Looking for a small video camera - suggestions please.

Mike

It has been a while since I used to sell camcorders so I am a little out of touch with all the latest models but I find Jessops to be good for a high street store

Usually they have more specialised staff compared to Dixons and other (in)famous high street stores. They also stock a fairly large range.

At the end of the day it will boil down to how much you want to spend, what features do you want (i.e. connectivity to a p.c)etc etc.

Hopefully this will help (a bit)

Stevie

I found that transfer to video, or now DVD, is the way to go to store the stuff, and therefore would be tempted by the camera that uses DVD blanks to write directly onto. I did see an advert for them, but can't remember who make them - Sony I think.
Oh yes....here it is.

Thanks very much guys.

The ability to transfer to video is pretty key, as right now I am not allowed a DVD player. There is one in the computer, but thats it.

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

"as right now I am not allowed a DVD player"
not even this ?

Mike.

I am in a similar position to you, I want something small (pocketable) and <£500. From purely looking through the window I had quite fancied the Panasonic range, however after a quick flick through a couple of 'What Camcorder' type mags it seems these arn't as well thought of as some. The latest Cannon MV700?? series seems to get good reviews, but is a bit more bulky than the Panasonic.


Any advice or experiance gratefully accepted.


Rasher. I think the direct write ones tend to be somewhat bigger, and I would generally want to edit the footage first anyway so I don't see a huge benefit of this approach.

quote:

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Originally posted by greeny:

Rasher. I think the direct write ones tend to be somewhat bigger, and I would generally want to edit the footage first anyway so I don't see a huge benefit of this approach.

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Greeny

I think that if you are looking at it from this angle you would want one with 'dv output' (I think that is it) then you can view images on a p.c using software that is available seperately. You should then be able to write to DVD if you have a DVD writer.

Stevie

I suspect that a DVD camcorder would be larger than Mike wants though recording straight to disc has its attractions. If they had minidisc sized ones then it would be a no brainer...

FWIW We've got a Panasonic DV camcorder (its about 18 months old now don't know what the model is, probably been superseded by now anyway) very pleased with the quality of the pictures we have got from it (don’t use it for stills, just video) – don’t believe everything you read in the mags do you?.

Also transfers well to DVD, fine for our hols and recording birthday parties etc. though we daren't show any of the results to our freelance cameraman friend with his £30,000 broadcast standard jobby. It fits nicely into the palm of your hand (if you're right handed that is) and is easy and discrete to use... The Riders never noticed it recording their visit to the Eden Project

Some hints...

• Do get a spare battery for it
  
• if you're out in the field use the viewfinder rather than the nice LCD screen because that uses the battery up quicker.
  
• Get a tripod, especially if you use the zoom cos it shows up even the slightest tremble (especially if you've had a heavy night ) only about £20 for a cheap one
  

quote:

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Originally posted by seagull:
If they had minidisc sized ones then it would be a no brainer...

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Not that big really, as they use the 3" blank discs. They start at less than £500 too.
I have spent hours farting about transferring vids of the kids onto those huge VHS cassettes, and it all seems so clockwork now I have a DVD recorder (not camcorder). I am putting all my VHS stuff onto DVD and reclaiming several shelves for more CD's . One of these camcorders would save me so much time and trouble.

Its all relative I suppose. They would be small compared to the earlier generations of camcorders but bigger than the latest generation of DV camcorders.

I know what you mean about the DVD vs VHS storage - we've got a cupboard full of kids videos from when seagull junior was small, glad we kept them though as Miss Seagull now watches them. DVDs take up so much less space - but let's not go there I don't want to replace my LPs

We can now transfer direct to DVD with our DVD recorder (which are also coming down in price)

quote:

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Originally posted by Rasher:
"as right now I am not allowed a DVD player"
not even http://www.richersounds.co.uk/index.php?f=itemdetl.php&p=206604

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Rasher

I love you. Even The Nagger will not be able to complain, err, should not be able to, I mean... its another box, is the problem....

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

also, how do you get from camcorder to dvd unless you get the dvd camcorder?

I'm sure a man of your abilities should be able to camoflage a dvd player

Yeah...and footage onto VHS tapes is a whole pile of boxes! 8 tapes are more space than a player.

Note the Sony DVD video format uses 3" discs and does not support popular PC based video streaming utilities.

Howard

Mike - don't do it - that Richers Acoustic Solutions player is a dog! I had one for 20 minutes (I lived 5 mins from Reading Richer), and it crashed when trying to read R1 discs, it wouldn't loop through a SCART, even with the Macrovision copy protection turned off, and it was noisy in operation. Even at £80 (2002 prices) it was poor VFM. I got a Samsung for £120 which was better...

Then I wised up and bought a Pioneer 656- and it's excellent.

Tell your wife that if she wants more clothes, you want a DVD player. Simple.

Glad I'm single...

__________________________
Don't wanna be cremated or buried in a grave
Just dump me in a plastic bag and leave me on the pavement
A tribute to your modern world, your great society
I'm just another victim of your highrise fantasy!

Yes, it wasn't a recommendation, I was just making a point. Sorry