What is the right source of digital video for me?

April 12, 2007 9:27 AM

Camera Filter: I have been tasked with finding a digital camcorder in the 500 dollar range to use for filming an upcoming conference.

We do not need anything fancy, but problematically I do not really know anything about this subject. Essentially I just need recommendations for a simple reliable camera that I can make decent quality recordings with. Obviously it needs to be digital, and preferably it exports into a non locked down proprietary format that I can edit later on. It would be a plus if it would burn directly onto a DVD, but I have a pretty badass computer with a DVD burner so that is not a concern.

Anything that exports in a format that I can use with windows movie maker gets bonus points, and I also like Cannon's form a digital camera perspective.

posted by BobbyDigital to Technology (3 answers total)

You want MiniDV. Avoid cameras that record directly to DVD, since you'll probably end up decompressing the video later and it just adds an additional step in postproduction. I'd also avoid MPEG-4 memory stick camcorders, and probably the hard-drive based ones too, unless you're absolutely sure that it records DV (nothing more compressed than that). But really, MiniDV is the lingua franca of portable video; without absolute requirements that push you elsewhere I think it's foolish to buy anything else.

As for cameras ... It's been a while since I looked, but under $500 you're going to pretty much be talking consumer gear. I used to really like Panasonic, but last time I shopped for a camera (mid 2005) it seemed like there was better bang for the buck out of Sony. But the features I was looking for were things like Night Shot -- probably nothing you care about. (And of course, with Sony, you're stuck buying bizarro proprietary power adapters and the like for the rest of your life.)

I know nothing about the newer Canon camcorders, unfortunately. At the midrange, the XL-1 is a sweet piece of gear, but there you're talking 3x your budget.

Just glancing over B&H's list, it looks like there are some sub-$500 3-CCD cameras available. I would look seriously at them, particularly the Panasonic PV-GS320. It has 10x optical, image stabilization (real, not digital), and 16:9 capability (probably not real anamorphic though). Only $400 at B&H, so that would leave you a little room for other necessities.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:40 PM on April 12, 2007

you could also try the jvc everio cameras. they record to the hard drive. :) depending on the quality settings you could possibly get up to 12 hours of straight recording, if you were plugged in.

i found a few on amazon for less than $500.
posted by sxtxixtxcxh at 5:04 PM on April 12, 2007

I'm going to go with Kadin2048 and against sxtxixtxcxh (wow, that's a mouthfull). You want a camera that records MiniDV, and a firewire interface card for your PC.

It may be out of your pricerange, but I'd also seriously consider investing in a camera with an external microphone input, particularly if the organization that's producing the conference has a sound board you can tap into. You WILL come to loathe the onboard microphone on whatever camera you buy.

I shoot personal-type-stuff on a 3-ish year old Panasonic PV-DV953. That particular camera's been replaced with the GS400; the GS350 is probably fine for your purposes.

Don't forget to budget for a tripod. Chances are, you'll want a cheapo unit since you probably won't be doing pan/tilt type stuff.
posted by Alterscape at 5:49 PM on April 12, 2007