xtremelyeu
A friend of mine told me that with hard drive cameras, the image appears kind of grainy. Is that true? How about flash memory camcorders? Do they produce better video footage?
Ok, but what about a standard def hard drive camcorder? I looked at the hd camcorders and they are too expensive for now. My absolute limit is $500.
Answer
Generally, grainy video will be captured by any consumer camcorder in low-light environments. This is the case whether hard drive, flash memory, DVD or miniDV tape. To eliminate this, don't capture video in poor light. Either turn on the lights, use a video light or save your money for a better camcorder with bigger lenses and imaging chip(s).
Consumer hard drive and flash memory camcorders save video to the same highly compressed MPEG2 (standard definition) or AVCHD (high definition) file types. If the camcorders are essentially the same - with the only difference being the storage media - the captured video will be identical. For example, the Canon HG series and the Canon HF series camcorders.
Please keep in mind that in both cases, the video is compressed a lot. Under good lighting conditions, their video will be fine, but if the video quality is THAT important to you, then you need to understand what digital video compression does... Short version:
Digital video compression = discarded video data = reduced video quality.
An extreme example of what video compression does can be experienced at vimeo.com by comparing the video quality of the same video when viewed as high definition or non high definition. The same can be viewed at youtube.com when comparing videos with the "high quality" or high definition link in the lower right corner of the video window.
MiniDV tape captures DV (and HDV) digital video and compresses much less than consumer flash memory or hard drive based camcorders. As such, miniDV tape continues to provide best available video quality - which is why miniDV tape continues to be the choice for professionals. Even when they use hard drives, the external hard drives they attach to their miniDV tape based camcorders record to DV or HDV - check the FireStore external drives from Focus Enhancements. Same with flash memory (check the Panasonic P2 cards).
Since consumer hard disc drive camcorders have known problems with vibration (loud audio or other vibration sources can cause the hard drive heads to park and not capture video)
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7594_102-0.html?forumID=59&threadID=321392&messageID=2933075&tag=forums06;forum-threads
and they can stop recording at high altitude (higher than 9,800 feet) because of lack of air pressure, I no longer recommend hard drive based camcorders.
MiniDV tape and flash memory camcorders do not have these vibration or altitude issues. Since I cannot see into the future and don't know where I will want to capture video, the best path is to eliminate potential problems. Suggested camcorders in your price range: Canon FS10, FS11, FS100.
MiniDV tape requires your computer to have a firewire port - so if your computer does not have a firewire port, hopefully it has an available expansion slot so you can add one. If you are unable or unwilling to add a firewire port to your computer, then a flash memory camcorder is your only alternative.
MiniDV tape's other advantage is the "archive process". MiniDV tape is cheap and if you do not reuse the tapes, the tape is your archive/backup. How are you planning to archive/back up the video captured to either a hard drive or flash memory camcorder?
Another heads up: Whichever camcorder you decide, disable digital zoom. It is useless and will degrade the video quality. Use only optical zoom (unless you want to call the captured video "art").
Generally, grainy video will be captured by any consumer camcorder in low-light environments. This is the case whether hard drive, flash memory, DVD or miniDV tape. To eliminate this, don't capture video in poor light. Either turn on the lights, use a video light or save your money for a better camcorder with bigger lenses and imaging chip(s).
Consumer hard drive and flash memory camcorders save video to the same highly compressed MPEG2 (standard definition) or AVCHD (high definition) file types. If the camcorders are essentially the same - with the only difference being the storage media - the captured video will be identical. For example, the Canon HG series and the Canon HF series camcorders.
Please keep in mind that in both cases, the video is compressed a lot. Under good lighting conditions, their video will be fine, but if the video quality is THAT important to you, then you need to understand what digital video compression does... Short version:
Digital video compression = discarded video data = reduced video quality.
An extreme example of what video compression does can be experienced at vimeo.com by comparing the video quality of the same video when viewed as high definition or non high definition. The same can be viewed at youtube.com when comparing videos with the "high quality" or high definition link in the lower right corner of the video window.
MiniDV tape captures DV (and HDV) digital video and compresses much less than consumer flash memory or hard drive based camcorders. As such, miniDV tape continues to provide best available video quality - which is why miniDV tape continues to be the choice for professionals. Even when they use hard drives, the external hard drives they attach to their miniDV tape based camcorders record to DV or HDV - check the FireStore external drives from Focus Enhancements. Same with flash memory (check the Panasonic P2 cards).
Since consumer hard disc drive camcorders have known problems with vibration (loud audio or other vibration sources can cause the hard drive heads to park and not capture video)
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7594_102-0.html?forumID=59&threadID=321392&messageID=2933075&tag=forums06;forum-threads
and they can stop recording at high altitude (higher than 9,800 feet) because of lack of air pressure, I no longer recommend hard drive based camcorders.
MiniDV tape and flash memory camcorders do not have these vibration or altitude issues. Since I cannot see into the future and don't know where I will want to capture video, the best path is to eliminate potential problems. Suggested camcorders in your price range: Canon FS10, FS11, FS100.
MiniDV tape requires your computer to have a firewire port - so if your computer does not have a firewire port, hopefully it has an available expansion slot so you can add one. If you are unable or unwilling to add a firewire port to your computer, then a flash memory camcorder is your only alternative.
MiniDV tape's other advantage is the "archive process". MiniDV tape is cheap and if you do not reuse the tapes, the tape is your archive/backup. How are you planning to archive/back up the video captured to either a hard drive or flash memory camcorder?
Another heads up: Whichever camcorder you decide, disable digital zoom. It is useless and will degrade the video quality. Use only optical zoom (unless you want to call the captured video "art").
BEST PROFESSIONAL HD VIDEO CAMERA FOR RECORDING INDOOR CONCERTS/PERFORMANCES (UNDER $1300)?
Maranata
Hello everyone!
I am completely inexperienced about video cameras. Could someone recommend the best professional HD video camera for recording INDOOR (guitar/string quartet/piano/some percussion) concerts and dance/drama performances, which usually have low light. I would prefer a shoulder-mount model. My budget is only $1300.
Thanks in advance!
Answer
My definition of a "professional" HD video camera:
Lens diameter of 70mm or larger;
3CCD or 3CMOS imaging chip array.
Low compression video capture and storage.
When you find this, you get:
Separate zoom and focus rings on the lens barrel;
Manual audio gain control on the outside of the camcorder;
Neutral density filter setting on the outside of the camcorder...
At the low end are "prosumer" units like the Sony HDR-FX1000.
Low end camcorders have small lens and small imaging chip - this makes it impossible to capture good video under poor lighting conditions. Manual controls are buried in the menu and difficult to use/reach (your iPad has no manual controls). As the lens diameter gets larger and the imaging chip size increases, the low-light and poor light video capture behavior gets better and so does the price. As the manual controls migrate to the outside of the camcorder, more price increases - and add a mic jack an manual audio control...
dSLRs and other still image capture devices that happen to capture video as a secondary "convenience feature" should not be used as camcorders. This does not mean they cannot capture good video - they can, but they can't be treated as a camcorder. dSLRs have known issues related to overheating when capturing video over a prolonged time; poor audio options, file size and video length limitations. Generally, dSLRs do not have "stabilization" for video (even when the lens has stabilization).
Best video is captured under perfect lighting and best audio levels using low compression. That is not reality. That means we need to use equipment that works under as many adverse circumstances as possible.
Use of some sort of stabilizer (other than the camcorder's optical stabilizer) is strongly recommended. Humans are not built to be steady. Use of the ground, a rock, chair, shelf, monopod, shoulder-mount - anything but handheld... If you are capturing video handheld - with a camcorder, dSLR or other video capture device, expect poor quality.
Audio: The built-in mic works well with any camcorder when the audio is at an appropriate level and located in the right place. When this happens, the video framing may not be good. When the video framing is good, then the audio may not be set up correctly. The resolution to this is to use an external mic or audio recorder. This way the audio and the video are not physically depending on each other. Even if you don't choose to use an external mic or audio recorder, it is much better to have the mic jack and manual audio control (in a camcorder) when you want it - rather than want it and not have it.
I would suggest you look into the Canon Legria HF S series. Decent lens diameter and imaging chip size for the price, external mic jack and manual audio gain control. Please do not compare their video quality to a $4,000 camcorder - especially under poor/indoor lighting conditions. The lesn diameter is only 58mm and single imaging chip is 1/3".
Tips:
Use a tripod or other steadying device.
On a camcorder, use the white balance.
Use an external stereo mic (Audio Technica has a decent, affordable ones) or audio recorder (like a Zoom H2) when recording music - the stereo separation is much better than mono audio.
Use the manual audio gain control.
Capture video under good lighting.
Use the White balance settings.
Capture video at highest quality.
The shoulder mount cams in your price range have small 37mm lens diameter. The Canon HF S series on a shoulder mount system will be much better. And when you go with the HF S series cam, that leaves you budget for the other stuff.
And we don't know if your computer needs to be upgraded to deal with the AVCHD compressed video.
My definition of a "professional" HD video camera:
Lens diameter of 70mm or larger;
3CCD or 3CMOS imaging chip array.
Low compression video capture and storage.
When you find this, you get:
Separate zoom and focus rings on the lens barrel;
Manual audio gain control on the outside of the camcorder;
Neutral density filter setting on the outside of the camcorder...
At the low end are "prosumer" units like the Sony HDR-FX1000.
Low end camcorders have small lens and small imaging chip - this makes it impossible to capture good video under poor lighting conditions. Manual controls are buried in the menu and difficult to use/reach (your iPad has no manual controls). As the lens diameter gets larger and the imaging chip size increases, the low-light and poor light video capture behavior gets better and so does the price. As the manual controls migrate to the outside of the camcorder, more price increases - and add a mic jack an manual audio control...
dSLRs and other still image capture devices that happen to capture video as a secondary "convenience feature" should not be used as camcorders. This does not mean they cannot capture good video - they can, but they can't be treated as a camcorder. dSLRs have known issues related to overheating when capturing video over a prolonged time; poor audio options, file size and video length limitations. Generally, dSLRs do not have "stabilization" for video (even when the lens has stabilization).
Best video is captured under perfect lighting and best audio levels using low compression. That is not reality. That means we need to use equipment that works under as many adverse circumstances as possible.
Use of some sort of stabilizer (other than the camcorder's optical stabilizer) is strongly recommended. Humans are not built to be steady. Use of the ground, a rock, chair, shelf, monopod, shoulder-mount - anything but handheld... If you are capturing video handheld - with a camcorder, dSLR or other video capture device, expect poor quality.
Audio: The built-in mic works well with any camcorder when the audio is at an appropriate level and located in the right place. When this happens, the video framing may not be good. When the video framing is good, then the audio may not be set up correctly. The resolution to this is to use an external mic or audio recorder. This way the audio and the video are not physically depending on each other. Even if you don't choose to use an external mic or audio recorder, it is much better to have the mic jack and manual audio control (in a camcorder) when you want it - rather than want it and not have it.
I would suggest you look into the Canon Legria HF S series. Decent lens diameter and imaging chip size for the price, external mic jack and manual audio gain control. Please do not compare their video quality to a $4,000 camcorder - especially under poor/indoor lighting conditions. The lesn diameter is only 58mm and single imaging chip is 1/3".
Tips:
Use a tripod or other steadying device.
On a camcorder, use the white balance.
Use an external stereo mic (Audio Technica has a decent, affordable ones) or audio recorder (like a Zoom H2) when recording music - the stereo separation is much better than mono audio.
Use the manual audio gain control.
Capture video under good lighting.
Use the White balance settings.
Capture video at highest quality.
The shoulder mount cams in your price range have small 37mm lens diameter. The Canon HF S series on a shoulder mount system will be much better. And when you go with the HF S series cam, that leaves you budget for the other stuff.
And we don't know if your computer needs to be upgraded to deal with the AVCHD compressed video.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment