Where to find a very cheap professional digital camcorder.?

best camcorder great audio image

Q. Around 10-12 MP with great Audio options. Anyoneknow of a website where people are cleaning out their stuff and happened to find one or something?

Answer
No such thing as 10-12 megapixels in a camcorder, at any price. Even full high definition is only 2.1MP.

If you need good manual audio control and XLR inputs, try some of the older pro DV camcorders on Ebay, like a Sony PD150 or Panasonic DVX100 or something like that. A lot of good deals on those since everyone is moving up to high def. Still not exactly cheap...

What is a good camcorder to use for recording myself and my friends?

Fritzy

I'm looking for a good, inexpensive camcorder with good audio and video quality to record things my friends and I do (to capture all the once-in-a-lifetime moments). I don't really have a set budget but I'd like to avoid paying over $1000 because that would take a lot of time and money-saving.

Answer
cellphone or dlsr camera! that's great!

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What is the best software to edit videos and put on DVD for a camara that creates m2ts files?

best camcorders 2012 image

slb1969

I have a Sony Camcorder and right now I am converting the m2ts files that it creates to the supported format for pinnacle studios. The conversion takes a long time so I am looking to skip the conversion step.

Answer
I think your trying to create a "classic" dvd, possibly with menus? The problem is that your m2ts files are probably high definition, and old fashioned DVD is not. Your software has to reduce the resolution of your video to convert to standard DVD "vob" files, which can be a slow process. But you may not necessarily need to reduce the definition of your files to an old outdated format (and why would you want to?)?

Most newer DVD and BluRay players recognize video files with the HD type compression format (AVI files compressed with either h264, xVid, etc...). In other words, if you use a conversion program to instead convert your files to HD avi, they may play directly in your player by just burning them as files onto a DVD disc. A good (and free) program that does this easily is the freeware program Freemake. It will will combine, merge, and save multiple files into a single HD file if desired. Think it will also burn them for you onto a DVD. Check the following two links out, think they'll help:
http://ezvideoedit.blogspot.com/2012/10/joining-merging-splitting-cutting-and.html
http://ezvideoedit.blogspot.com/2012/10/free-video-converter-software.html

What are some good camcorders that emulate the look of 35mm film?

Liv96

What are some great camcorders under $1,000 $5,000 and $10,000
What are the best cameras in each of these price ranges

Answer
Sony HDR-CX190 High Definition Handycam 5.3 MP Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom (2012 Model) has been a great HD camcorder so far. It is very small and lightweight, to say the least. I think the 70 series battery I bought for this unit weighs almost as much as the camera. The controls are good with the little screen joystick and menus. The color is very good on the screen, and the video is sharp. I like the 30x for videoing my stepsons' wrestling matches.

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What's the latest and greatest HD camera/camcorder to use for indie filmmaking?

best camcorders 60p image

Jackie

I'm close to finishing my first feature film script and want to know which camera/digital camcorder would be best suited for my movie. I'm willing to invest a decent amount of money into it IF it's worth it and the quality shows up on the screen. There are three fight scenes and a car chase in the movie so i'm gonna need one that can capture action shots really well. Any advice will be appreciated.

Answer
CHECK THIS OUT BOTH ARE PROFESSIONAL CAMCORDER................................
Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 AVCHD Camcorder with 10.6MP Still and 12x Optical Zoom..
HD formats: 1080/60i, 1080/30p, 1080/24p (Native); 720/60p, 720/30p, 720/24p (Native)
Three latest design 1/4.1 Progressive 3MOS Imagers for full HD resolution
Long record time: 3 hours with included battery (7 hours continuous with 5,800mAh Battery)
Touch Panel 2.7 inch Widescreen LCD displays Thumbnails & Audio Metering
HDMI out, Component Out (mini D terminal), Composite Video and Stereo Audio Out with included cable..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I9S9PE?ie=UTF8&tag=tele-smart-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002I9S9PE

Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom..
Record and play back HDV 1080i video; switchable recording in standard definition
ClearVid CMOS sensor; 20x optical zoom
Wide 3.5-inch Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display
Capture 1.2-megapixel stills to Memory Stick Duo
Professional 62mm Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBDWNS?ie=UTF8&tag=tele-smart-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000IBDWNS

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574865779&toolid=10001&campid=5336689820&customid=car-cycle-20&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fphotography.shop.ebay.com%2FCamcorders-%2F11724%2Fi.html%3F_trkparms%3D65%25253A15%25257C66%25253A2%25257C39%25253A1%26rt%3Dnc%26_nkw%3Dcamcorder%26_catref%3D1%26_dmpt%3DCamcorders_Professional_Video_Cameras%26_sc%3D1%26_sticky%3D1%26_trksid%3Dp3286.c0.m14%26_sop%3D10%26_sc%3D1

Can someone help me with information on prosumer camcorders?

Jackie

Can someone help me with information on prosumer camcorders?
I'm looking for a good quality HD camcorder to use in independent feature-length filmmaking. Several action shots/scenes appear in my screenplay so I need a camcorder that will capture the fast pace of the movie. Would like some advice from people who are in the business and have professional experience with cinema-like production quality cameras.

Answer
Canon's XH A1S is excellent camcorder for entry-level professionals and independent filmmakers $3,399.00, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001JQLKRG?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-marina-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001JQLKRG or
AG-HVX200 P2 HD Camcorder, $4,295.00
High definition recording formats - 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/24p, 1080/30p, 720p
CineSwitch technology for variable frame rates in 720p mode - 12, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 32, 36, 48, 60fps 16 - 9 native high-sensitivity progressive 3-CCD with 1080/60p scanning; DSP with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit internal processing for unprecedented accuracy; 16 - 9 4 - 3 switchable for standard definition recording, 16 - 9 native for HD http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018C72E6?ie=UTF8&tag=digitsy-marina-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0018C72E6

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How to use slow motion on GoPro Hero2?

top camcorders compatible with mac image

Bryce

have a pc not a Mac. Do I need to download a certain program or can I just use movie maker somehow?

Answer
Both these program can do slow motion effects real easy. Sony Vegas probably does it best and easiest. Either program or both, there is lots of help on YouTube for all effects for them both.

Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate & Sony Vegas Pro 10

Screen Shot, Top Picture - http://asimplelife.ca/nle.html Upgrade your computer to AVCHD specs below and you can run both programs seen on my Web Page on your computer. Just Rejig the search term below in the YouTube search, from the instructions below.

This is not a program that can run on any computer, see below -

Minimum System Requirements

Windows® 7, Windows Vista® (SP2), or Windows XP (SP3)
Intel® Pentium® or AMD Athlon⢠1.8 GHz (2.4 GHz or higher recommended)
-Intel Core⢠2 Duo 2.4 GHz required for AVCHD*
-Intel Core⢠2 Quad 2.66 GHz or Intel Core i7 required for
AVCHD* 1920
1 GB system memory recommended, 2 GB required for AVCHD*
DirectX® 9 or 10 compatible graphics card with 64 MB (128 MB or higher recommended)
-256 MB required for HD and AVCHD*
DirectX 9 (or higher) compatible sound card
3.8 GB of disk space
DVD-ROM drive to install software

Import Formats

â¢Video: AVCHD*, AVCHD Lite*, BD Blu-ray*, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®*, MPEG-4*, 3GP (MPEG-4)*, WMV, non-encrypted DVD titles (incl. DVD-VR/+VR), QuickTime® MOV (DV, MPEG-4*, H.264*), DivX Plus® MKV*
â¢Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3*, WMA
â¢Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF, PNG, J2K

If interested, link below takes you to the site, but you can get this $80 program for free. Do this by opening a web browser, surfing over to YouTube. Once there, in the search box on that site, enter 'Pinnacle Studio 14' or âSony Vegas Pro 10â. Youâre looking for free download, find a link or video that says that, in the video description, there will be link for a free download. Make sure, before you do this, to make sure your computer can meet or exceed those Specs above, and pay special attention to the AVCHD specs if you have or are going to get a HD camcorder.

http://www.videomaker.com/article/14635 Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate Collection

http://www.videomaker.com/article/15120 Sony Vegas Pro 10

How do I use the slow motion on a GoPro hero 2?

Bryce

have a pc not a Mac. Do I need to download a certain program or can I just use movie maker somehow?
Any free programs

Answer
Both programs do great with slow motion effects, Sony Vegas does it a bit easier.

Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate & Sony Vegas Pro 10

Screen Shot, Top Picture - http://asimplelife.ca/nle.html Upgrade your computer to AVCHD specs below and you can run both programs seen on my Web Page on your computer. Just Rejig the search term below in the YouTube search, from the instructions below.

This is not a program that can run on any computer, see below -

Minimum System Requirements

Windows® 7, Windows Vista® (SP2), or Windows XP (SP3)
Intel® Pentium® or AMD Athlon⢠1.8 GHz (2.4 GHz or higher recommended)
-Intel Core⢠2 Duo 2.4 GHz required for AVCHD*
-Intel Core⢠2 Quad 2.66 GHz or Intel Core i7 required for
AVCHD* 1920
1 GB system memory recommended, 2 GB required for AVCHD*
DirectX® 9 or 10 compatible graphics card with 64 MB (128 MB or higher recommended)
-256 MB required for HD and AVCHD*
DirectX 9 (or higher) compatible sound card
3.8 GB of disk space
DVD-ROM drive to install software

Import Formats

â¢Video: AVCHD*, AVCHD Lite*, BD Blu-ray*, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®*, MPEG-4*, 3GP (MPEG-4)*, WMV, non-encrypted DVD titles (incl. DVD-VR/+VR), QuickTime® MOV (DV, MPEG-4*, H.264*), DivX Plus® MKV*
â¢Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3*, WMA
â¢Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF, PNG, J2K

If interested, link below takes you to the site, but you can get this $80 program for free. Do this by opening a web browser, surfing over to YouTube. Once there, in the search box on that site, enter 'Pinnacle Studio 14' or âSony Vegas Pro 10â. Youâre looking for free download, find a link or video that says that, in the video description, there will be link for a free download. Make sure, before you do this, to make sure your computer can meet or exceed those Specs above, and pay special attention to the AVCHD specs if you have or are going to get a HD camcorder.

http://www.videomaker.com/article/14635 Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate Collection

http://www.videomaker.com/article/15120 Sony Vegas Pro 10

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buying a camcorder off ebay for $400 cheaper than in store?

top camcorders in uk image

Johnny

i want to buy a canon and it costs $1400 in the store. on ebay theres a monster pack that comes with accessories and its like $1200. there's also one from japan thats the exact same and its $1000. it says its 100% new and they have good reputation.

would it be safe to buy it from the japan seller for $400 less? would the quality and everything be the same? thanks

Answer
There could be a few problems

1st - If you get it ask them to put it in English for you not Japanese (or else you'll spend all day going through the menus trying to find the Language option!)

2nd - Check that it will give out the correct video format for your country. Very important as US are on NTSC, other countries use different formats like PAL or SECAM (although most modern devices now will display any format).

3rd - Check that the PSU is the right voltage for your country. Our major problem in the UK is that we are on 240v here and most countries use 110v. Although most devices now allow 240/110v.

4th - Taxes - bear in mind that when it comes from Japan there may be taxes/customs duties to pay on it. Also many postal firms charge extra for paying the customs fees. Royal Mail charge £8 on top of the price for this service (mind you that is rip off Royal Mail!). Luckily though most people sending stuff tend to lie on the customs declaration and tick the "Gift" box or put the wrong value (it also adds security as it would be really stupid to write on the side of the box "$1000 Camcorder" - customs have never thought about that one!).

5th - Warranty - bear in mind that your warranty with Canon will be pretty much null and void, with it being from Japan they will expect you to return it to Japan if it goes faulty, not Canon US. Some firms even add a clause to state that if you have exported the device the warranty is void (Sony did that with my PSP, although my PSP is now well and truly out of it's warranty period anyway).

And finally - be 100% sure that what you are buying isn't counterfeit. It's amazing some of the things they counterfeit now.

if a camcorder's resolution is 640 x 480 will it be clear or grainy?

pepatong

if i use that for a short video and sent it in email, will it be easy to see? if someone wants to project it,(like show it in a powerpoint presentation) will it still be clear? thank you for your help

Answer
Maybe this will help and you can get a rough idea of what to expect.
This video clip is of a garden and recorded on an Sony xperia mobile phones on-board camera @ 640 x 480 resolution at 25 frames per second

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSxhocKo_YA

If you feel this is clear enough - you can purchase one at that resolution or find one that goes higher.
There is a rather unconventional looking camera made by Samsung (called the U10)that is sold at a RRP of around £129 (UK) but records in High definition(1920 x 1080),less on Amazon at time of writing.

Here is a test video recorded on that exact model:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7y7zqXyZ2M

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002JTVR7A/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=103612307&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0023W6QFQ&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1KT57976Y2JRJCBP7AX7

The U10 has no led light to illuminate a dark area,thus is not too clever indoors unless you have excellent lighting.
For the (current) sub £100 price and it's resolution it does perform very well.
It's always better to buy memory cards of the highest class number you can afford- the higher the number, the faster data is transferable so the less likely the image will jump or seem to have Information missing.

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can i capture a video from my camcorder through usb port in good quality picture?

best 3ccd camcorder image

shashank

i have dell 3521 with 1 gb graphics and also have sony pd 100 3ccd camcorder. i using winodows xp os in laptop, but did not get any dv port, s video port......now can i capture video from usb port?

Answer
If you mean a Sony DVCAM DSR-PD100 that capture standard definition DVCAM format to DVCAM tape... not exactly.

The best way is to connect the camcorder's i.LinlkDV/firewire port to the computer's firewire/IEEE1394 port. If you can't add a firewire port (with a PCMCIA or ExpressCard), then you need to go through analog...

So you need an "analog/digital converter". Connect the camcorder's AV-out to the A/D converter's AV'in (this is the analog part). Connect the A/D converter to the computer with a USB cable. Elgato, Roxio, Black Magic Design and many others make them. Some as good - most not as good. Video quality will be reduced because of the step through analog and compression through USB...

How do I transfer data from my panasonic camera to an sd card to upload to a computer?

Tristan Sk

I just filmed something with my Panasonic 3CCD camcorder and then placed the sd card into my computer. However, I couldn't find the files on the SD card and realized that even without the SD card, I could still play the video on the camera. So I assume the video was saved onto the camera rather than the SD card, however, I cannot find a way to transfer it to the SD card. Is there a way to do this?

Answer
Too bad you did not provide the camcorder model number.

If the "Panasonic camera" has internal memory based on hard disc drive or flash memory, then read the manual. There will be instructions to copy the internally store video to the removable flash memory media. There will also be instructions to select the removable flash memory rather than use the internal memory.

If the "Panasonic camera" uses miniDV tape to store video, then you need to connect the camcorder's DV port (not USB) to the computer's firewire port (not USB) using a firewire cable (not USB). There is no option to store high quality DV format (or HDV if the camera is capable of high definition) to flash memory. USB-to-firewire cable/converter/adapter things wont work. If your computer has no firewire port, hopefully it has an available expansion slot so you can add one.

If the "Panasonic camera" uses 8cm DVDs to store video, then you need to finalize the disc in the camcorder, take it out of the camcorder, put it in the computer's drawer loading DVD drive and rip the video with a utility like HandBrake ( www.handbrake.fr ). There is no option to store video to flash memory. DVD recorded video from consumer camcorders was not meant to be edited. Video quality will be poor.

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Any advice on cameras?

top camcorders 2011 under 500 image

Andy

I am a (poor) film student looking for a decent HD video camera (Not a DSLR). I'm shooting for somewhere between $500-$700, hopefully with these features:
-Uncompressed raw footage
-ability to attach various microphones, lights, etc
-Did I say digital?

So yeah. Any experience and advice is appreciated!

Answer
http://artspeck.hubpages.com/hub/TOP-5-FULL-HD-Best-Camcorders-under-500-for-2011

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What is the best kind of DVD camcorder for a good price?

best camcorders small image

kayy

I am looking for a DVD Camcorder that is small. I want to be able to add effects to my movies as well. I am on a tight budget so something cheaper would be nice. Thank you!

Answer
can i offer some advice?

don't get a dvd camcorder. that is the worst of all the diffent file formats. the choices are - mini dv, flash, Hard drive and DVD.

dvd offers the worst resolution of all the other formats. believe it or not, the humble mini dv offers the best in terms of everyday use.

if you fill upa HDD while on holidays then what can you do? if you're using mini dv then buy another one and keep shooting. or worse, using a hdd and it stuffs up means an expensive and upsetting trip tp the service center cos it's likely your files are gone.

dvd may seem convienient but is hopeless when trying to do things like edit on a computer. the end result is like photocopying a photocopy.

so really, you have a wide choice and i would suggest thinking about what sort of things you'll be using it for.

look for:

3ccd if possible
widescreen is even better
seperate mic inputs and external mic for better sound.

hope it helps!

Where can I buy a camcorder that can record for hours and hours?

Kuervo

I need it to get the person that has been graffitting my wall. We paint the wall and we find graffitti on the wall the next day again. I'm sick and tired, I'm gonna get these guys on video and turn them in.

I want to buy a camcorder or a small camera that I can leave hidden filming all night, where can I buy this? If you can please show me a link.

Answer
Surveillance cameras as very small and can connect to your computer, depending on the format of the video you should be able to record for a few days on a normal HDD

http://www.polarisusa.com/


Using a small consumer camera is another idea but the problem is the power supply, most cameras will run for a max of around 3 hours. unless you can connect it to a powers source. using a lard flash card you may be able to get a 24-36 hours at a time.

Hope there are some ideas here


RR

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How to connect Panasonic 3CCD camcorder to Apple power book to download the recorded movies?

best camcorder 3ccd image

Tom K.

I've connected the camcorder to the Mac using the USB port, but I am unable to access the camera. I tried using iMovie to no success. When I was using a PC I was able to access the camera and transfer the movies. I was hoping to be able to do the same with the Apple. The main reason I purchased the Mac was for the ease of editing and creating DVDs.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Answer
you must install a mac driver for your camera if you opt to use the usb port. if you cannot find a driver, you will need to use the firewire port.

What is a good inexpensive camcorder for independent filmmakers?

Sandy R

I'm looking for a camcorder to buy, something that will not give me the whole 'home movie' effect and feel to it. I will also need a tripod so it won't be shakey and all that but could you just tell me some good inexpensive camcorders that will give me what i'm looking for. I don't know much about camcorders and lenses but i'm looking into it. If anyone can help me with brands and prices of camcorders to look into I will be very thankful.

-M

Answer
By "something that will not give me the whole 'home movie' effect and feel," I think your talking about the film-look. It can be replicated, through either software or in-camera. However, both these options are pretty expensive, and it doesn't sound like you have that much money right now. I'll get to that later, but for now I'm going to talk about cameras.

I dont know your budget, but from what you said, Im guessing you want a camera probably $800 or below (correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll re write this). In that price range, I cant recommend any particular camera, but follow these rules and you should have a pretty good beginner filmmaking camera:

1. Get miniDV- pretty obvious isn't it?
2. Look for a lot of manual functions- every cam has auto functions, but look for the ability to switch to manual focus, iris, shutter, etc.
3. 3ccds are better than 1
4. The newest isnt always the greatest- not really a rule but basically dont go and get the newest thing that just came out

Other plusses are mic ports, headphone ports, hot shoes, and optical image stabilizer.

If you get a tripod, get one with a fluid head. I'm not recommending a particular one, but look around on google. To tell you the truth, Im not exactly a pro on tripods. But a useful trick that you can do with your tripod is screw on your camera, and instead of opening up the legs, hold the legs together and walk with it. If you do it right, the tripod will absorb the shake from your hands giving you a very cheap steadicam effect.

I hope this helped, and I'm a filmmaker as well, and I always like meeting other filmmakers so feel free to contact me at evilgenius4930@yahoo.com

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How do I completely remove audio from a youtube video?

top camcorders for youtube image

Birdy Nam

I have a youtube video i uploaded, but I want to take the audio off.

I DONT want to put another tack on the video, I just want no sound the entire video, but I have no idea how to do it, everything I look up just has to do with adding a soundtrack to videos.

So someone please help

I don't have windows vista, so I can not download windows movie maker, so windows movie maker is NOT an option.

Any other ways?

Answer
Still got the Footage or Rendered file on you Hard drive? If so, Upgrade your computer, go get one or both of the programs and put the file back on the Timeline and remove the audio. Not hard to do with either program, lots of help on YouTube for both programs also.

Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate & Sony Vegas Pro 10

Screen Shot, Top Picture - http://asimplelife.ca/nle.html Upgrade your computer to AVCHD specs below and you can run both programs seen on my Web Page on your computer. Just Rejig the search term below in the YouTube search, from the instructions below.

This is not a program that can run on any computer, see below -

Minimum System Requirements

Windows® 7, Windows Vista® (SP2), or Windows XP (SP3)
Intel® Pentium® or AMD Athlon⢠1.8 GHz (2.4 GHz or higher recommended)
-Intel Core⢠2 Duo 2.4 GHz required for AVCHD*
-Intel Core⢠2 Quad 2.66 GHz or Intel Core i7 required for
AVCHD* 1920
1 GB system memory recommended, 2 GB required for AVCHD*
DirectX® 9 or 10 compatible graphics card with 64 MB (128 MB or higher recommended)
-256 MB required for HD and AVCHD*
DirectX 9 (or higher) compatible sound card
3.8 GB of disk space
DVD-ROM drive to install software

Import Formats

â¢Video: AVCHD*, AVCHD Lite*, BD Blu-ray*, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®*, MPEG-4*, 3GP (MPEG-4)*, WMV, non-encrypted DVD titles (incl. DVD-VR/+VR), QuickTime® MOV (DV, MPEG-4*, H.264*), DivX Plus® MKV*
â¢Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3*, WMA
â¢Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF, PNG, J2K

If interested, link below takes you to the site, but you can get this $80 program for free. Do this by opening a web browser, surfing over to YouTube. Once there, in the search box on that site, enter 'Pinnacle Studio 14' or âSony Vegas Pro 10â. Youâre looking for free download, find a link or video that says that, in the video description, there will be link for a free download. Make sure, before you do this, to make sure your computer can meet or exceed those Specs above, and pay special attention to the AVCHD specs if you have or are going to get a HD camcorder.

http://www.videomaker.com/article/14635 Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate Collection

http://www.videomaker.com/article/15120 Sony Vegas Pro 10

What is a good vid camera that will make good vids for youtube, and be easy to transfer to a comp for editing?

Drew

I'm looking for a good camcorder with good picture and sound quality. I know very little about the different types of video cameras (hard drive, etc.) I plan on using it to transfer and edit videos on my computer. I won't spend more than $350. A specific model would help me most, but a simple explanation about which type of camera would be best for me would be appreciated.

Answer
The Optura 600 from canon

The Optura 600 represents the flagship of Canon's 1 chip MiniDV camcorders, the king of the Optura line. Retailing at around $1100 (up approximately $400 from the Optura 60), your money might be well-spent. The 600's huge 1/2.8" CCD promises excellent video performance, a category the Opturas have traditionally faired well in. Matchbook bodies seem to be all the rage, combining portability and deed. Many matchbooks, however, present handling issues, and may annoy those expecting a professional feel to match the large price tag. We hope the Optura 600 brought its "A-game," because we dropped it in the middle of the ring to face off against the top MiniDV consumer cams of the year.

Video Performance
The Optura 600 sports an enormous 1/2.8â CCD with 3.5 effective MP. The camcorder also uses Canonâs RGB Primary Color Filter for a boost in video performance. The difference these specs makes becomes obvious when you compare it to the Optura 60. The picture appears sharper and the colors are richer. The grayscale is also much more sharply defined.

Because this is Canonâs top of the line consumer camcorder, we held it up against the top models from other manufacturers. Compared to the GR-X5, one of our top video performers this year, the colors are a shade darker, and overall you might say that the Optura 600âs spectrum is more even. The black/white contrast looks better in the JVC GR-X5, however. The colors from the Sony DCR-PC1000

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How do I hook my camcorder to a computer?

best hi8 camcorders image

joli334

I have a Sony video Hi8 camcorder and I want to put the tape on my computer so I can edit the film with Windows Movie Maker. Do I need a firewire? If so, I'm not familiar with them and don't know where to put it. Could I possibly use a usb cord?

Answer
No you cannot use a firewire or USB with a standard Video Hi8 camcorder.

Depending on exactly which Sony Hi8 camcorder you have you will either have some yellow/white/red RCA connectors on the camcorder - or you will have a single socket and will have been supplied with a lead to plug into it having the yellow/white/red RCAs on the end. If your camcorder does not record stereo sound then you will not have the red connector.

Then there are quite a number of ways you can do it .

You could use an analogue capture card in your PC and connect the yellow/red/white RCA connections from your camcorder to it and capture direct as mpeg.


You could use an analogue to USB converter like this :-
http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/ad02a....
and connect it to your PC via USB although I have to say I have never found one of those that works very well.


You could use a digitiser - see here :-
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/reviews/av_dig...
and convert the output from the camcorder to digital and connect to your PC via firewire.


Or if you have a digital camcorder as well quite a few of them (Check the spec) can be used as a digitiser by connecting the VHS to the camera AV input and the firewire output to your PC

Which ever option you choose you will also need some sensible capture and editing software on your computer - I would suggest you go and have a look at :-
http://www.ulead.com/runme.htm


**

How do I capture video from my Sony Hi8 camcorder?

Jill S

I have a Sony TRV128 Hi8 video camcorder. I am trying to figure out how to put the videos onto my computer. I have tried a few types of connections, but the computer does not recognize the camcorder. The camcorder does not seem to have a firewire port, although it does have S video. Thank you!

Answer
Any computer wud ONLY import/upload DIGITAL video/files. It wud require then that your ANALOG Hi-8 video shud first be converted to DIGITAL. Check this out..
http://www.altoedge.com/usbcapture/index.html

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How to put videos from a camcorder onto the computer?

best camcorders canon image

PEACHES

So I was doing this school project with a camcorder (canon fs300) and I plugged the usb in (usually it works for pictures) and usually it pops up as CANON FS300 but this time it only said Removable Disk F and it only works for pictures.
I need to put the videos on to burn for a CD for class! HELP :(

Answer
Dont use any progs apart from explorer, open the drive and look for the videos, not sure what format they are going to be in (with out searching) maybe you are trying to use WMM or something that does not support the video format.

try the camera in another USB port you could even turn off your computer and restart it see if that helps/

RR

How to import videos onto iMac from Canon FS100?

Elise

I have a digital camcorder (Canon FS100) and I recorded a video on it and some pictures but whenever I attach it to the computer, only the pictures can go on and when I try to import videos, it says I need a different cable, which I don't have. Is there another way to import these videos on the computer? Thanks.

Answer
The Canon FS100 is flash memory based. The easiest way is to get a card reader and connect it to your Mac's USB port... Then take the SD card out of the camcorder and put it in the card reader. Copy the video files (I think they are MOD files) to your Mac.

You did not tell us which Mac or version of iMovie... but chances are good that you will need to conver (transcode) those MOD files before iMovie can do anything with them.

MPEG StreamClip
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html
is a good one - there are many others.

After the MOD files are converted to MOV or MP4 or DV format video, quit the transcoder. Launch iMovie and drag the converted clips to the clips pane or the event area for editing.

That import process you tried to use is for miniDV tape based camcorders that use firewire connection - your camcorder does not connect that way (to any computer) becasue it does not have a DV port.

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What is a good camera to make movies with?

best camcorder $1200 image

monkeyman1

I am interested in film and want a good camera to film with. My price range is 1200-1500. Thanks!
Preferably something like a Canon GL2 or some camera like that.

Answer
i have used Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder which is really good one .

* Record and play back HDV 1080i video; switchable recording in standard definition
* ClearVid CMOS sensor; 20x optical zoom
* Wide 3.5-inch Hybrid Touch Panel Clear Photo LCD Plus display
* Capture 1.2-megapixel stills to Memory Stick Duo
* Professional 62mm Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T lens

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-FX7-High-Definition-Handycam-Camcorder/dp/B000IBDWNS/?tag=pntsa-20

If I can use a camcorder to uplaod videos to my computer? How I connect it my computer to download the video?

ahlfans1

If I can use a camcorder? Can you tell my, where can I connect the camcorder stuff to the computer button. To get it the download my video to my computer? I have a Dell Inspiron 1200 LapTop, Where can I connect the camcorder to upload my video. Tell me , where the buttons the connect the camcorder are? Thanks

Answer
This depends on several factors.

Firstly, is your camcorder a mini-dv, hard disc or analog (very old)?

If your camecorder is mini-dv then you can connect your camecorder via "firewire" cable. One end plugs into your computer and the other end into your laptop. My Dell has a port labled "i394" which is the "firewire" port. This is where you plug the cable. If you need to buy a firewire then be careful as some are 4-pin and others are 6-pin. My Dell is Inspiron 9400 and takes a 4-pin firewire. Yours is likely to be the same too. Once connected, if you have the right capture software on your computer you can capture in "realtime".

I'm not sure how hard disc camecorders work - perhaps the same...or there might be a more of a "drag and drop" feature via USB or Firewire.

Without knowing what your camera is, I can't really be more specific in my help to you.

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

best camcorder value review image

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 a good, somewhat cheap camcorder to film indie movies with?

best camcorder 0 lux image

Josh Turne

I'm looking for a nice video camera to possibly make some movies just as a fun little hobby. Nothing too serious, but I want a camera that is still somewhat legit. Are the handheld ones reliable enough?
My budget is probably around 500 bucks...

Much Love
Also, just a little side question... what do you need to film at night, like when it looks all green and eerie. A night-vision lens?

Answer
Hi Josh:

If by "the handheld ones" you mean the non-shoulder mount ones, you won't find any "shoulder mount" camcorders under a thousand bucks or two. Anything in your price range will be a consumer-level handheld (but tripod or shoulder-rig mountable) camcorder.

And like what young Daniel mentioned about the Sony "NightShot" feature in some of its camcorders, that system is using the InfraRed (IR) sensitivity of the CMOS or CCD image sensors that camcorders have. An IR LED array or other "invisible" infrared light source provides illumination when there is total darkness.

True "night vision" lenses (which are available, but expensive) use a different technique called photomultipliers to actually amplify dim ambient light & skylight (even starlight) to shoot in what otherwise appears to be total darkness. The AstroScope is the most popular and one of the best: http://www.electrophysics.com/Browse/Brw_ProductLineCategory.asp?CategoryId=172&Area=NV (They also start at around $6000.)

Daniel also mentioned, generically, the Canon Vixia line, but the current "best bet" for good video quality and decent price is Canon's Vixia HV40 HDV (high-def on miniDV tape) which is normally $700, but they offer factory-refurbished for $499. See Canon Direct's store link: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_249403_-1

The miniDV format is the highest video bit-rate you can buy (whether standard-def or high-def) in a non-professional camcorder (and many professional level camcorders use the HDV format). And the HV40 has an external microphone input for pro-sounding audio.

I use both Sony and Canon camcorders (consumer and pro-grade), and though it doesn't have an IR mode, the Canon HV40's "Night" setting has a 0.2 lux sensitivity (which is excellent, about 5x better than most low-light units), and in normal light will give you good footage no matter what you are shooting. (Most flash-memory based home HD camcorders use high-compression video, which doesn't handle fast-action very well without creating "digital artifacts" on the screen.)

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

What's the best cheap camcorder I can buy?

Adam Weiss

I've never had a camcorder before and know pretty much nothing about them, but I want to start making films and I don't know where to start. I'm looking for one that does DVDs and also is a little more advanced than standard ones. But I also have a price range, let's say up to 300 bucks. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Answer
Samsung SCD6040 Mini DV Digital Camcorder

Here is a link:
http://refurbelectronics.com/scd6040-rb.html

Its refurbished. That just means it was barely used and then fixed so it acts and lasts EXACTLY like a new one. It has a warranty, and its only 450 dollars. It is a video cam and a digital camera in one. So you get a 4 megapixel camera, which is essentially the standard right now along with the camcorder!

Description
Samsung SCD6040, with 10x optical and 800x digital zoom, is perfect for recording crystal clear, high quality video from great distances. Its 680,000 CCD captures stunning, true-to-life color without compromising the size of the camcorder, and the 2.5 inch color LCD lets you see exactly what you are shooting without peering into a small viewfinder.
The 4.1 Megapixel digital camera that is the other half of this DuoCam has 3x optical zoom and 6x digital zoom and comes with 16MB of memory. A built-in auto flash pops up from the top of the device and the full featured manual control gives you many options to shoot with. Expansion is available through a multi-card expansion slot
Some camcorders provide either good video capabilities or still picture performance. The Samsung SC-D6040 DuoCam excels in both areas, bringing you outstanding still and moving images from one convenient package.

Features

Camcorder

* Zoom Lens: 10x Optical, 900x Digital
* 680K Pixel CCD
* 2.5", 123K Pixel LCD
* Easy-Q/EZ Navigator
* 0 Lux Power Nite Pix
* IEEE1394 In/Out

Camera

* Zoom Lens: 3x Optical 12x Digital
* 4.1 MegaPixel CCD for DSC (2272x1704)
* Multi-Card Slot w/16MB Memory Stick Included
* Built-In Auto Flash
* Full Featured Manual Control - Step Camera Function Key (Shutter, Iris, Maual, Auto, Night Scene Custom Set, MPEG Rec., Play, Etc)

Shared

* MPEG-4 Videoclip (15fps, VGA)
* USB Streaming(V2.0 for DSC
* Color Viewfinder

680,000-pixel CCD * variable-speed 10X optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 900X) * 4-megapixel effective recording

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