What are the pros & cons of this camcorder?

Monica

The Toshiba Camileo X100, I just mainly plan to make videos with my friends. So can anyone tell me the pros & cons?
Thanks in advance. :)

Answer
Pros:
Optical zoom.
Flip screen, if you want to shoot yourself on camera.
4GB internal memory. This will usually hold about an hour. Many cameras that Record to SDHC often have only a token amount of on board memory.
Limited white balance options. I don't see a manual setting, but at least there's some options for general situations

Cons:
No external microphone input. On board microphones will often pick up *everything*, like the sound of your hand brushing against the camera housing. An external microphone input would allow you to use handheld or other directional mics. If you take this to a concert, expect to hear more of the people around you screaming than the singer on stage.
No manual focus. Sometimes autofocus will latch onto something other than what you want to feature.

Others might also criticize the image sensor, among other things you'd typically find in cameras priced in the 4-digit range. But I'm guessing you're not looking for a camera to film the next American epic. You just want a camera for goofing around, taking on trips, and recording the occasional event or party; and for that it's perfectly fine.

But if someone decides they want to take a class in video production, this camera likely won't pass muster because of the cons I noted.

Consumer Level Camcorders for pro quality vids?

Philip

What's the best brand of camcorders for the consumer level for at or near pro quality vids. Of course I'm after the HD kind of thing and moneywise no more than US$800 if possible.

If at all possible, recommend the specific model too.

Answer
Hi Philip,

I'm a camera salesman, so I always try to be as neutral as possible. In my opinion
there is no best brand in camcorders. All the established brands make fine products,
these days. But we all have our prefferences based on previous experiences or not....
If you ask me, not as a salesman, which brand apeals the most to me, I have to say JVC.
Not only because of the quality and pricing, their service is outstanding.
Like I said before,Sony,Canon,Samsung,Panasonic etc. all make excellent HD cams in
your price-range. The difference between consumer and Pro camcorders is not the picture
quality anymore. It's mostly the durability and the possibility to expand. External mic's p.e.
In your price-range you can speak of pro-sumer cams. Consumers that like to use their
product like a pro.
Here are some links to a couple of models I think are suitable for you :

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Camcorders/model.HDC-TM900K_11002_7000000000000005702

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666294273

http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL028615&pathId=171&page=10

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hf_m41

I wish you much wishdom in choosing.

Kind Regards, Lance.

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Can a normal camcorder detect infrared light?

Wut

I have some camcorders that do not have "night shot" or a built-in infrared lamp. If I get an external IR lamp will these camcorders be able to detect it? They're all Panasonics--SDR-S26, SDR-S26K, SDR-H85, HDC-HS250P, and PV-GS250.

Answer
yes and no. All normal camcorders and digital cameras can detect IR light. For that reason they all have IR blocking filters to prevent having false colors in normal conditions. In a few models, the filter can be defeated to create "nightshot" effects, but not the Panasonics. Some hackers are willing to do surgery on their camera to forcibly and permanently remove the filter that is located on the CCD sensor. not really a good idea. some cameras have a poorly functioning filter and pickup some IR light. to test yours, point a television remote control at the camera lens and see if there is a light when the buttons are pushed.

camcorder shutter speed for low light conditions?

leatricema

There is a shutter speed given for video cameras in low light conditions. (1/30, 1/60, etc.) Is this the speed of the lens at all times or just when the lighting is low?

Answer
The camcorder's shutter speed is in fractions of a second and the amount of time the shutter remains open to allow light to hit the imaging chip (CCD or CMOS).

1/30 is typically the auto setting when in low light. Smaller number in the denominator means the shuttr stas open longer. Moving objects will record with ghost tailing and possibly blurred. 1/60-1/125 is in daylight. In auto shutter mode, as the lighting get brighter (or the aperture is opened), the shutter speed can increase. Most camcorders also allow you to manually set the shutter speed. At about 1/500-1/1000, the aperture can't open any more and the image will darken unless lots of light is added to the scene. Be careful, though, at this speed or faster, there is an irritating "strobe" effect that settles in and can be very uncomfortable for the viewer.

(Remember, still photos capture is different from video - with stills, typically, the goal is to freeze the moment so faster shutter speeds are more common. Which video, motion is fluid, so each frame does not need to have everything in sharp focus).

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Top Christmas Gifts for this year!?!?

Kevin L

Preferably electronics or something to do with action sports

10 or more if you can : )

Answer
Kindle Wireless Reading
iPod touch
Flip UltraHD Camcorder
Blu-ray Disc Player
Wireless Internet Camera
iPod nano
Digital SLR Camera
HD Pocket Video Camera
GPS
Portable DVD Player
Clock Radio
LCD HDTV
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fbestsellers%2Felectronics%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dpd%255Fts%255Fpg%255F1%26pg%3D1&tag=products07e-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

How good is the Kodak Zi6 compared to other portable handheld cameras?

Rangersfan

Answer
Flip UltraHD Camcorder is alot better than the Zi6
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0023B14TK?tag=dcmb-20

Review:
If I'm going to spend more than a hundred bucks on an item or somewhere around there, I do extensive research first to know I got the best bang-for-the-buck and, consequently, dodge any potential future buyer's remorse.

I've realized that the time I spend doing my product comparisons is often time that others don't have so I may as well share what I can.

I'll start by saying that you'll see my "Verified Amazon Purchase" on the Flip HD Ultra Camcorder review because, obviously, that's the one I wound up buying and I'll share with you why. But what I like in a camcorder may not suit your own needs so I'll break it down and let you decide what's best for you via what I found out:

Here are the pocket camcorders I compared:

Flip UltraHD (will be referred to as "F")
Flip Mino HD 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "M")
Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "CL")
Kodak Zi6 Pocket HD (Will be referred to as "K")

Why HD cameras only? Brighter colors and better images, wider images

HD SHOOTING TIME:
F: 120 minutes.
M: 120 minutes
CL:120 minutes
K: 25 minutes with batteries they included, 120 minutes if you buy an SD card

MEMORY:
F: 8 GB
M:8 GB
CL: 8 GB
K: internally only 30 MB recording space but it has 32 GB expandable SD/SDHC card slot. Because it comes with such small recording space you really need to buy an SD or SDHC card to maximize its potential, but the potential is really good and this will increase your ability to shoot longer.


RESOLUTION:
All 720p which is excellent, just one step below the top 1080p format.

SOUND:
F:Premier AAC audio. Best sound quality but still not great in winds
M:Premier AAC audio. Best sound quality but still not great in winds.
CL:Poor sound quality; had issues with sound and picture not being in sync.
K:Poor sound quality

ZOOM:
F: 2x
M:2x
CL:2x
K: poor quality zoom on the one I tried but I still think it's 2x. It has a great macro focus for very close-up objects if, for example, you see a bumble bee and want to shoot it on a leaf a few inches away! Kinda cool.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
F: 6.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches ; 11.2 ounces
M: 2 x 0.7 x 3.9 inches ; 1 pound
CL: 3.3 x 7.9 x 6.3 inches ; 11.2 ounces
K: 4x 5x 2.5" 2.4 lbs


TECHNICAL DETAILS:
F: USB cable pops out of the back so you don't need to keep up with a separate cable. Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries. Note: Some sets come with the HDMi mini included and others come with the rechargeable battery pack on Amazon. Looks like one or the other but of course if you need both you can buy the other.
M: USB cable pops out of the back on this one as well. Has child safe button to prevent accidental deletion of videos. Internal lithium ion battery recharges through built-in USB arm
CL: USB cable in camera. Included in box are HDMI cable, USB extension cable, silicon skin & rechargeable battery.
K: Included in box are HD and AV cables and wrist strap and rechargeable batteries and battery charger. Has built in USB arm.

SPEED:
F: 30 frames per second.
M: 30 frames per second
CL: 30 frames per second
K: choice of 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second.

VIEWING SCREEN: All 2" except the Kodak was the largest at 2.4"


IMPORTANT NOTES:
F: Best low-light performance for the mini cameras (though not perfect at all) and least amount of blurring and dropped frames in my opinion. You can get an underwater case for this one! Though that may sound crazy for a Texan, we use the camera non-stop on vacations and even when we aren't IN the water, we are around the water...on boats, in the sand with sea mist, etc. Then we can dive in and record the fish. Comes preloaded with flipshare software...just plug in to computer and it pops up.
M: Colors don't appear as good on the Mino as the other cameras. Thinnest camera. Make sure you get the one that only comes in the color aluminum or brushed metal. If it comes in any other colors it is the 1st generation MinoHD and they improved upon that one in the newer models. Great audio. Better shooting in low light than most mini cameras. Camera comes preloaded with FlipShare software. Can get still images through flipshare software.
CL: Decent filming in low light. Software is preloaded in camcorder.
K: The only camera in my list without image stabilization which results in very shaky filming. The others have built-in image stabilization to help correct it. What appears to be metal in picture is actually a chrome colored plastic. That said, this had the largest viewing screen of all of them. 2.4" Very poor in low light and seemed to have far more shaking and blurring due to lack of image stabilization. It also takes still pictures but they are really rea

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Do hard drive camcorders produce grainy film footage?

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").

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.

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Help with my camcorder?

Dylan

i have a big wight line on the top of my camcorder it is just on the screen and goes away when i put it on the computer does anyone know how i can fix this

Answer
Am I right to think that you mean a "big WHITE line" on the top of your camcorder LCD screen? If yes, does the same line appear on the computer screen when you connect it up to use it as a webcam? If there's no line on the computer screen, then it may be a problem with the LCD screen on the camcorder. You'll have to send it to the shop for a better advice on what's the problem.

In the meantime, you can do some research on the Internet by reading forums and website or checking with other people online with similar problems. Googling your camcorder's make (brand) and model number, together with a description of the problem is a good way to start. Also look up the manufacturer's website to see if they have a technical support section.

Camcorders?

KJ

I'm looking for a DVD or miniDV camcorder. There are so many out there. Any recommendations for about $400?

Answer
Get the Canon Elura 100 it is a great mini dv.. Canon is top of the line on cameras and camcorders.. Sony is a hassle and not worth buying at all.

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i want a good camcorder/camera?

Tyrece Joh

i want a camcorder/camera i want to take really good pictures/videos about 450 dollars no higher than that i want to put videos on youtube and take pictures when i go on vacation etc plz help thanks

Answer
Check out the top rated and under $450 camcorders to buy: http://lovetosharethis.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-best-hd-and-digital-camcorders-can.html

Any Ideals On First Camcorder?

Pistol_Pac

Looking To Buy My First Camcorder, I Have A Budget Of $300. I Want Somthing With A Usb Port So I Can Edit On My Pc, Unless There Is A Easyier Way. My Pc Dose Not Have A Firewire Port. I Really Dont Know Much About Camcoders But I Dont Want A Toyish Cam. Also I Would Like It To Have A Good Zoom, And Would Like Dvd But If It Has Usb It Would Be Fine. Dose Anybody Have Any Models In Mind Or A Link? 10 Points For Best Answer.

Answer
This camcorder buying guide should get you up to speed quickly on what features to consider:
http://www.easycamcorders.com/content/Beginners-Guide.htm

and a good starting point is this list of the top camcorders in 2007:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/CamInfo-Selects-2007-33545.htm which picked the Panasonic PV-GS85 (http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/CamInfo-Selects-2007-33545.htm#300 ) as the top camcorder in the under $300 category.

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What camcorder would you suggest...?

come.winte

I need a camcorder for under $400 that shoots great videos, has good battery life, and has a pretty good amount of memory.

Any ideas?

Answer
I would suggest you to have a look at the Top 50 Camcorders at first for a better overview. http://theinsider.pricerunner.co.uk/65/top-50-dissected-%E2%80%93-camcorders

But I would recommend you those two camcorders :
1. Sony DCR-SR32 for £308.99 http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/8-868022/Camcorders/Sony-DCR-SR32-Compare-Prices
2. Sony DCR-TRV245 for £355.35 http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/8-141810/Camcorders/Sony-DCR-TRV245-Compare-Prices

Best digital camcorder to buy?

Q. I really want to buy a digital camcorder to make my own videos (for youtube etc)
I don't want to spent to much but i want one that works well and has good graphics. Do they work on Vista?
Whats the cheapest i should pay?
(i live in the uk)

Answer
Go to cnet.co.uk, and click on 'Camcorder Reviews', then visit 'Editor's Top Rated' and 'Most Popular Reviews'. Most of the information you need would be on that website.

You can buy a decent digital camcorder for around £300, but if you want something a little more professional, like the Sony HDR-FX1, be prepared to pay around £2000. You may want to go for something in between, like the JVC Everio GZ-MC500 which, as they mention on Cnet, is suitable for amateur film-makers. For a cheap camcorder, Argos is selling camcorders for around £150, such as the Samsung VPD361 Mini DV Camcorder. Don't ever buy second-hand camcorders - there would definitely be something wrong with it; why else would the seller sell it off?

Look out for the newer models of the old model - a newer version would have extra, improved features added to the previous version. Always look for what's best for you and be clear with what aspects are more important to you than others. For me, it's recording time, battery life and visual motion quality; for you it may be visual quality, design and editing software, everything else may be secondary (no camcorder is perfect, there's always a flaw). Go for HD camcorders, the visual quality (graphics) is much better than non-HD camcorders. Also, makes sure you know the definitions to certain technical jargon, such as CCD. Make sure all the accessories and cables are compatible with your computer.

Before purchasing a camcorder, go to electronic shops e.g. Dixons, and try out different camcorders to see which is best for you. If you see something you fancy, then purchase it online as it's much cheaper that way. When you go to the shops, don't act like you've never had a camcorder before and pretend to know your stuff... or you may get conned! Yes, camcorders do work on Vista. After looking through all the possibilites, I'm probably going to buy the Sony Handycam HDR-SR8.

If you're going to make a video for Youtube with your new camcorder, don't shoot videos of yourself, it's just sad and corny.

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what's a good camcorder under $250?

Edith Gilb

Answer
Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Chrome)
Technical Details
Color: Chrome

* Holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) on 4 GB of built-in memory
* Weighs only 3.3 ounces; Super-slim, super-sleek design, fits into your pocket or purse
* Limited Edition MinoHD Chrome features a shiny, reflective surface
* Flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software
* FlipShare software lets you save and organize your videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, email your videos, and upload them
http://www.amazon.com/Flip-MinoHD-Camcorder-Minutes-Chrome/dp/B0023B14T0/?tag=tele-smart-20

FOR MORE
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1280836466/ref=sr_st?keywords=Flip+Video+MinoHD&page=1&rh=n%3A172282%2Cn%3A!493964%2Ck%3AFlip+Video+MinoHD&sort=relevancerank&tag=tele-smart-20
$$$

I need a good 1080p HD camcorder for under $250. Can anyone help me out?

Branon Dau

I don't need a big, professional HD canon or something, just a small hand help sony or toshiba or something camcorder. Please help, thank! :)

Answer
Getting a HD camcorder is taking a step backward in Video Quality. HD camcorders Interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly, the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. MiniDV tape camcorders give every frame of every shot and usually cost less.

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/zr960

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Series LXI VHS Camcorder value?

dr1115

I have an old probably at least mid 90s Series LXI VHS Camcorder in the basement with all the components (Carrying case microphone, etc). It's basically a tv news style camcorder that takes VHS tapes. Anybody know if anything like this has any value at all? It's in Good condition I'd say not great at all but good.
Don't be ignorant to the obvious. I know people don't use those anymore I was thinking for the value as a collectible if it is. And somebody who actually knows.

Answer
Trash it. As no one caries VHS tapes any more, and no one uses a VHS VCR on their TV any more, it will be of little use to anyone. Your cell phone takes better quality movies than a 20 year old VHS camera. I did find an online auction for a similar camera. The starting bid was $1. There were no bids on the product. http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/Series-LXI-VHS-Camcorder-13207811.html

What camcorder is best value for the quality?

Pamela

I would like to purchase for family use....vacations, new baby, sports. I would like HD.
Is Flip good for TV viewing? Want to watch clearly on TV and computer.

Answer
You can consider buying
Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes ..
Easy-to-use, pocket-sized camcorder featuring one-touch recording and digital zoom
Captures 120 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch FlipShare software
Built-in FlipShare software lets you easily email videos, edit individual clips, and upload video to sharing sites like YouTube and MySpace
Large 2-inch color LCD screen to play back and delete videos
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280M1FC?ie=UTF8&tag=bdd-linking-005-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00280M1FC

Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation, 2 Hours
All-new MinoHD is the world's sleekest HD camcorder
Captures 120 minutes of stunning HD video on 8 GB of built-in memory; no additional memory needed
Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your PC or Mac to launch pre-loaded FlipShare software
FlipShare software makes it easy to email videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, capture still-image snapshots
Large, 2-Inch anti-glare color display to play back and delete videos
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002R5AM7C?ie=UTF8&tag=bdd-linking-005-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002R5AM7C

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
$$$

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Can i use this accessory with my Sony DCR SR47 even though it does not have night shot?

Jason C

will this make shooting in dark conditions better with my camera or will it have no effect?

http://www.sony.co.nz/products/product/camcorder/lens-filter-and-flash/hvlirm.jsp

cheers

Answer
To prevent IR from being an issue with the sensors in digital cameras and camcorders it is normally deliberately blocked. Hence if your camera does not have Sony's NightShot(r) mode the device will have no effect on your low light photos and videos.

Will this lens give me better picture quality on my sony dcr sr47?

Jason C

just wondering if this lens will make the picture quality of my camera better

http://www.sony.co.nz/products/product.jsp?sku=VCLHGA07

Cheers

Answer
Iridflare is correct adding a lens will not improve much - but since you did not tell us what is wrong with the video quality, it is difficult to know what you might try to improve it.

The DCR-SR47 is a hard disc drive camcorder that can capture compressed MPEG2 video to the hard drive. The menu system in the camcorder - accessed using the LCD panel touchscreen - has a selection on "video quality". If that is set to low so the camcorder can record longer, then video will be poor. Set the video quality to highest quality available, don't move the camera when you are capturing video, shoot under good lighting conditions... and it *should* provide you with OK video... nothing to sell to Hollywood, but "good enough" for many.

Read the manual - it has instructions on selecting the video quality.

Use a tripod or other steadying device, even a chair or table or the floor, and limit the video captured when hand-held. Turn on the lights or use a flashlight or video light.

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how to make imovies?

B.diamond

i got a high definition camcorder that always put my movies in mpeg from and make them quick time to imovies and iam not sure how to do that but it says that i can upload movies right to youtube but i have a laptop i need help on working to camcorder and computer

Answer
if you have the newest version, i found it different from the version i always had, i connected my camcorder from USB and i was able to find the clips and then i dragged them to a certain spot (the top middle box) if you wanna share it on youtube, go to the top to the share tab and there will be the option to share it on youtube. i did that also and at first didnt work, but i then shut off my other programs i had on and tried it again, and it worked, if you need more help look up tutorials on apple.com

How do I make a YouTube music Video?

Ken

I want to make my own music video and post it up on YouTube. I have Fujitsu Laptop and Olympus Digital Camera. Please answer my questions below.

1) Is camcorder really necessary ?
2) What are good Free Video Editing software to use, except WMM?
3) What kind of camcorder is recommended for making music videos? How much is their cost? Is it available in India?
(I live in India)
4) Is it possible to make a video with Olympus Digital Camera which I already have? I tried it once, but the format is in MOV, which WMM does not support. I tried downloading MOV converting programs, but none of them was helpful.
5) Is there any techniques for getting more views and subscribers in YouTube?


Thank you.

Answer
1) no, you can get clips and edit it... but camcorder will allow you to record ur own clips though.

2) adobe premiere, sony vegas

3) sony camcorder produces good quality clips.

4) yes.. camera nowadays can do just the same as camcorder.

5) create good clips.. that will attract views..

and by the way..

Ensure the file format is correct before uploading to youtube...

Using windows movie maker -- you have to save it into the proper file format, that is "wmv" file (use the "save movie file" on the menu at the top left) before upload..

The WMV file will be smaller in size but still quite good quality.. so uploading it will be faster.

--for best editing....

use windows movie maker (included in your windows machine)... it can help you make beautiful slideshow or video clip(e.g. mixing your songs with pictures/video/etc).... then save it as video file such as wmv file format... finally upload.

or .. Just get those clips you want , save & convert them, and then mix/match with pix/sound/etc using windows movie maker to create new masterpieces....

this will help you.... Use 'zillatube'. This is the easiest (and also the fastest) way.

Zillatube produces mpg/mp3 formats from youtube that are compatible with windows movie maker(or media player), and more.

It is very easy to download and convert videos. Then edit those converted mp3/mpg videos with windows movie maker... save your file as wmv and then upload.

It works very well....just google search for "zillatube"

=============================â¥â¥â¥

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Best HD camcorders under $1000?

Malli

I need an really good quality HD camcorder that is less than $1000. I would be recording home videos/ Youtube videos on it if that helps any. I just want a good quality camcorder that is high-def and focuses well. There are so many options, and I have no idea where to start. If you know of any websites giving reviews on camcorders, you could add those too. Thank you :)

Answer
i had heard more about Canon VIXIA HF S21 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder which is really good.

* Records up to 24 hours of crisp high definition video to a 64GB internal flash drive or directly to two removable SD memory cards
* Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
* Canon 1/2.6" 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
* Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
* Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-HF-S21-Memory-Camcorder/dp/B00322OP40/?tag=pntsa-20

Portable camcorder with autofocus? Under $1000?

Brookeeee

Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video.http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

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I need a good 1080p HD camcorder for under $250. Can anyone help me out?

Branon Dau

I don't need a big, professional HD canon or something, just a small hand help sony or toshiba or something camcorder. Please help, thank! :)

Answer
Getting a HD camcorder is taking a step backward in Video Quality. HD camcorders Interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly, the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. MiniDV tape camcorders give every frame of every shot and usually cost less.

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/zr960

Whats a good camcorder that cost under 250?

Me Enamora

I need one to make videos.

Answer
Panasonic HDC-TM80K HD Camcorder was a great buy for my family. We have a baby on the way, due April 9th. we decided it would be nice to start documenting this part of the pregnancy, delivery and the baby when she comes. The camera takes great video. I really like the quality and it looks great on our 47inch lcd hdtv. its a tiny thing so it fits great in my tiny hands and easy to carry in my purse or leave behind in small storage spaces. I'm really excited to start capturing the wonderful life moments ahead. the expandable memory is a great op for people like me who want to record as much as possible and edit out the useless later.

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Good helmet cams (can you put them somewhere besides a helmet?)?

nisalurve

I'm looking into getting a helmet cam for a parkour friend of mine for Christmas. I'm on a tight budget and anything under a hundred dollars would be nice. Except he doesn't run around with a helmet on top of his head, and it seems like a bulky thing (yeah, I know, safety is a top priority bla bla bla). So where else could a good helmet camera go?

It doesn't have to be amazing quality, I'd just like something that won't break, that's easy to use, and not too blurry. Noise and other things don't really matter. Thanks!

Answer
Your in luck,
there a camcorder a recently found. It's very small (2inches tall to be exact).
It also designed to be a helmet cam, it has a strap on the back to attach it to any Velcro strap ect.

The best part is that the cost of owning one is only $12 (USA only)

Link below
http://savvyfilmmaker.blogspot.com/2011/10/watchdog-mini-hd-camcorder-12.html

I have around $3000 to spend solely on camera equipment. Which lens should I get?

Derec

Most** things I shoot for are for videos. I really love making short films and I just got an increase in budget. Anyway, I wanna know what lens I can get for this. Of course, I really don't wanna spend more than $1500 on lenses. I was told that prime lenses were the best options but I'm still unsure. I was reviewing the canon 85mm f1.8 as a choice and it seems very nice but, idk if I should spend the extra money and go for a 85mm f1.2. It's a hard decision as the second lens gives much better quality. But then there's the other side in which I could get more than one lens if I buy the f1.8. Right now I own a canon 6d and have the 50mm f1.4 lens. I had more but I sold them for personal reasons.
Please help!!

Answer
Here's an APS-C digital camcorder with an interchangeable lens system.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/890796-REG/Sony_NEX_VG30_Camcorder_Body_Only.html

The extra money can be used to shop for NEX lenses. Prime lenses are fast and can be used in low light. Zoom lenses are more versatile without moving out of place. I suggest you get a mix of both.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Category_Mirrorless+System+Lenses&sts=ma&ci=17912&N=4196380427&Ntt=sony+e-mount&Top+Nav-Search=Submit

Here's to help you how to choose lenses.

http://keerok-photography.blogspot.com/2011/05/lenses-so-many-of-them-there-is-no-best.html

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How do import the videos from this camcorder? (more details inside)?

hi

I have a Sony 60x Optical Zoom DCR-DVD685. I took some videos but I can't get them onto my 2010 iMac. I am using an USB cord and my computer says it notices a blank disc. I can't get the videos to import onto iMovie, iDVD or iPhoto. This camcorder records onto small discs too small to fit into my computer. Also, it won't let me delete videos. Is this because it's on a disc? Thanks.

Answer
If you have a mini dvd camcorderâ¦.
You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (I downloaded http://www.handbrake.fr/ or http://www.any-video-converter.com/download-avc-free.php file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Usually you would import your videos and drop them in to the timeline, add transitions, menus, music, etc. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.

what features should a decent video camera have(i want to use it to make short films)?

.

I've decided to buy a video camera but i'm clueless when it comes to knowing how it should be. I want to use it to make short films but it shouldn't be too expensive. Can you give me some articles to read to acquaintance myself with what features a good but not-exceptional video camera should have so i'll know what to look for when i buy one? thanks

Answer
(I posted this for similar question here on YA but edited some of it for you).

You did not state your budget so you may get suggestions for many camcorders. So I'll answer part of your question, what to look for.

First decide how viewers will see your work; DVD, web, etc. And you'll need an appropriate video editing program that will support the video format of your cam. Plus your computer needs to be able to handle the video format, as some formats like HD is very compressed and requires a computer with lots of proper and memory.

You may want to avoid camcorders that use a drive, like a hard disk drive (HDD) and miniDVD drive. These moving drives use more power and are subject to failure should the camera be dropped or abruptly jolted. HDD don't like high altitudes and DVD cams are difficult to edit (takes more steps, and you need a ripping program to access the actual video files on the DVD if you want to edit them). The better choice would be flash memory (internal and memory card; Dual-flash). Or even miniDV tapes.

You will want a camcorder that has an external microphone input port (many lower priced cams do not, except the $99.00 Kodak Zi8 pocket cam). Using a good quality mic will make the audio of your video projects more appeasing. Good audio is more important than the video imagery.

You may want a cam with manual focus. Although many consumer-grade cams do a good job of auto-focus, they don't do well if you are trying to pin-point a subject within objects such as tree branches, crowds of people, etc. It's much easier to 'lock' focus on the subject.

LCD screen and a viewfinder. A cam with a viewfinder will make it easier to manually focus, but they tend to be small (like on palm-held cams) so they can be a challenge to use. You will also want to buy an LCD shade screen. The screens are hard to see on a bright day outdoors.

Iris control is found on pro-sumer cams; it controls the aperture of your lens. Many cams come with presets, but it's nice to control the iris manually.

Shutter control is also important. Most shutter speeds are set based on the frames-per-second that you set your camera at, like 30fps or 60fps for example. But it's nice to be able to go lower or higher and still keep the cam set at 30fps or 60fsp.

Threaded lens for filters or lens adapters. Some cams don't have a threaded lens for adding a filter or a wide-angle lens.

Accessory shoe. Some cams don't have a shoe to mount a light or a mic on top of the cam. But you can use under-camera brackets.

Low Lux. This may or may not be the biggest factor to you when choosing a camera because most small consumer-grade cams have such small sensors and lenses that these cameras don't do real well in low light. Video likes lots of light so keep that in mind.

There are many articles on the net on how to choose a camcorder but many are several years old. The link below is a from 2010:

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Whats a good camcorder for sports?

Luna

Well I need a good camcorder to record sports and that can take fast movement. I also need it to have an external mic so I can attach a good quality mic (I'm a musician.) And I need to be able to attach a tripod too it. I don't want the video to look grainy. My budget i $100-150. Thanks!!
Sorry I ment external mic input

Answer
I would consider Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation
* All-new MinoHD is the world's sleekest HD camcorder
* Captures 120 minutes of stunning HD video on 8 GB of built-in memory; no additional memory needed
* Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your PC or Mac to launch pre-loaded FlipShare software
* FlipShare software makes it easy to email videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, capture still-image snapshots
* Large, 2-Inch anti-glare color display to play back and delete videos

the best camcorder for action sports?

chase

I know this question has been asked before but I'm looking for specifics. I'm looking for a camcorder that has a great Image Stabilization (Panasonic) it doesn't have to be HD but HD would be nice. It need to have manual features also. My price range is up to $500 but can go higher if needed.

Answer
Canon VIXIA HF S200 Flash Memory Camcorder
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00322OOXM?ie=UTF8&tag=0610-20

(+)Records crisp high definition video directly to two removable SD memory cards
(+)Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
(+)Canon 1/2.6" 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor
(+)Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
(+)Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

Review: I'm generally more of a still photographer at heart, but I finally decided to purchase an HD video camera, and after considerable research, I chose the Canon HF-S200. It seemed to have the right mix of features, size, price and quality - and so far, it's measured up.

From an ergonomics point of view, I found the camera about right for my hands. The controls seem logically laid out, and it fits naturally in my hand in a way that lets me hold it steady without feeling awkward. Still, even though the camera is barely a pound in weight, to get the best HD quality, you'll want to consider a monopod, tripod or some other support. I use a Kirk shoulder harness borrowed from one of my still cameras, and it works well. Otherwise, the controls seem to be where I'd like them and it took fairly little effort to get to the point where I could operate most of the features without fixating on the camera itself. Also, because of the memory card architecture, there are no moving parts in the recording system (there are of course moving parts in the lens, focusing mechanism, zoom, etc), making it quick, responsive and - best of all - totally silent in operation.
a
The camera also has all the right connections, including HDMI input/output, LANC remote controls, and connectors for outboard audio or microphones. The camera also has a shoe mount for things like video lights, and it can connect to some of Canon's cool accessories like their DVD burner (which I don't own, so I can't comment on).

The camera includes a 10x zoom Canon lens, plus an additional digital zoom feature. I found the lens to be very good for a camcorder, producing bright, sharp and detailed videos with good color and contrast. Still, if you look at the output frame by frame on a computer, you can tell the lens - while impressive - is no match for a top quality DSLR lens. Plus, you're getting only an effective 6-8MP - pretty low by today's DSLR standards. I'm not so sure this is an issue, but I guess I don't shoot serious video with my DSLR, and I wouldn't shoot serious stills on my video camera. In 35mm terms, the range is about 43-435mm...good on the long end, but not quite as wide as I might like overall. Still, it's a fast lens and focuses close (about a foot, depending on zoom setting). A final nice feature is that the lens takes standard photo filters (58mm), and I find it handy for instance to screw on a polarizer sometimes.

I find most of the other features Canon includes to work well and to be thoughtfully designed. The 3.5" LCD panel is sharp and clear, although not always readable in bright sunlight. Auto-exposure and focus seem very fast and accurate, and even when there's a lot of fast motion, I usually find all the critical parts of the scene to be in sharp focus and properly exposed, aided by Canon's face and scene detection capabilities. When you want to, you can override exposure and focus to get a specific effect.

From an overall image quality perspective, the Canon offers the best image quality I've seen from a consumer product, period. HD images in 1080p are simply stunning, as good as anything you'll find anywhere. The image stabilization helps ensure you don't get "bumpy" scenes, and even the audio channels (which are capable of 5.1 recording with an add-on surround microphone) are quite good for such a small device. Overall, I was blown away by the video quality - it was much better than what I thought I could get at this price point.

Great camcorder - highly recommended and worth the price.

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What are good camcorders??? 10 POINTS!!!?

Emma Austi

Under 300, you can buy it at Walmart, (xD) can go on Windows Movie Maker, good quality and good sound. :D

Answer
Check out this blog, it listed top rated and affordable camcorders to buy: http://lovetosharethis.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-best-hd-and-digital-camcorders-can.html

I'm looking into compact HD Video Camcorders, any advice?

Kelly

I'm looking for pro-tips when buying one, personal experience with a certain camera, one you'd buy if you were given the choice, or anything else it would be good to let me know.

I haven't really looked into buying a camera for myself, actually; this is my first time. I'm looking into a Sanyo Xacti; any experience or anything with that would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance :)

Answer
You should check out this blog, it listed out the top rated and affordable camcorders to buy: http://lovetosharethis.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-best-hd-and-digital-camcorders-can.html

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Should I buy a digital DVD camcorder or a digital camera?

just askin

I wanted to buy a SONY Cyber-shot digital camera (7.2 megapixels) for a long time. Not only did I wnat great image quality, but I wanted to capture movies too. Now I'm confused. Camcorders capture still images too and of course, videos. Which one should I buy? I want a functional, easy to use and affordable thing I can take to school sometimes as well.

Answer
Camcorders do a lousy job of capturing still images. No matter what the marketing specs of the camcorder say, you will always get better still images from a digital still camera. If your primary reason for wanting a camera is to take photos, get a still camera that also takes video.

On the flip side of this, digital still cameras tend to take reasonably good video in addition to shooting great still photos.

Whatever you do, don't buy a DVD camcorder. They are a nightmare to use if you ever want to edit the footage on your computer. Tape-based camcorders or camcorders that use flash memory will provide a better editing experience. Here's a partial list of some of the frustrations with DVD camcorders:

http://www.jakeludington.com/digital_lifestyle_report/20051202_dvd_camcorder.html

should I buy an expensive camcorder or an expensive digital camera?

guy3090

I want to take quality pictures & videos with no intentions of doing one more then the other but when i got to "best-buy" it seems like both(camcorders & digital cameras) can shoot video as well as take pictures. so i don't know which one to choose over the other since i know nothing about either.

Answer
Digital cameras take video nowadays. You don't need camcorders anymore!! Go with the digital camera! I haven't heard of camcorders taking pictures. But digital cameras are also smaller (from what I've seen).

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What is a good camcorder for documentary filmmaking?

Julian T

I want to make some documentary films and would like a nice prosumer camcorder for around $1000-$1500. Something like this maybe. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.expressnightout.com/content/photos/20100913-jenks-450.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/09/world-jenks-mtv-maino.php&usg=__DNMQ4t0pirK6OjPZ0iiMWpaKk9s=&h=244&w=450&sz=50&hl=en&start=0&sig2=NIWhBtwhOUKCvMl6g23SEA&zoom=0&tbnid=jxCT2w_oC8oZ-M:&tbnh=69&tbnw=127&ei=f-qTTP6wKYL-8Aau-6CNDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dworld%2Bof%2Bjenks%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D945%26bih%3D573%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=473&oei=f-qTTP6wKYL-8Aau-6CNDA&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=75&ty=52

Answer
you can consider buying Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBDWNS?ie=UTF8&tag=ya-ans-camera-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000IBDWNS

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 newly designed 1/4.1 Progressive 3MOS Imagers for full HD resolution
# 12x Leica Dicomar lens (13 elements in 10 groups), 43mm filter , zoom range of 40.8 - 490mm (35mm equivalent)
# Extremely slow, smooth zoom for the precise control needed for dramatic sequences
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5574865779&toolid=10001&campid=5336440665&customid=nktprk&mpre=http%3a%2f%2fshop.ebay.com%2fi.html%3f_nkw%3dPanasonic%2bAG-HMC40%26_arm%3d1%26_armi%3dDigital%2bCameras%26_armm%3d94%26_ruu%3dhttp%3a%2f%2fphotography.shop.ebay.com%2fDigital-Cameras-%2f31388%2fi.html%253F_nkw%253DPanasonic%252B%252BAG-HMC40%2526_arr%253D1%2526_dmpt%253DDigital_Cameras%26_rdc%3d1

Buying a DSLR for filmmaking?

Riley

I"m looking to invest in a DSLR camera for filmmaking. I will be primarily shooting documentary work; however, may use it for the occasional narrative piece as well.

I guess my price range for the DSLR itself would be between $500-$1000. Can you suggest some good DSLRS and also some accessories I need to get with them?

I'm aware that DSLRs need a separate source for audio, what would you suggest for audio recorders as well?


Thanks!

Answer
Ok so many people are giving you answer without any reason as to why they are even selecting that brand. I own a Rebel T3i, and i would not suggest you that camera. Because if you want to make a documentary and you want your focus to be extra awesome and not like just any other documentary, then you don't need a camcorder. But i would only suggest a camcorder in the case if you are trying to go with wildlife. But however my suggestion would be the Canon 60D. Im suggesting a Canon because the canon is built to make videos and film making both. There is a reason why a canon has less features in its photography than nikon. It is because Canon also has work done on making films. Nikon on the other hand can not make the same film as what a canon can make, it is because it has more features in its photography that the company has to keep the camera balance in accordance to the price of the camera.
Now about the 60D, i chose that because that camera has better video making than the T3i. and it is in your range so i would suggest you go with that camera.

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HDD Camcorders vs Digital Cameras?

girlproble

I noticed that I can get a digital camera with 13.6 Megapixels for about $150 and I can get a HDD Camcorder with 30 GB HDD space and 2.0 Megapixels for $140. I want to know, are megapixels calculated differently for video and images? Will I get good quality pictures and videos with a 2.0 Megapixel 30 GB HDD Camcorder? Will it be as good as a 13.6 Megapixel Digital Camera?

Answer
Photos on a camcorder won't be good as photos on a still camera.

Video on a still camera won't be as good as videos on a camcorder.

In short, you have to figure out which is more important to you. Camcorders have fewer pixels because video has fewer pixels. Even the highest-resolution HDTV (1080 lines) is 1920x1080, or about 2 megapixels. Camcorders will have fewer pixels because more pixels are unnecessary, and would actually decrease the quality of the video. By packing more pixels into that small space, the pixels have to be smaller, and they won't perform as well. That's why you'll typically have relatively few pixels on a camcorder.

So, if you get the digital still camera, you'll get better quality photos, but the video will be mediocre. If you get the camcorder, the video will be better, but the photos will be mediocre.

Which is more important to you, photo or video? That's what your decision will likely come down to.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Why is a camcorder better than a digital camera?

HtownChick

Answer
Better? For what? Camcorders are video cameras and are also digital. A digital camera can be a camcorder or a still camera. Clarify.

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What are good camcorders??? 10 POINTS!!!?

Emma Austi

Under 300, you can buy it at Walmart, (xD) can go on Windows Movie Maker, good quality and good sound. :D

Answer
Check out this blog, it listed top rated and affordable camcorders to buy: http://lovetosharethis.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-best-hd-and-digital-camcorders-can.html

What is a good camera for film and cinema?

andrew

Ok, I want to start making my own films. I was thinking of getting the Canon Rebel T2i but I dont know if it is a good camera. Please give me some advice, thanks! Oh and i want the price to be under $800. Thanks!

Answer
Hello,

I myself am looking for the right film camera for me, but the camera you say that you are thinking of getting, is not really for filming. Yes, the cameras such as the Canon Rebel T2i, Canon 50d/7D/550D are great cameras, they are not for film. Although they shoot film, they are for picture quality, and mainly if you want to use these cameras for filming, the quality will be OKAY unless it is still footage. What you want, is a camcorder which are mainly for film.
For example, the Panasonic Pro AG-HMC150 3CCD AVCHD 24fps Camcorder (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-AG-HMC150-AVCHD-24fps Camcorder/dp/B001DKELYC/ref=pd_zg_rss_tr_e_172421_2) is slightly over the price of the Canon 7D. BUT, this camera is strictly for film, while the canon 7D, or the camera you are looking at, are basically for picture. So all in all, what you want is a camcorder and you can look at this site that gives you the "Top Rated Camcorders of 2010-2011", and it will display the price, features and reviews for many camcorders!

The Canon Rebl T2i shoots some pretty great video just as good as the Canon 7D, and I will post a link in the "sources" of some really helpful filming tips, where they are using the Rebel T2i to film the video.

But for the price under $800, I would look on that site for a handheld HD camcorder, or get the camera you want, but the Canon 7D is a very good option with proper lenses too, but the price is steep of $1500-$2000, plus $300-$400 for a good lens. :/
-Also you must remember that the camera is not what gives you good quality; it may help, but it is very minimal. You will need a good Lens for your camera to give it the best quality possible, and also look into lighting, and adjusting color contrasting and color grading when you are EDITING the film (look up some tutorials on youtube to adjust color to give it that cinematic look) so that way you have the best possible image. (I will give some links in the bottom that helped me with some film makig tips) Hope this helps :)

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best camcorder under 400 dollars?

I am looking for a camcorder that is under 400 dollars. Mainly looking for something that is around 200 or close to 300 hundred. Im looking to shoot a short movie and maybe a good full length movie. I need one that is HD Night shot or vision is ok steady shake for shaky people. And im looking for one that is MiniDV. If i need anything else then please let me know.

Answer
Anything SONY or Samsung! I have a Sony Handycam and it is amazing! It was only $150 from Best Buy and it even has a remote so I can set my camera up on a tripod at soccer games and press record with the remote! My parents have a Samsung and theirs was $275! They have never complained about it!

What's a good video camera for really short films, that's under 400 dollars?

Q. I want to short ten minute films and small things like that. It's a beginner hobby and I need help finding a camera. Thank you!

Answer
http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 seconds or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition.

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Mac????????????????????

Crazzy

I have a toshiba camileo s20 camcorder. i know that imovie and quicktime. Do you know any good programs that will convert it to work with imvoe and quicktime for mac???

Answer
Your camcorder outputs to .avi format. You need to convert it to .mp4 format. iSquint (or PunyVid, as it is now called) and Handbrake are both excellent free options.

Connecting Canon MiniDV camcorder to Mac?

Alex

Hey, so I have a canon GL2 MiniDV camcorder which I've been trying to connect to my macbook pro (running most recent version of OSX Mountain Lion), but have been having trouble getting iMovie to recognize it. I'm using a firewire cable, but nothing appears under "devices" in neither iMovie nor Finder. The camcorder does recognize when the FireWire is plugged in to the laptop, however. I don't know if the GL2 came with software, as I got it from a friend. If anyone knows of some sort of compatibility software or driver, please let me know. (I tried using photostich, but the dialog box tells me I need to insert the CD-ROM containing the following software (PhotoStich) that came with your Canon product).
when I go to firewire under hardware, it says "Warning: Unable to list firewire devices. imovie is still not recognizing it, and neither is finder (the devices tab pops up on the left side of Finder under the "favorites" and "shared" tab.

Answer
Starting from the top...

With the camcorder off, connect the camcorder's DV port (not USB) to the computer's firewire poer (not USB) with a firewire cable. In your case, a 4-pin (camcorder side) to 9-pin (MacBook Pro side) firewire cable.

Link to the camcorder manual
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/6/0900000646/01/GL2IM-EN.pdf
for location of the DV port on page 11 (under the flap at the back of the camcorder - under the USB port).

Power up the camcorder and put it into PLAY (VCR) mode. See page 35 in the manual. You do not need any software from Canon. Also be sure the "Card/Tape" switch is in the Tape position.

There is no "Devices" in iMovie or the Finder. Under the Apple, you can select "About this Mac" and click on "More Info" - then under "Hardware" select "Firewire". Since "PhotoStitch" is used for stills, it has nothing to do with video connectivity.

If the camcorder has been plugged/unplugged from the DV port with the camcorder on, it is possible to blow the firewire port - so do not do that. It is an expensive repair. ALWAYS power down the camcorder before plugging in or unplugging the DV cable to the camcorder.

Anyway... with the camcorder correctly connected to the MacBook Pro with the firewire cable and in Play/VCR mode, launch iMovie and name the project. When you get into iMovie, under File, select Import or Capture... it is a realtime capture (and should appear on the Mac). 30 minutes of video on the digital tape will take 30 minutes to import.

Assuming the camcorder menu items are at default, there is noting n the camcorder that needs to be set. If any changes were made and not put back, now is a good time to put them back.

The CDROM that came in the box with the camcorder has only Windows-specific software on it and nothing is on there your MacBookPro needs.

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Best consumer camcorder?

Caseman238

I want to buy a new camcorder. I prefer Canon, but might consider something else. I usually videotape fire scenes for our local dept, and i film trains some. I would probably be doing some indoor shoots too, such as a school Christmas play. Here is what i'm looking for:
* Preferably under 600$
* I want to attach a shotgun mic to it (such as RODE videomic)
* I may want to add a led light for shooting also.

Answer
his wahat I was told :
The problem with HD is that it is not a video standard, rather it is a marketing term that describes a frame size only (i.e Full HD is 1920 x 1080).

The quality varies widely, and cameras run from under $100 to over $100,000 (not a typo). Along with normal camera parts and pieces such as lens quality and light gathering, the quality is also dependent on the data-rate, the LESS time you can record on a given size card or hdd, the better the video.

The final nail in HDs quality coffin is the compression. Only a fraction of the 25 or 30 frames per second are from light processed by the sensor. In some cameras MOST of the frames are mathematically calculated based on frames ahead and behind.

So, before the merits of SD, the limits of HD...

Really cheap cameras will get 6 or under gb of data per hour.
Name brand, cheap cameras typically get 8 gigs/hr
About $350 or so, the consumer twinkie cams get 11 gigs/hr. This does not change even into the top of the line, $2000, consumer twinkie-cams.

DSLRs get 20 gigs and approach very good quality, but they do have a host of other issues that make them ill suited for recording long events like a wedding. All over the web and here on "Answers".

Pro cameras start at $3000 and get 25 gigs/hr HOWEVER the compression has improved to 4:2:2 intraframe compression, no frame depends on its neighbors. Quality and cost go way up from here.

SD, MiniDv based cameras for consumers are few new, Canon stopped their last one in January, the ZR960. But this format is still popular for pros and TV field use. Remember this frame size is 1/6th that of HD, yet it gets 13 gigs/hr of data and is 4:2:2 compression. In other words, very good quality.

Your problem is that your fellow consumers gave up quality for ease of use. Your only options now, unless you can find unsold DV cameras, is to go with a used camera or spend the $800 or more to get a HDV camera. (HD version of MiniDv, 1440 x 1080 typically).

The other issue is that for consumers, DV and HDV is actually MORE data intensive than HD for storage (The tapes are a built in archive, though) and editing. You will need a firewire port on your computer.

HD from ANY twinkie camera is fine for small screens, computers, phones, youtube. But even on a moderate HDTV it starts to fail in quality. My SD, Canon GL-2's video can be up-converted to HD and is better than native HD the small consumer cameras.

If you can find on, DV will give you better video in more environments. DSLR may be an option, just know their limits. HDV is very good and the best you can get under $1000 new.

Just depends on budget, specific uses and your intended media...
Scott's answer is spot on, but there's still the issue of editing. As Scott said, the HD formats throw away most of the video data - this is fine for the finished product (Blu-ray, DVD) but not good for editing. Most of the frames you want to edit have to be reconstructed on the fly - this needs a lot of computer power. Another problem is that every change you make is likely to degrade the video quality - if your business is providing good quality video, can you afford to do that? Then there's the final render - this will almost certainly be to a lossy format - this has to involve some loss of quality but it's worse if you're starting with a lossy format.
Someone said that cards are easier for editing - the only thing that's easier is the ability to put the card in a reader - it's a very slim advantage!
new is not the same as better. so the real question depends on whether you need "better" because of intended commercial use, or "newer" because its just for home hobby use.

The reason miniDV can be edited by all computer editors, including the freebie ones, is because it is open source code and has not been messed with for over 15 years. yep, a Windows95 could edit miniDV. further, its low compression of 6:1 greatly reduced the computational power demanded of the CPU to keep up in real time. Contrast that with AVCHD which is a proprietary secret invented by Sony and only available to editing programs that are willing to pay exorbitant license fees. That is why it doesn't come as a freebie. And the code is not fixed, AVCHD has undergone significant changes every year since being introduced, moving from a lousy 200:1 compression to a somewhat respectable 40:1 compression in current top level consumer cameras. So if you buy a discounted older model editor, it might not work at all with a new camera. AVCHD was designed by Sony to be strictly amateur grade, Sony designed XDcam for professional use and the differences are not trivial.

IMHO miniDV will continue to be a viable commercial format as long as movie DVDs remain as the primary distribution media. not everybody wants to view videos on a computer, and that goes double for the mother of the bride, the one paying the bill.

Whats the best consumer camcorder to buy?

Anonymous

Im an amateur movie maker, and I am looking for a camcorder under $1000. Picture quality and an external Mic hook up is what is most important to me, but i would like it to have a good manual focus as well. Easy of use is not that important to me. Any suggestions?

Answer
The only camcorders that meet your requirements - and has manual audio control - are the Canon HV40 and HF S100.

Get the HV40 if your computer has a firewire (IEEE1394) port and your editor can deal with HDV format video. Get the HF S100 if your computer only has USB and your editor can deal with AVCHD compressed MTS video.

Neither camcorder has a focus ring - but they both have a thumbwheel at the left-front of the camcorder that can be used as a manual focus control. Both are considered consumer camcorders because the lenses and imaging chip are small.

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