What is the right source of digital video for me?
April 12, 2007 9:27 AM Subscribe
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.
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.
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 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
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
This thread is closed to new comments.
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