Is the quality of video from Full HD Camcorders still lower than DVCs?

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Andrew Mil

Nowadays you have full HD camcorders that are supposed to deliver best picture. So are the NEW camcorders not delivering as good picture as DVCs.
By DVC I meant digital video cassettes. So I was not too far off the terminology end. But what is interesting is that most brands are now just focusing on HDD and flash camcorders and not MiniDVs anymore.

Answer
I agree with Iridflare.

But you need to consider what is "best". And the assumption is you are referring to miniDV tape ("digital video cassette" is a bit generic).

In video, generally speaking, less compression of the digital video stream is *WAY* better than lots of compression.

As well, the way a video format handles groups of frames can have a substantial impact on video quality.

Last, for this short discussion, anyway, you should learn a bit about the different video formats available.

Since you referred to "Full HD", you should know that this is a not a technical term. It is a marketing term. While it is accurate to say the "progressive" capture method has some advantages over interlaced capture, the fact is that anything over 480 horizontal lines of video is considered high definition - in consumer cams, that is usually 720 or 1080. Red and Silicon Imaging have been doing Ultra-high definition for a while.

Next, add the video compression layer. The easiest observable method is to understand the data rate of the video. Higher data rate means less compression is used. More compression means more discarded data so lower data rate. Higher is better. DV and HDV (typically captured to miniDV tape; but there are a few ways to use flash memory and special external storage devices) are clocked at 25 mbps. XDCAM, HDCAM, DVCAM, DVCPRO and DVCPRO HD have a similar data rate. Typically, consumer grade camcorders using non-tape storage top out at about 17mbps - though there are a few at the higher end that get to 24 mbps in the AVCHD/MTS file environment. The new Canon XF series camcorder record to an interesting MXF format and delivers 50mbps data stream - but is clearly not a consumer cam.

You can do your own research on GOP and how poorly AVCHD handles video with fast action in the event of a dropped frame.

BUT, it is all about skill. Someone with a good, trained eye can capture good, compelling, content on the least expensive camcorder... while someone with no skill would likely capture garbage with the best available equipment.

are there any good free cd and dvd burning suites similar to nero?

yoman477

I have been looking for a new cd and dvd burning suite similar to nero but free. Is there anything like this that is good quality? Or is there a way to download the full nero version free?

Answer
I highly recommend DVD NexT Copy neXt Tech. It is the best all-in-one DVD Burning Software and it pretty much blows away all the other DVD copying software on the market in terms of copy quality and speed.
It enables you copy protected DVD movies and burn it to play in your home DVD player.

On top of that, it automatically converts all standard video files for you to play in your home DVD player. If you are thinking of burning your downloaded movies or the videos that you have captured from your digital camcorder or digital camera, have no worries, this is the perfect DVD Burning Software for you.

It's advanced functionality combined with quality and speed in a simple and user-friendly interface makes it ideal for home and office use. One of its best feature is its ability to burn Blu-ray discs - you can even copy 10 of your standard DVD movies to fit in 1 Blu-ray disc.

What's also nice about it is its ability to copy a DVD movie to a mobile gadget such as iPod, PSP, Zune etc. This feature can really be handy if you want to view your dvd movies in different DVD players.

That is why it is the highest rated DVD Burning Software on our website.

But the most innovative thing about DVD neXt COPY neXt Tech is the built in neXt Tech Updater software. What it does is it allows you the customer to pretty much create your own fix and updates for the new movies, as they are released. Now that is what I call live support!

Anyhow you can read more DVD NexT Copy neXt Tech here:
http://www.easydvdburning.com/software/pc-dvd-copying/dvd-next-copy-next-tech.html

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What's a great video-taping camcorder brand?

best camcorder great audio image

CalciferCa

What is currently the best camcorder brand for video taping? I'm looking for great audio and great quality, but inexpensive! please help!

Answer
Best camcorder on the Consumer level camcorder scene - http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/products?m=gp&pid=1017#_030 To get a HD camcorder that would be able to shoot better video, it would cost in excess of $3300.

How much sound quality is lost with camcorder formats that result in greater compression?

yet-knish!

I want to buy a camcorder to record myself playing music and am deciding on format. I understand that videos made with HDD and flash memory camcorders will have greater compression--how much will this affect the sound?

Answer
the audio on miniDV is uncompressed 48k, 16 bit sampled digital sound. If you get a camcorder that allows exernal mics you can achieve truly professional results. Typical DVD audio compression is 7:1 MPEG3 which is reasonably good. I believe HDD and flash is higher compression, but i don't have a number for you.

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What is a good camera for making amateur movies, and has an external microphone jack?

best camcorder external mic jack image

Evan C

I make amateur movies a a hobby, and I need a new camera.
One with good picture quality and has a external mic jack. I hera good things about DV cameras, but I am worried that taes are going to go the way of VHS's.

Answer
A Year ago I would recommend a miniDV.

Today I am undecided. believe You should choose a HD camcorder with a hard disk if You work with a PC.

Many regular camcorders have a mini stereo mic jack and also a mini earphone jack.

Have fun

Looking for good digital camcorder with a mic jack?

David B

I'm looking for a good digital camcorder that has a mic jack, but doesn't cost a cold grand.

Answer
The Canon HV40 is a HD camcorder with an external mic input. It was $999, but now I see that the price has dropped down to an average of about $650. I can't seem to find any other makes available.

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How do professional cameramen film in low light so well?

top camcorders for low light image

Teh Tarik

I've just bought a Kogan video camera (new Australian brand, not well known) that from my limited experience of camcorders is somewhere in the middle of the video camera spectrum (definitely not lousy, but nothing special either) and I"ve tried several times filming in a dark room with Night mode with very poor results. I can't actually tell the difference between normal and Night mode.

Do you have experience with video cameras that film well in low light? I made a bit of money recently and considering doing a trade-in somewhere.

Answer
Hi Steph:

Let's boil down this whole discussion into two things:
1) Your AU$399 (~USD$425) Kogan camcorder (which tells us your original budget range). That's no where near the "middle" of the $50 - $100,000 USD video camera spectrum.
2) The phrase "how do professional cameramen film... so well?"

It all boils down to spending good money for good equipment. The professional camera crews use equipment that costs thousands more than what you have now, plus --if you are not talking just InfraRed shooting in total or near-total darkness-- their cameras have multiple gain-boost settings for low light.

If you are trying to compare home camcorder footage of any kind with professional broadcast TV shows, just stop it. Their gear is way more advanced, plus (as others have mentioned) they also have post-production signal processors to help boost image parameters and quality.

The pro's also have access to "image intensifiers" they mount between their lens and camcorder (or on the front lens in cheaper cameras), like the AstroScope, which for around $6,000 USD will work for even a consumer camcorder or SLR. These can create an image using only starlight from the sky.

Your Kogan brand is not highly rated in picture quality to start with (see CNet Australia's review: http://www.cnet.com.au/kogan-full-hd-1080p-video-camcorder-camera-339293191.htm ). If you happen to have a more-expensive Kogan model, I apologize, but not much. A not-well-known brand that's in Australian K-Marts says a lot in itself. If you do trade-up, go for a name brand that's done this for awhile & has a track record for image quality as well as construction quality.

If you really have an interest in "Ghost Hunters" style IR shooting and not just poorly-lit parties, get a good used Sony Handycam that has true Sony "NightShot" features (the older consumer NightShot models could also "see" through certain garments, so Sony crippled newer Handycams' IR features).

The professional IR camera crews also use "bright" (but invisible to the eye) InfraRed spotlights mounted on the camera tops.

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

What type of video camera would be the best?

Sonja H

My friend and I will be shooting a sort of documentary for our dissertation. We will be in different countries all over Europe and Asia, shooting in womans shelters, and interviewing officials. We may be in some low light situations. This documentary will be put on DVD and on the internet, and the documentary needs to be good quality. We are planning on buying a professional video camera. Any ideas? Thanks!

Answer
hello there,
i have some camcorders witch meet your expectations, but we actually need you
Budget
What type as in Consumer, Pro-consumer, Professional
HD (1920X1080 / 1440X1080)
SD

but you actually gave out some good ideas for a good camcorder out in the field


ok here's my top 3 Pro-consumer camcorders

1:- JVC GZ-HM400 HDD+SD SLOT
2:- Panasonic TM-300 HDD+SD SLOT
3:- Canon HS S-11 HDD+SD SLOT
4:- Canon Vixia HV40 HDV(mini dv tapes)+SD SLOT
5:- Sony HDR-HC9 HDV+SD SLOT ( IR emitter AKA NIGHT VISION SHOTS like in the military )

the review links>>
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/JVC-Everio-GZ-HM400-Camcorder-Review-37168.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-HDC-TM300-Camcorder-Review-37105.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-Vixia-HF-S11-Camcorder-Review-37150.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-HV30-Camcorder-Review-34401.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HDR-HC9-Camcorder-Review-34562.htm

And heres my "PERFERD" professional Camcorders

1:- Canon XH A1 HDV
2:- Canon GL- 2 HDV
3:- Canon XL - 2 HDV
4:- JVC GY-HM100U
5:- Panasonic AG-DVX100B

LINKS
http://www.reviewed.com/product/Canon/XL2/external.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/canon_gl2_camcorder_review.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/JVC-GY-HM100-First-Impressions-Camcorder-Review-36458.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Canon-XH-A1-Camcorder-Review.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/panasonic_agdvx100_camcorder_review.htm


Well there you go =D i hoped this helped

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Should I get SLR camera or a camcorder for film and photography?

best camcorders with viewfinders image

Maneesha

I'm planning on getting a camera, but am not so sure if I should get a SLR or a camcorder. Specifically, what kind of camera should I buy for $900 and lower? I need a camera that is durable, a Canon, Nikon, Sony, has optical zoom, HD, and auto focus. It needs to be able to take good "professional" pictures and videos. Thanks much for all the help!

Answer
No idea what medication fhotoace is on, but he hasn't got a clue about Sony's as usual...

The Sony A33 and A55 dSLTs absolutely DO have a viewfinder! It is a 100% coverage electronic view finder. They have the fastest auto-focus in video, MUCH faster compared to s-l-o-w Nikon dSLRs. The A33 and A55 are the same as dSLRs, separating them out is silly as they still have a mirror, but it is simply translucent and fixed rather than flipping up.

Nikon aren't as good as Sony in video (nobody is), fhotoace struggles to recommend them because he doesn't know anything about them, he is a Nikon guy.

Have a look at the Sony A55, it uses the same SONY sensor as used on the Nikon D7000, a fact that the Nikon boys are always slow to admit to...

If you can put up with manual focus, Canon dSLRs are excellent for video.

where can i find stores that sell Kodak Zi8 camcorders in the Philippines?

AJ

please help me. i really really want to buy that particular camcorder and i phoned all the possible stores in manila, but still can't find one that sells zi8. i want to buy online but the problem is i dont have a credit card. what should i do?

Answer
I think you should go with Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
*Record High Definition video (1080p at 30 fps with 16:9 aspect ratio)
*Easily upload recorded footage to YouTube with built-in USB and software
*Expandable SD/SDHC card slot up to 32 GB; Rechargeable batteries and charger included
*Vibrant 2.5-inch viewfinder; Watch footage on HDTV with included cables
*Edit and share videos with included software

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I enjoy taking pictures and i'm interested in learning more about video and photo editing where can I go?

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Tuna

I am looking to go back to school and i just wanted to know what i should be focused on.

Answer
Well, as far as photo editing, there are many great schools with photography programs based in both commercial and art photography. On the east coast of the USA, I believe RochesterInstitute of Technology is ranked no. 1 and Rhode Island School of Design no. 2. Almost all colleges with art programs have photography programs and you can even study online. Video I don't know a lot about. There are programs out there and I'm sure you can study online, but I don't know of any.

As far as what area you should be focused on, do what you enjoy most!

Heck, do both if you want. =J

Photography has many opportunities. You can focus on film or digital, small format (aka 35mm), medium format, or large format. You can focus on older techniques or newer techniques. You can go totally digital and focus more on digital alteration by using Photoshop and other photo altering programs. You can even combine the two together.

And if you want to combine photo and video, I think Apple has a camera/camcorder and a Photoshop type program that lets you 'play' with both types of media.

Where school is concerned, go with what fits your lifestyle and personality best. Personally, I feel that you have to go out and DO to really learn and know what you're getting yourself into. And sometimes, that can be the best part. So whether you decided to study over the internet at home or at a college/university, just make sure to actually do your homework. =P

P.S. Try searching the internet for programs or Peterson's College Guide for Visual Arts Majors. Peterson's lists most if not all visual arts programs in the US and you can search by location, major, preparing and applying, and is updated yearly. It's what I used to help me find a university that had a Metals and Jewelry major.

Hope this helps!

Starting a short film, what's a good camcorder?

Mac plz!

Im looking for a really good camcorder, who people have use in small professional businesses. I am starting a short movie, and I want to make it as professional as it can be. I have rarely any experience through filming, but I do know the basics. Also, Im looking for a camcorder, that is lower than $400, and able to carry around with him. Oh what are those mics above called? Thanks

Answer
First, the easy part of the answer - the mic is called a shotgun mic.

I personally like the Panasonic line of cameras, but all the major manufacturers make good cameras. Check out www.camcorderinfo.com and you can look at detailed reviews of a variety of cameras. If you look at the camcorder ratings, you'll see a chart with the prices on the right and ranked in order of quality.

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Which DVD camcorder is the best value and has the best features?

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90x

I want a camera with great battery life and with night shot or something that I can film with at night. I am looking in the range of $250-$400. I have looked at the sony handicam dvd camcorder. All reviews are positive. Any know anything about this camcorder or even better camcorders?

Answer
this one can film at night or day and has a big LCD screen: http://cgi.ebay.com/MINI-Sony-DVD-modified-xray-IR-kit-w-filter-BIG-LCD_W0QQitemZ280324391162QQihZ018QQcategoryZ11724QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Anyone no of a great professional camcorder?

ponechaisi

I am starting video production and am wondering what equiptment is the best to buy, at an affordable price. I guess I am wanting a professional camcorder at a budgeter's price.

Answer
Great question. Here are my top picks for the best professional camcorder. I have taken price into consideration. If you want HD:

1) Red Scarlet (coming soon, 2009) $3,000
2) Sony PMW-EX1 $6,000
3) JVC GY-HD200U $5,500
4) Panasonic AG-HVX200 $5,000
5) Canon XH-A1 $3,300

RED SCARLET: Many are skeptical about the Red Scarlet as it is a relatively unknown brand, but I believe it is the best professional camcorder under $10,000. No contest. With a traditional camcorder, like that made by Sony, Canon, etc, you'll be lucky if you get one that records in true HD. That is, most camcorders do NOT record in true 1920 x 1080 resolution, apart from the Sony PWM-EX1, as listed above. The Red Scarlet however, records footage in 3K, that is about 150% of the resolution of 1920 x 1080 HD. All that for $3,000. I don't know how well the Scarlet will perform when it is released in 2009 as far as color reproduction, cinematic look, audio capabilities, and manual controls, but I do know that it gives you better resolution than any camera I know of under $20,000. Therefore, the Red Scarlet is definately worth looking into. 3K footage for under $3K is a total steal!
______________
SONY PMW-EX1: It is a relatively new camcorder that records to tapeless media the SxS cards. The EX1 has better resolution that its Canon, Panasonic and JVC competitors, as the XDCAM cards do NOT compress nearly as much as HDV. Another huge advantage is that it has 3 CMOS chips that are 1/2" each, as opposed to 1/3" or smaller chips found on every other camera under $10,000. The larger image sensor gives your picture a much narrower depth of field, which is great for budding filmmakers, wanting that look of celluloid film. The only setback is that the EX1's media format, the SxS XDCAM media cards only record about 25 minutes of high quality footage on the supplied card, and purchasing additional cards is very expensive.
_______________
JVC HD200U
The HD200U is no Sony, Panasonic, or Canon, but it is an excellent camera nonetheless. Some pro reviews have said that the earlier model, the HD110U was the second best camera as far as picture quality in the prosumer level, next to the Canon XL-H1, which is $8,000. I really like the HD110 and HD200 as it is the only prosumer HD camera, apart from the XL-H1 with interchangeable lenses, rather than a built in lens. The only problem is that the HD200U does not record HD in 1080p or 1080i, but instead, it only has a lower-resolution 720p mode. To me, this isn't all that bad, as I prefer 720p at 60fps over 1080p at 30fps; it blurs much less, but you'll have to make the decision. Numerous independant films have been shot on the JVC HD110 and HD200, so its an excellent camera!

_______________
Panasonic HVX200: The HVX200 is a great inexpensive choice for the indie filmmaker. It has excellent picture quality and an excellent 24p mode. Another huge upside is that it records to both HDV OR P2 cards, so its really convenient. However, it does not have quite as good picture quality as the Sony EX1, nor does it have interchangeable lenses like the JVC HD200. It's an excellent, well-rounded HD camera nonetheless. I found it works excellent with the Redrock M2 35mm adapters though.
____________
Canon XH-A1: The XH-A1 is rated as one of the best cameras out there for its combination of quality and value for your money. I agree. It's a nice, well rounded camera; relatively easy to use (compared to the others at least) and is packed with loads of features, making it an excellent value. My only problem is that it does not have a 720p mode. It also lacks a real 24p mode, and instead has what Canon calls a 24f mode. According to Canon, the 2 are identical, but I really don't know.

For standard definition, which is still a great option, as HD is still new and expensive:
1) Panasonic AG-DVX100B $2,500
2) Canon XL2 $3,000
3) Sony DSR-PD170 $2,500

I really can't decide whether I like the DVX100B or the XL2 better. I'm leaning towads the DVX100B as a better overall camera (and its very user friendly), but then again, the XL2 has interchangeable lenses. Both can record in 24p, which is a great option. The PD170 is a total low-light wonder, is easy to use, but does not have a 24p mode.

If this is still not what you had in mind for a budget, here are some decent consumer HD cameras:
1) Sony HDR-HC3 and HDR-HC9
2) Canon HV20 and HV30

both are HDV. I highly recommend it. I can't stand mini DVD or flash media. HDV is also considerably better than Hard Disk camera; they don't compress your footage quite as much.


Hope that helps, and I apologize if that's still not what you had in mind. Well good luck, and have fun!!!

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What is the best(under $200) camcorder?

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kingjoser

I'm looking for the best video camera under 200 dollars. Not a camera that uses tapes and stuff. One that uses either a memory card or saves the video inside the camera and can connect to a computer to upload to Youtube. Doesn't have to be HD. I'm mostly going to use it to make short videos and for youtube. Personal use, not anything big. Any suggestion? Thanks

Answer
I like my Toshiba Camileo H30 walmart.com has it for $135.00 it is 1080p hd. I will say that low light performance is not top notch, but it is not bad for this price range a little grain can be seen at low light levels. The step up is the X100 Toshiba for $159.00 at walmart.com as well. My H30 shoots pretty good stills as well as long as you use 10 mpix and not the 16 mpix setting. The h30 has a 10 mpix sensor and uses a digital process to produce 16, this adds artifacts to the picture so stick to 10 mpix for the best stills. Both camcorders will upload to you tube with the push of a button on the camera. I will say that I don't like the software that came with it to convert the AVI files to DVD so I went to cnet and downloaded a free high rated AVI file to DVD burner and it works great. I think you will be hard pressed to find a better camcorder for 135 bucks.

I'm looking for a digital camera/camcorder?

irulebabey

I'm looking for one under $200 any suggestions?

Answer
Even at your price point, there are many to choose from. The top three out there are Sony, Panasonic and Canon; I tend to gravitate towards Panasonic and Canon since they tend to have more manual controls for a "prosumer". But, you can't really go wrong with any of the three. My suggestion to you is to determine your top 3 uses for the camcorder, then look for the camera that will best suits these three needs. If quality is high on your list of attributes in a camcorder, then you should stick with MiniDV. I have found that the folks at www.camcorderinfo.com do a good thorough job at reviewing camcorders. Sometimes a little too good if you want to just get some quick answers. What you can do is use their site to help you make a choice among your top choices once you have narrowed it down. I also like using CNET reviews (www.reviews.cnet.com). Good luck.

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How do I tell if a computer is a good deal?

best 80gb camcorder image

sofun

I need to shop for a new computer but don't know much about them and don't know how to get the most for my money. How do I shop for a comp and know if it is a good price?
Please lay this out in simple terms for me.
I plan on using my comp for:
-internet
-music-ipod, burning cds
-pics-downloanding from digital cam
know I want microsoft office.

Answer
LOLOL! There are SOO many things to compare, and what you use it for also has to be taken into consideration in making a decision. Having said that, here are the minimums that you should definitely compare:

Apple or PC (Windows based system)
Hope you know which one you prefer lol.

Hard Drive Size.
This determines how much information/data you can store on your computer. It also affects the speed at which your computer functions. How big it should be really depends on what you do on your computer. But I'd at least get 80GB just for basic applications such as Internet Exploror, Microsoft Office, etc.

Type of Processor and Processor Speed (also called CPU)
This is an important factor that determines your computer's speed. The faster the processor, the faster applications will open aand operate
The latest one from Intel is Pentium Duo 2, but Pentium D or Pentium 4 is also good if you are not looking to get the latest.

Random Access Memory (RAM)
This determines the amount of memory that you can use at once. If you have a large RAM, you can run more programs at once. This also affects the speed at which programs operate.
For surfing on the net, using Microsoft Office, playing DVD movies, etc, 512MB is sufficient. If you wanna edit videos, connect an HD camcorder, etc, then, you need at least 1GB.

DVD drive:
First of all, most of the computers come with either 1 or 2 DVD drives. 1 is sufficient if you use it just to play DVDs and/or occasionally transfer/copy files from your hard drive to a DVD disk for storage or to backup your hard drive. You may want 2 DVD drives only if you frequently make copies of DVDs. In that case, you use one drive to insert a disk that already has files/data, and the other one to insert a blank DVD disk to copy the files onto. BUT you can always copy the files once to your hard drive, take out the disk, swap it with a blank disk and copy the files from the hard drive to the blank disk.

Another thing for you to check is if the DVD drive can write or not. Some DVD drives (called DVD-R) can only READ DVDs, which means you can play DVDs on your computer but cannot WRITE or copy files onto blank DVD disks. If you wanna save your files on DVD disks, you need to get a DVD-RW drive.

Lastly, there are single layer and double layer DVD-RW drives. With a double layer drive AND a double layer DVD disk, you can store twice as much information on one disk.

If you plan on using the computer to play games, the type of video card you get, in addition to Hard Drive/RAM/CPU, really matters. If you are a music lover and need good sounds, then a sound card matters.

You may also wanna check if it comes with basic soft such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint etc.) if that matters to you.

Hope you 'd included more about how you plan on using your machine lol!

**** EDIT ******

Great!!!!! You added what you plan on doing on your computer. Yeeey! lmao!

Alright. I will lay out my suggestions for you assuming you are gettin a PC and this is ALL you use your computer for.

Hard Drive (HD): 80GB to 160GB

Processor (CPU): I only know about Intel so if you get Intel, either Pentium 4 / Pentium D 2GHz or faster, OR any of the Duo processor.

RAM: 512MB.

DVD Drive: Get a single layer DVD-RW dirve. If you keep transferring pictures onto your PC's hard drive, the HD will eventually get filled up. Then, you will want to copy them to DVDs or CDs to clear up the HD and improve HD's performance, lol.
ALL DVD-RW drives can write CDs.

It'll be nice if the deal includes Microsoft Office. But you can always purchase the package separately and install it.

Also, check how many USB ports the computer has. Many peripherals (keyboard, mouse, printer/scanner, etc) now use USB ports. Hopefully you have enough of them and you don't have to unplug any of the peripheral devices in order to hook up your digi cam or iPOD.

Good luck, hehe!

**** EDIT 2 ****

For instance, the cheapest one listed here:
http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/cto_dimene520?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

will do. You may wanna add a monitor, get a DVD-RW drive (the cheapest one does write CDs but not DVDs), and Microsoft Office.

Again, check the number of USB ports and if you are very picky abount sounds that come out of the computer, you may want a better sound card than the default one.

what is the best camera on market for recording gameplaythroughs?

Spkey

as title says. My budget is around £250 and want to get one that will last. any advice is appreciated :)

Answer
The Sony DCRSR15 is a smart and simple feature-packed SD (standard definition) camcorder which offers impressive image quality for shooting video or still photographs. With a 2.7" WIDE Clear Photo LCD screen, it can record up to 61 hours of Standard Definition video on its internal 80GB hard drive and makes sharing your movies or transferring them to your PC hassle-free. Light and compact enough to take anywhere, this Handycam® incorporates the latest optical and technological innovations from Sony so you can capture the action in crisp, clear quality. Useful features like a 50x optical zoom, Face Detection and Digital Steady Shot help to ensure you get great results, whether youâre shooting portraits or landscapes near or far. DVDirect compatibility means you can easily transfer your precious memories to DVDs to store or enjoy any time.

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Should I get a camcorder or a digital camera?

best camcorders zoom image

Q. My friend needs a "photo-taking device" for a trip she is taking. She's going to be photographing, but may be 300 ft away from them. Should she get a camera with high megapixels and less zoom than a camcorder, or a camcorder with high zoom and less megapixels? She is only allowed to take one?

Answer
my suggestion
go to yahoo shopping
digital cameras
digital camera GUIDE
be sure to check titles on the left side
the guide should answer your questions

Is it possible for a camcorder to have 100x optical zoom? Would it be possible to use even with a tripod?

Jake

My cousin has a camcorder with 70x optical zoom and it works fine.
I recently saw one that had 78x optical zoom, it was Panasonic.

Why do people say it wouldn't be possible to have 100x optical zoom?
78x optical zoom isn't that much less than 100x.

Answer
optical zoom over 20x is not very practical. megazoom is a result of using very tiny CCD imagers. for a 1/4 inch format CCD, the normal focal length is 4mm, 20x is 80mm which is 3 inches a rather reasonable size lens for a plam held camcorder. 100x would be 400mm or 15 inches, that is a lot of glass to hang in front of a 1 inch thick camera. then there is the problem of light gathering. for reasonable pictures in daylight, the lens needs a minimum iris opening of f4. the "f" factor is the ratio of focal length divided by lens diameter. so for 400mm to achieve f4 it would need to be 100mm diameter or 4 inches. But you might realize that the biggest problem is stability, to prevent blur, OIS is usable to 20x. That prevents blur but it does not control bounce or similar unintended movement, that is you will have sharp images of something that is bouncing. Here is where a tripod is needed. Television sports cameras use 40x to 50x lenses from Center field at baseball, or stadium top for football. But that camera is mounted on a $250,000 vibration supression mount, not a simple tripod. The megazoom may be something of value for still digital photos where the effective shutter speed can be increased to get a clear single frame. CCDs are getting down to 1/8th inch size with would reduce the example numbers in half. but then you have to cram the 12 elements used in a normal servo zoom (one that tracks focus) into minimum thickness of 2mm. that is why the flip cameras don't have optical zoom. and the funny thing is, all the sports people want to put "baby death" super fisheye lenses on their cameras, just the opposite of megazoom.

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What is the best dv camcorder on the market that is about 300$?

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Jake P

Well i have been looking for a camera that i would be able to down load my videos strait on to windows movie maker on my computer. And what i am really looking for in a camcorder is good qualty and to be able to download all of my videos to the computer very easily. So i just want to know what are some of the best dv camcorders out there that are about 300$.

Answer
Sony Handycam DCR-HC30

The DCR-HC30 makes a decent and very compact choice for a budget camcorder, but if you can afford to spend another $100, the DCR-HC40 will give you better video quality.
Specs: Camcorder, 6.8 megapixels, 10 x, Mini DV

The good: Extremely compact and lightweight; good ergonomics; decent video quality; accessory shoe.

The bad: Inconvenient touch-screen controls; bottom-loading tape; no wind filter for microphone; short battery life from included cell.

The bottom line: The DCR-HC30 makes a decent and very compact choice for a budget camcorder, but if you can afford to spend another $100, the DCR-HC40 will give you better video quality.

Canon ZR850

Canon's new MiniDV top model, the ZR850, continues the ZR tradition of offering affordable, easy-to-use wide-screen movie-making, though low-light performance is still subpar.
Specs: Camcorder, 1.07 megapixels, 35 x, Mini DV

The good: New, easier-to-use menu system with joystick control; impressive color in good lighting; wide-screen LCD; built-in lens cover; low price.

The bad: No accessory shoe or microphone input; bottom-loading tape compartment; doesn't support analog-to-digital conversions; not enough stabilization at full zoom; poor low-light performance.

The bottom line: Canon's new MiniDV top model, the ZR850, continues the ZR tradition of offering affordable, easy-to-use wide-screen movie-making, though low-light performance is still subpar.

What is the top 5 Hard Drive Camcorders on the market right now?

a

this is my first camcorder and i would like to buy it for my girlfriend for christmas. I would prefer to spend less than 1g

Answer
Check camcorderinfo.com... and do everyone a favor - ditch the hard drive camcorder and get flash memory or miniDV tape instead.

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How do I get my sony video files to a mac ?

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alessanlb

I have a Sony DVD camcorder but I have a mac computer.
Sony isn't compatible with mac and my macbook doesn't take the mini DVDs. What do I do?

Answer
First, finalize the DVD in your camcorder and connect it with your USB cable so that your Mac will be able to read the mini DVD. If your Mac detects the camcorder with the DVD disc, there should be a DVD disc icon on your desktop. Test it out if it works by opening DVD Player on your Mac. Once you get it to work, quit the DVD player.

Download an application called Handbrake from the URL link below. This should enable you to convert the mini DVD to a file format you want. Just play around with it so you can get used to the interface. I personally export it to .MP4 or .MV4 format so I can play it on iTunes and my iPods. My average bitrate is 500 so it won't be too big of a file, unless you want to import your videos in higher quality.

I hope this helps!

I need a Mac compatible HD video camera and somewhat cheap editing software?

Josh

I've been looking around (with not too much luck) to find a pretty nice HD camcorder and video editing software for the Mac. I'm trying to find the camera for under $400, and the software nothing too fancy but I'd like green-screen compatibility. Anyone have any tips? It would mean a lot!

Answer
If you're looking for cheap video editing software, you may try this one. it can help you convert DVD and edit video, my friends recommend it to me, it works pretty good.
http://www.mac-dvd.com/mac-dvd-converter-suite.html
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.

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What is the best budget/ entry level camcorder for videography business?

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bobbyjane

I am going into videography business with a very limited budget. Thus , I am looking for a camcorder that is functional and does not cost much.

Answer
Here's a list of the top camcorders for 2006:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/CamInfo-Selects-2006.htm

As you are going into business, you might consider leasing the equipment.

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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