A question for camcorder experts: Tell me what camcorder has these precise characteristics...
October 4, 2007 1:27 PM
A question for camcorder experts: Tell me what camcorder has these precise characteristics...
I want a consumer camcorder with the following features:
- MiniDV with 3ccd technology;
- manual white balance, focus, and exposure;
- input jacks for external microphones and headphones;
- a tripod mount and a hot shoe;
- decent optical zoom (10x or so);
- mac-compatible (does the fire-wire / usb distinction matter for use?); and
- hopefully optical imagine stabilization as well.
Three questions:
(1) What camcorder(s) fit the bill?
(2) Would you recommend my purchasing a Panasonic PV-GS250?
(3) Finally, for the purposes of no-budget "film"making, does it matter if the camcorder is 24p or interlaced?
Hopefully someone very knowledgeable will come across this and enlighten me as to any options I've missed. So far, the PV-GS250 appears to be the only one with all these characteristics.
Thank you~
Let
I want a consumer camcorder with the following features:
- MiniDV with 3ccd technology;
- manual white balance, focus, and exposure;
- input jacks for external microphones and headphones;
- a tripod mount and a hot shoe;
- decent optical zoom (10x or so);
- mac-compatible (does the fire-wire / usb distinction matter for use?); and
- hopefully optical imagine stabilization as well.
Three questions:
(1) What camcorder(s) fit the bill?
(2) Would you recommend my purchasing a Panasonic PV-GS250?
(3) Finally, for the purposes of no-budget "film"making, does it matter if the camcorder is 24p or interlaced?
Hopefully someone very knowledgeable will come across this and enlighten me as to any options I've missed. So far, the PV-GS250 appears to be the only one with all these characteristics.
Thank you~
Let
To expand on my above post a little. I don't believe the GS250 is made anymore. I think the GS300 replaced it. The difference between the two is subtle with one huge spot. The GS250 will accept analog inputs and run them through to DV tape. This means you can hook up a VCR to the camcorder and dub it to DV tape for a digital copy and computer editing. I don't know if this is important to you, but the GS300 won't do it.
The OIS image stabilization on both is outstanding.
The GS250 comes with a little mic that has camcorder controls on it. I don't believe the GS300 comes with a mic, though it does come with a little handheld remote. The GS300 also accepts a "bobtail" mic so that all sound is muted. The GS250 doesn't, you'll always have some faint sound, even if you tape over the mic.
The clarity with the Leica lense is outstanding on both.
The GS250 comes with a lense cap, the GS300 has an automatic lense shutter built in, and no lense cap.
Both cameras are a little wierd on white balance. Sometimes they work great, sometimes they don't adjust in flourescent light and things look a little green. I usually just set it manually anyway, so it's no problem. I think there are 5-6 presets for WB, and there may be a full manual way too.
Thats probably way too much information, but I know both cameras well. I would definitely recommend them, especially for the price.
posted by sanka at 2:06 PM on October 4, 2007
The OIS image stabilization on both is outstanding.
The GS250 comes with a little mic that has camcorder controls on it. I don't believe the GS300 comes with a mic, though it does come with a little handheld remote. The GS300 also accepts a "bobtail" mic so that all sound is muted. The GS250 doesn't, you'll always have some faint sound, even if you tape over the mic.
The clarity with the Leica lense is outstanding on both.
The GS250 comes with a lense cap, the GS300 has an automatic lense shutter built in, and no lense cap.
Both cameras are a little wierd on white balance. Sometimes they work great, sometimes they don't adjust in flourescent light and things look a little green. I usually just set it manually anyway, so it's no problem. I think there are 5-6 presets for WB, and there may be a full manual way too.
Thats probably way too much information, but I know both cameras well. I would definitely recommend them, especially for the price.
posted by sanka at 2:06 PM on October 4, 2007
I agree that you will find what you want in the Panasonic PV-GS series. I think even the PV-GS85 meets all this criteria.
As a side note, did you know Don Delillo wanted to name White Noise PANASONIC but lawyers would not allow it?
posted by mattbucher at 2:11 PM on October 4, 2007
As a side note, did you know Don Delillo wanted to name White Noise PANASONIC but lawyers would not allow it?
posted by mattbucher at 2:11 PM on October 4, 2007
Sanka,
Thank you for the comments. I would like to consider the GS300 but CNET said it didn't have a headphone jack -- does yours? I've seen CNET make minor errors in the past.
I will use external audio (i.e., lavalier mics, directional, etc.), so the 250 mic isn't of any interest. Regarding the bobtail, I hadn't thought of this -- I may use lavalier mics to separate audio recorders, with slate to match up, but if I want to use a unidirectional mic hooked in directly to the camcorder, does that not "turn off" the camcorder's internal microphone? [p.s. I don't know what a bobtail is, so the question might be crap].
I don't care about the analog inputs with the 250, I really just chose that over the 300 for the headphone jack, but please do correct me if CNET is wrong about that.
It is not at all too much information. Thank you.
Mattbucher - I thought the PV-GS85 is neither a minidv or a 3ccd camcorder, no?
posted by letahl at 2:30 PM on October 4, 2007
Thank you for the comments. I would like to consider the GS300 but CNET said it didn't have a headphone jack -- does yours? I've seen CNET make minor errors in the past.
I will use external audio (i.e., lavalier mics, directional, etc.), so the 250 mic isn't of any interest. Regarding the bobtail, I hadn't thought of this -- I may use lavalier mics to separate audio recorders, with slate to match up, but if I want to use a unidirectional mic hooked in directly to the camcorder, does that not "turn off" the camcorder's internal microphone? [p.s. I don't know what a bobtail is, so the question might be crap].
I don't care about the analog inputs with the 250, I really just chose that over the 300 for the headphone jack, but please do correct me if CNET is wrong about that.
It is not at all too much information. Thank you.
Mattbucher - I thought the PV-GS85 is neither a minidv or a 3ccd camcorder, no?
posted by letahl at 2:30 PM on October 4, 2007
The PV-GS85 is Mini-DV. The GS320 is the low-end of the CCDs. The Sony HDR-HC7 has mic and headphone jacks--but it's not Mini-DV. Alas, maybe your perfect camera doesn't exist.
posted by mattbucher at 2:54 PM on October 4, 2007
posted by mattbucher at 2:54 PM on October 4, 2007
COrrection: the Sony HDR-HC7 is HD Mini-DV, but can toggle back to SD. Maybe this one does work for you.
posted by mattbucher at 2:57 PM on October 4, 2007
posted by mattbucher at 2:57 PM on October 4, 2007
Huh, I hadn't noticed, but the GS300 doesn't have a headphone out. It does have a generic A/V out that has 3 RCAs and an S-Video out though. Maybe you could hook up the audio RCAs to the headphones?
Also if manual focus is important to you, you probably want the GS250. It has a focus ring. The GS300 has manual focus, but you have to use a joystick and it's a little touchy.
Regarding the mics. I don't know if inserting a different mic into the GS250 turns off the internal mic. I know that the provided mic has a button on it, but even if you don't push it, the camera's internal mic picks up sound. This may be because it's a cheap little mic, or it may be by design. I never tested it with any other mic.
posted by sanka at 3:18 PM on October 4, 2007
Also if manual focus is important to you, you probably want the GS250. It has a focus ring. The GS300 has manual focus, but you have to use a joystick and it's a little touchy.
Regarding the mics. I don't know if inserting a different mic into the GS250 turns off the internal mic. I know that the provided mic has a button on it, but even if you don't push it, the camera's internal mic picks up sound. This may be because it's a cheap little mic, or it may be by design. I never tested it with any other mic.
posted by sanka at 3:18 PM on October 4, 2007
Sony PD170, Panasonic DVX102, Canon GL2 - those are more or less the top ones. You can go down from there.
Many of those models are available a good prices second hand, as people are upgrading to HD models.
They all offer pro features including and beyond those you mention.
If you can get one of those you should, the professional audio connections and hardware alone are almost worth it. Plus, they have much better optics than consumer cameras, even 3 CCD ones.
Also, you don't want a USB interface. It is going to be some weird transfer format. Firewire offers a standardised DV25 data transfer that 'just works'.
posted by sycophant at 1:17 AM on October 5, 2007
Many of those models are available a good prices second hand, as people are upgrading to HD models.
They all offer pro features including and beyond those you mention.
If you can get one of those you should, the professional audio connections and hardware alone are almost worth it. Plus, they have much better optics than consumer cameras, even 3 CCD ones.
Also, you don't want a USB interface. It is going to be some weird transfer format. Firewire offers a standardised DV25 data transfer that 'just works'.
posted by sycophant at 1:17 AM on October 5, 2007
Sycophant -- you might be right that at the used prices I could consider prosumer. It looks like it might save me money in the sound setup, so I could justify a bit that way. On my official list, I've put to keep an eye out for Panasonic DVX*, Canon GL* or XL*, and Sony PD150 or170. I didn't want to put a price limit in the original post, but I'm trying to keep it under a grand, and I see those are rarely (but not never) sold used for that price.
I'm taking a trip to the states in a few weeks so I might even hold off until I can see what I find there.
And, Sanka, thank you hugely as well. It sounds like if I can't find something prosumer for a price I'm good with, I should go with the 250. I'm glad to get feedback on it, and it sounds like my only hesitation would be the lack of firewire and internal mic situation.
Thank you to other people to have commented as well. I'm still open to comments should anyone else stumble upon this post.
posted by letahl at 7:04 AM on October 5, 2007
I'm taking a trip to the states in a few weeks so I might even hold off until I can see what I find there.
And, Sanka, thank you hugely as well. It sounds like if I can't find something prosumer for a price I'm good with, I should go with the 250. I'm glad to get feedback on it, and it sounds like my only hesitation would be the lack of firewire and internal mic situation.
Thank you to other people to have commented as well. I'm still open to comments should anyone else stumble upon this post.
posted by letahl at 7:04 AM on October 5, 2007
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posted by sanka at 1:31 PM on October 4, 2007