GL and XLs are well under $1000 now. Many people got these for a single trip or event such as a wedding. As with the XH A1S, it would not be a bad idea to immediately send a camera off to Canon for cleaning and tuning. Even if nothing is wrong, simply using a different brand of MiniDv tapes than the previous owner can cause tape transport issues.

And keep in mind all these firewire cameras can fully avoid tapes with an external hard drive, or flash drive video recorder.

Fact of the matter, bluntly, is that if you can not create a good video with a GL, a better (newer) camera is not going to help.

Find a $500-$750 GL-2 and go nuts! Be smug in the fact you have a $2600 camera that remains a solid workhorse.

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What notebook would you recommend for running intensive applications?

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Buddy

I primarily need a notebook...

... for intensive applications (Adobe Creative Suite 2 Premium, Dreamweaver, FrontPage, etc.)
... to store music, photos and videos (also, video editing)
... to play games
... to connect to networks (wired/wireless)

The notebook should have

... Lots of hard drive space for storing personal, business and multimedia files
... DVD burner
... plenty of memory (1 GB +) to run multiple intensive applications
... If possible, dedicated video memory - for video editing
... S-Video output for connection to a TV
... IEEE1394 (FireWire) so I can connect my camcorder
... Card reader so I can download photos from my camera
... Ethernet/wireless so I can connect to networks

Price: as cheap as possible

What do you recommend?

Answer
Apple MacBook Pro by far! The MacBook Pro has been updated with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, along with more RAM and hard drive storage. I have the top-of-the-line 17-inch model, a thing of beauty clad in sleek aluminum.

Still only one-inch thin, the MacBook Pro also remains one of the lightest notebooks and it does come with a 15.4-inch widescreen display. This 5.6-pound notebook is excellent for home or office use but is portable and compact enough to take on the road.

Using the MacBook Pro is a pleasure, and it didnât take me too long to fall in love with the 17 inch screen, whose optional glossy treatment is perfect for watching movies. The notebook comes with an infrared, six-button remote, so you can enjoy movies from across the room.

I like the MagSafe Power Adapter, which disconnects from the notebook if you trip over the cord. For this model, Apple added the MagSafe Airline Adapter, which uses the same concept but connects to an in-seat power port (a $59 option, not included). The MacBook Proâs illuminated keyboard and motion-sensor technology for protecting the hard drive help make this a solid pick for business travelers.

The big improvement is the upgrade from Intelâs 2.16-GHz Core Duo processor to a 2.33-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Like the previous CPU, the Core 2 Duo has two processing cores, but now each chip has 4MB of shared L2 cache. That cache allows the Core 2 Duo to store more data nearby so that it makes fewer passes to the main memory.

Speaking of memory, Appleâs computers have long been RAM weaklings, with standard configurations that paled next to their Windows counterparts, but Apple corrected that nicely. The 2.33-GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro comes with 2GB of 667-MHz DDR2 SDRAM standard, twice that of the previous version. I maxed out the system with 3GB of RAM, for an extra $575. Thatâs overkill for all but the most demanding power users like myself - I run my home network from it.

I downloaded the free Mac BootCamp, which enables Macs to run Windows XP. http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

Productivity performance was decent. I suspect this may be due to the fact that Windows uses only a small partition of the MacBook Proâs hard drive (although you can set it to use more) and that Boot Camp itself has some performance overhead. BEWARE that using this now opens the MAC to the same malware attacks as the PC'ers are experiencing.

I ran MobileMark to test the battery life, the MacBook Proâs battery lasted 2 hours and 53 minutes with Wi-Fi off, compared with the average runtime of 3:41 for mainstream notebooks. I also ran a DVD rundown test and got 2 hours and 58 minutes with Wi-Fi on (compared with 3 hours and 5 minutes on the13.3-inch MacBook). Thatâs a decent runtime considering the larger size of this display, but the bottom line is that you should go with the slower (and cheaper) 2.16-GHz processor if you want more endurance.

Wireless antenna strength is supposed to no longer be a problem with Appleâs high-end notebooks, but I noticed a weaker signal with this MacBook Pro than with one of my other Mac's desktop in the same location. Compared with my Toshiba notebook, the MacBook Pro wasnât too far off with scores of 12.6 Mbps at 15 feet and 9.6 at 50 feet.
**********************************************************************
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 15-inch MacBook Pro
_______________________________________
Processor and memory
Choice of 2.16GHz or 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
*4MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
*1GB (single SO-DIMM) of PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 memory on 2.16GHz configuration
or
*2GB (two SO-DIMMs) on 2.33GHz configuration
two SO-DIMM slots support up to 3GB
*667MHz frontside bus
******************************************************
Expansion
*One FireWire 400 port at up to 400 Mbps
*One FireWire 800 port at up to 800 Mbps
*Two 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports
*ExpressCard/34 slot
*************************************************
Battery and power
*60-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery (with integrated charge indicator LEDs) providing up to 5 hours of battery life
*85W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
*MagSafe power adapter port
************************************************************
Communications
*Built-in 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme wireless networking (802.11g standard; 802.11n capable with optional 802.11n enabler)
*Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
*Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
**************************************************************
Audio
*Combined optical digital input/audio line in (minijack)
*Combined optical digital output/headphone out (minijack)
*Built-in stereo speakers
*Internal omnidirectional microphone (located under left speaker grille)
**********************************************************
Display
*15.4-inch (diagonal) TFT display, support for millions of colors; optional glossy widescreen display
*Supported resolutions: 1440 by 900 (native), 1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio, 720 by 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched
********************************************************
Video and graphics support
*ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor, dual-link DVI support
*128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM on 2.16GHz configuration
or
*256MB of GDDR3 SDRAM on 2.33GHz configuration
*Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
*DVI output port
*VGA output using included DVI to VGA adapter
*Built-in iSight camera
***********************************************************
Storage
*120GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive.
or
*Optional 160GB 5400-rpm, 200GB 4200-rpm drives3.
*6x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Maximum write: 6x DVD-R and DVD+R; 4x DVD+RW and DVD-RW; 2.4x DVD+R DL (double layer); 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
Maximum read: 8x DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD+RW, DVD-RW; 4x DVD+R DL (double layer); 24x CD
***************************************************************
Input
*Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted âTâ arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
*Backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors for automatic adjustment of keyboard illumination and screen brightness
*Solid-state scrolling trackpad for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
*Apple Remote
****************
Electrical and environmental requirements
*Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
*Line voltage: 100V or 240V AC
*Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz
*DC input: 18.5 Vdc, 4.6 A max.
*Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)
*Storage temperature: -13° to 113° F (-24° to 45° C)
*Relative humidity: 0% to 90% noncondensing
*Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet
*Maximum storage altitude: 15,000 feet
*Maximum shipping altitude: 35,000 feet
***************************************************************
Size and weight
*Height: 1.0 inch (2.59 cm)
*Width: 14.1 inches (35.7 cm)
*Depth: 9.6 inches (24.3 cm)
*Weight: 5.6 pounds (2.54 kg) with battery and optical drive installed
***********************************************************
Software
*Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger (includes Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat AV, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Xcode Developer Tools)
*iLife â06 '06 suite for creating photo projects, making movies, designing DVDs, building websites, and composing music (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand), Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive, iWork â06 (30-day trial), Comic Life, FileMaker Pro Trial, OmniOutliner
*Photo Booth
*Front Row
*******************************************************************
Options Include:
Apple Wireless Keyboard (M9270LL/A)
Apple USB Modem (MA034Z/A)
Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse (MA272LL/A)
Apple Keyboard (M9034LL/A)
.Mac Subscription (MA361Z/A)
AppleCare Protection Plan (MA515LL/A)

Online store options when purchasing your MacBook Pro
Up to 3GB main memory
Storage - 100GB 7200-rpm, 160GB 5400-rpm, 200GB 4200-rpm hard drive
AirPort Extreme Base Station (M8799LL/A)
AirPort Express (M9470LL/A)
Apple DVI to Video Adapter (M9267G/A)
Apple 85W MagSafe Power Adapter (MA357LL/A)
MagSafe Airline Adapter (MA598Z/A)
Rechargeable Battery, 15-inch MacBook Pro (MA348G/A)
Rechargeable Battery, 17-inch MacBook Pro (MA458G/A)
World Travel Adapter Kit (M8794G/B)
iWork (MA222Z/A)
********************************************************************
MacBooks pricing start at $1099.00 The MacBook Pro starts at $1999.00. Perhaps you qualify for an educational pricing - homeschoolers also qualify!

In short, the MacBook Pro is what I recommend - highly.

How can i convert MTS video format to MP4 for free?

myspace.co

Hi i have a panasonic hd camcorder but i lost the cd it came with... and all i really need is a converter from format MTS to MP4, i spent a lot of money on this camera and really dont want to buy a software... i know there is a free software somewhere that can convert it... how can i download one or where can i get this converter for free? really need your help =/

Answer
you can try Leawo Video Converter which can convert videos and audios with video editing fucntions. leawo video converter can convert videos and audios between popular formats: AVI, MOV, MP4, MPEG, WMV, MOV, DivX, Xvid, VOB, ASF, MPG, MP3, WMA, 3GP, RM, RMVB, DV, TS, etc. and it can crop, trim and merge video files. you can even use this leawo video converter to Burn videos to DVD with DVD menu. Get Leawo video converter here-------------------------
For windows: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oGkwveVpxLqSMBp3pXNyoA?p=site%3Aleawo.com+video+converter&fr2=sb-top&fr=yfp-t-701&fp_ip=cn&rd=r1&meta=vc%3Dcn&sao=0
For mac: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/leawomacvideoconverter.html

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How do I get videos from my camcorder to the computer?

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Faith-chan

I have a blue Jazz DV151 Digital Camcorder. It has the USB cord on the top, but when I connect it to my computer, I don't know what exactly am I supposed to do to view and save my videos. I suppose that a window is supposed to appear like with my camera and my mp3 player, but it doesn't.

Answer
Look through your manual. Check to see if your camcorder needs to be in review mode. Did you install the software that surely came with it?
If you open MyComputer (XP) or computer (vista) can you see your camera there? If so open as a drive and copy paste from the card to your videos file.

How do I transfer pics onto my lap top when I can't use a memory card and it doesn't recognize my camera?

Kayla

I don't have a memory card slot on my lap top and my camera is a [VuPoint] digital camcorder

Answer
If your printer doesn't have a memory Card ( I am assuming it's a SD card) you can take it walgreens, walmart ect.. and have it transfered to CD which can then be transfered on to your computer. You might want to think about getting a printer like HP photosmart which reads SD card as well as others. I have one and I just bought my daughter one at Walmart of 38.89.
You can also see if someone else has a printer that can transfer these to a cd or compter and send them to you.

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Are any camcorders good in low light environments like indoors?

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Paranormal

I have a camcorder I bought for â¬235 in 2011 which is 10MP. Indoors it is always grainy and fuzzy except in some very bright lighting. Outdoors it's better. Are there any camcorders available that are sharp indoors and in low light/dark environments and have little/no visible noise/grain?
My camcorder only has ISO controls for photographs and not video. It has a "Night mode" and white balance but no matter what settings I use, I almost always get grainy video indoors even with lights on.
My camcorder is Toshiba Camileo A35.

Answer
Good low-light means large lens filter diameter and large imaging chip. The large lens allows in more light; the large imaging chip can deal with what little light is available. You have already discovered that small lens diameter and small imaging chip doe not behave well. As camcorders increase in price, their lenses get larger - so do the imaging chips... You did not tell us which camcorder you are currently using, but at your price point, I would guess 30mm filter diameter and 1/6" single imaging chip. or you are using a digital still camera (maybe even a bridge camera) that happens to capture video as a secondary "convenience feature".

For low-light conditions, at a minimum, I use my Sony HDR-FX1. This was replaced by the HDR-FX1000. 72mm filter diameter lens and 1/3" 3CCD imaging chip. If it is really dark, then Panasonic AG-HVX200 with 82mm filter diameter and 1/3" 3CCD imaging chip works well... above this they start to get expensive.

If these cameras are too expensive, you have an alternative... learn to shoot "day for night". ADD light during video capture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MaC44MU4iw
and use a decent video editor...

Is there any way to tell when existing Camcorder prices will go down?

Q. Panasonic releases a lot of their 2011 line of camcorders in March, will this make the price of their existing models go down? Is there any way to tell when existing Camcorder prices will go down (for any models).

Answer
right. top of line cameras always sell at a premium price. once a better model is available, that premium drops to a more commonplace price. however retailers do not drop prices until they have the new wonder model in stock, to do otherwise would reduce sales volume. some announced products never make it to the store (vaporware) or produced in such small quantity as to not change retail pricing structure. not all retailers drop prices, they may have a distribution deal with the manufacture to return older models from inventory. so bargain models are never on the shelf for you to buy. they become "factory refurbished" items for eventual sale as obsolete models.

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What Are Your DV Camera Ratings?

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Drew D

What are your top three DV camcorders? And what are your top 3 HD camcorders??

Answer
In what price range?

For me...

Standard definition DV only:
Canon XL2, Sony DCR-VX2100, Canon GL2, Canon ZR960

DV and HDV:
Sony HVR-Z5, HVR-Z1, HDR-FX1000
Honorable mention: Canon XLH series and XH series; Canon HV30/HV40; Sony HDR-HC9

Reviews about hard disk comcorders? Which one is better?

AD

Such as the ones like JVC Everio, or sony or any of the DVD camcorders.

Are DVD recorders better than hard disk?

Answer
The current top 3 HDD camcorders are:
Sony HDR-SR1
Sony DCR-SR100
JVC GC-MG505

You can read their reviews here:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ratings.php

Personally, I bought the DCR-SR100, and I'm very happy with the video quality. I like that it stores to the hard drive, and that I don't have to buy any additional media (blank tapes/DVDs, etc.)
The video quality is probably on par with the DVD camcorders as they both record video in the same mpeg2 format. The downside for DVD camcorders (at least for me) is that each mini-DVD only holds about 20 minutes of video - whereas the 30G HD can hold > 7 hours of video at the best quality setting.

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Need a camera for beginner filmmaking?

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Isabella

I'm about to take my final year of media and we're required to make a film. Though the school supplies us with camcorders, they're pretty mediocre and I'm planning on making a documentary that I not only want to have as my final piece, but something that I can really show off. I've been thinking about buying a DSLR camera for filming but I don't know where to start. My maximum spending would be 650 or 700, and I'm looking for a decent camera that preferably won't need an audio extension. My piece will be a documentary, so the type of filming may vary so this needs to be an all round camera

Answer
Canon 60D is great or Canon rebel t3i.

I start my own film company using my PC?

Perfect

I would like to start a filming but I don´t have any support from anyone or experience except of my computer. What software program or cheap technical equitment is good for me? I also need to be able to make changes in a film or documentary I would make.
What I understand is that the very easy tools would make a professional film since computers help us with so much.
I would make my day if you can give advice and guide my so that I can become a female film creater for a living very soon. I don´t have a film kamera but would risk buying one of course. If you don´t know how to help me maybe you know a place online where I can get started:)

Answer
You don't need a film camera to start a filmmaking career. Get a really good miniDV camcorder with a firewire port. Make sure that your computer also has a firewire port so that you can connect the two.
Some good editing programs are Final Cut Pro (if you have a mac computer). This is probably the best bang for your buck. It's about $1000, and can produce amazing results. The down side is that you need a $2000 mac to run it.
For PC, you can check out Adobe Premiere. It's also a great program, and it will cost you less (I think it's around $600).
Check out the movie "DREAMER: The Movie". It was produced using a miniDV camcorder and a home computer to edit, and it played in US theaters, and won some film festivals. I think you can get it at www.filmbaby.com, but just do a Yahoo search, and you should be able to find it.
GOOD LUCK!

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Please shed some light, looking to buy a camera for top notch HD video and stills. What to buy? Advice?

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Shane A

First of all, thank you so much for your willingness to share your expertise. Starting a production company that will be filming all types of events. Mostly weddings, documentaries, corporate seminar type stuff. Not shooting Avatar here. Looking for professional advice only. We need a solution to shooting video, capturing good audio, and stills in one piece of equipment. Looking at the Canon 7D currently. Price range needs to be kept under $2,000USD.

Answer
The Canon 7D is a great mid-range dSLR for capturing still images.

It's video cabilities are pretty good, too - Since it captures to h.264 format video MOV files, I presume your video editing environment can deal with these files. Using a current Mac and Final Cut would be best. iMovie will work, too (but be careful with the mode selected - not all will work). Most Windows based editors will require the MOV video files to be transcoded to something the editor can deal with... Lots of transcordrs out there - be sure the one you select does not drop the video out of high definition otherwise you are sort of defeating the purpose of recording in high definition.

Please keep in mind that video is more than moving images - there is the audio portion and this is where most DSLRs fall when compared to camcorders. If you are planning to use an external audio capture device (Zoom H2 or H4 - there are lots of others) to get the audio (then import when you are editing the video, and sync), then this discussion is moot - but if you are depending on the dSLR to get acceptable audio for you, you really need to re-think this.

So... here's the advice: I would strongly suggest that you use a camcorder for video and the dSLR for stills - and maybe occassional video... but combining the two is still not there.

While we're here, how are you planning to archive the captured video if you don't use digital tape? You migh want to investigate a RAID1 hard drive array... NetGear, Promise, Buffalo and others make small business Network Attached Storage systems that might meet your needs - EMC, HP and others make larger systems... They can be pretty expensive... At $3 per 60 minute miniDV tape (or the equivalent of up to 63 minutes of HDV format video which would take up 44 gig of computer hard drive space when uncompressed), it is still a cheap $/gig capture and storage media.

At your stated budget, the Sony HDR-FX7 prosumer (sibling to the pro-grade HVR-V1) is about it...

And if you watch the Avatar credits, the cameras used were from Panavision. I think they start at about $100,000... Lenses are more.

How do I import movies from my camera into iMovie? ?

Katie

I have a Mac desktop compuuter and cannot import my old and new videos from my camera. I have checked the website numerous times. I go to import from files and none of them are clickable. help

Answer
If you have a mini dv (cassette) camcorderâ¦.
Your dv camcorder needs a firewire connection (ieee 1394) in order to download video, your PC probably did not come with a firewire port, so you will have to buy one and install it, since most computers (except possibly brand new) don't come with a firewire port, your camcorder did not come with a firewire cord so you have to purchase a cord too. Your camcorder did come with a USB cord and that is used for downloading stills from your camcorder. Make sure your camera is in playback mode.
The fine print in your manual makes reference to firewire (ieee 1394) connection.

If you have a mini dvd camcorderâ¦.
You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (I downloaded handbrake file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.

If you have an analog (VHS) camcorderâ¦
You need an analog converter, either internal card or external such as the dazzle. It's very easy to use and come with good software. You would hook your analog VHS camera or VCR to the analog converter, the dazzle and then hook the dazzle to your PC. The dazzle cost around 70.00 , but worth the money if you have a lot of VHS to tapes to convert.

**Please Note There is no 8mm or Hi 8 to VHS Adapter that currently exsists. This type of VHS Adapter only exsists with VHS-C tape**

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Is the Canon VIXIA HF S200 Full HD Flash Memory Camcorder & Pro Manual Control a good video camera to get?

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Mikeala Yo

I'm getting a new video camera and was looking at the Canon VIXIA HF S200 Full HD Flash Memory Camcorder & Pro Manual Control, does anyone know if this is a good camera? i want it to make home videos and want good image. if you know anything about it please tell me! thanks!

Answer
The HF S200 is a good, higher end, consumer grade camcorder. Not pro and not prosumer. Consumer grade. I have the HF S100 from a couple years ago - it is good. They are very similar camcorders.

Under good lighting conditions, and the "high quality" video option selected for capture in the menu, they both do a fine job. Under poor lighting conditions, no consumer camcorder can capture good video. And the HF S100/HF S200 have a mic jack for external mics and manual audio gain control to deal with loud audio environments.

If a camcorder Canon XHA1 PRO is purchased in US, will there will be any difficulties to use it in Europe?

olga v

I am from Europe and would like to purchase a camcorder Canon XHA1 PRO, but the price in Europe is the way too high. If i purchase it in US, will i have difficulties to use it in Europe due to the different standards or anything else ?

Answer
Yes, because Europe is mostly PAL, which is 50i whereas NTSC is 60i. It won't really matter if you're shooting 24f because you can remove pulldown and then speed up by 4% to make 25fps, but if you shoot any of the other modes, then it won't be compatible. If you need a cheap but high quality camera, I recommend the Canon HV20/HV30. I have the HV20 and the image quality is comparable or even better than the XH-A1 samples I've seen mainly because it shoots real 24p rather than "fake" 24f mode. You can probably get one for around $600 online (look around HV20.com). Hope this helps!

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How do you fix a Canon camcorder lens?

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Faye

I have a Canon VIXIA HF R10 purchased in December 2010. Everything functions properly on the camera, but the automatic lens is not opening to take a picture. I contacted Canon customer support and my only option is to send it in for a replacement. My warranty is out and I am trying to avoid doing this. If anyone has had this same problem or knows how to fix it, please HELP!

Answer
Send it to canon if under warranty, if not you can get a pro to fix, or just get a new one.

What video camcorder should I buy?

Michael

What HD video camera/camcorder should I buy? Please write the pros and cons of the camera and type the name or send the link. Should I buy a flip? Or something?
Thanks.
I need to send it to my friend so he can edit and then post it to YouTube.

Answer
Have a look at Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder - 2010 MODEL

Records up to 12 hours of crisp high definition video to a 32GB internal flash drive or directly to two removable SD memory cards
Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
Canon 1/2.6" 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

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What is Australia's differences in technology to the rest of the world?

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Tom

The United States is home of many major computer software and hardware companies relying on highly skilled software engineers. E.G. the many Tech products that have been developed such as mobile phones, MP3 players, flat panel TV's and Ipads.

Now we know Americas what is Australias?

Answer
Australia is not well known for developing advanced commercial, or Military Technology. While there are some exceptions, as a whole from a developing side, there is not that much. As far as to whats available to you on the consumer side of things, You have basically every thing that other countries like Japan, the UK, and the USA have. TV's camcorders, Blu-Ray players, Video Games, Etc...

On a Military front, The USA actually supplies many of Australia's weapons like missiles, and fighter jets. The US is a world developer on defence, and offensive weapon technology. Australia is supposed to be a big player in the scientific community however. The few things Australia does have, are quite advanced.

While Australia may not have developed most of these technologies, It does not mean that Australia isn't a capable country. Australia today, works with the US in many upcoming technologies that are emerging. So what are the differences today? Not much. Australia is working with some of the most advanced technology there is in the world today.

I hope this gives a little bit of insight from a non expert view.

How do I get the opportunity to be in a Television Commercial?

Annia A

How can I appear in a commercial in Australia? Are there any specific web sites I need to get in contact with and apply at, or do I need to do something else? If you know of a web site that is looking for people to be in television commercial in Australia could you please provide me with the link. The person who helps will get full starts.
Yea but were the heck do I send the video. Really, your answer was no help at all.

Answer
Walk in the door at the television station. Talk to the manager. They actually hire normal people to be in ads. Or make your own ad with a camcorder and deliver it to a local corporation. This is how everyone has to start..

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Sony DCR-HC30 to Imovie help!?

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Oompa17

Im trying to import video using a usb cable from my sony dcr-hc30 into my macbook but it wont read my camera...how do i make the settings compatible?

Answer
USB won't work to get video from that camcorder to any Mac - regardless of settings

You did not tell us which MacBook. MacBook Air laptops have no firewire port and no way to add one. If your MacBook was made between October 2008 and June 2009, it does not have a firewire port and there is no way to add one. Your best option is to get another Mac with a known working firewire port and an external hard drive, import the video over firewire and save the project files to the external drive, dismount the drive, power the drive down, disconnect the drive, connect it to the MacBook, power everything up, then edit the video.

Firewire, IEEE1394, DV and i.LINK are all basically the same thing - and they are not USB.

If your MacBook was made before October 2009 or after June 2009 or any other Mac made inthe last 10+ years, it will have a firewire port.

The DV port on a miniDV tape based camcorder is always 4-pin.

The firewire port on a MacBook (or any other Mac equipped with a firewire port) can be either 6-pin firewire 400 or 9-pin firewire 800.

To determine which firewire port your MacBook has - other than looking at it:
Under the Apple (top left of the monitor), select "About this Mac".
Click on "More Info..."
Under the "Hardware" dropdown, click once on "Firewire".
To the right, it will indicate either "Maximum Speed: Up to 400 MBPS" or "Maximum Speed: Up to 800 MBPS".

Yes, 4-pin to 6-pin (firewire 400) or 4-pin-to 9-pin (firewire 800) are readily available and both work well.

Apple, Frys, Adorama, bhphotovideo and lots of other brick/mortar and online stores carry them. If you choose a brick/mortar store, call them before you go to be sure they have it in stock.

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