Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with video and camera

What is the lowest priced IP camera with optical zoom for use as webcam to display a mountain to the public?

fenwaydirtdog — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:55:03 -0800

What is the lowest priced IP camera with optical zoom for use as webcam to display a mountain to the public? I would like to set up a webcam for only one use: to display a mountain that is a few miles from my house for anyone on the internet to see. I need this webcam to be independent, i.e. not attached to my computer (I've heard terms like IP camera, network camera, or video server to describe this). But I also need an optical zoom feature, as 1) the mountain is too far away for the picture to be interesting with no zoom, and 2) the digital zoom on another webcam I've tried (Panasonic BL-C111A) yields very poor picture quality. Alternately, I could use a potential optical zoom lens accessory that attaches to a camera -- I won't need to be adjusting the zoom once I have achieved the level of zoom I want initially. Finally, this webcam would need to allow anyone on the internet to access it and display basically a window that only has the picture -- I don't want members of the public to be doing pan/tilt and such (the camera doesn't need pan/tilt at all), and I'd rather there not be any other superfluous text in the window that the public would see.

There are so many different options that I am lost. Can someone point me to a low-cost option that would solve my problem? I would love for this to be $100-$200.

Cheapest MultiCam ever?

tropikal — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:23:23 -0800

Do security camera DVR's record all video channels simultaneously, or do they only record one channel at a time or the multiplex all on one screen? I ask because I'm looking to set up an ultra cheap multi-cam recording setup in a small theater. Security cameras and cheap "industrial" cameras are plentiful and all I need (manual focus, manual aperture, good low light)

I figure that 4 cameras with C-Mount Lenses (and adapters to decent second hand 35MM lenses) would allow me to not have to spend thousands on four high end mini-dv cameras that I'd have to have change tapes in the middle of a show.

How to record sound with my camera?

dealing away — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:13:17 -0800

I can't figure out how to record video w/ sound in my Olympus SP-565 UZ camera. When we record and then attempt to play it back (after downloading it into computer) there is no sound. We've played with the settings, looked at the manual, searched online and still can't find it or figure it out. We bought at a Ritz Camera store but we no longer live anywhere near one anymore. Anyone know how to do this? Thanks so much for any advice.

Ceiling mount video camera

JamesMCS — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:29:25 -0800

Can anybody suggest an inexpensive video camera that can be mounted to the ceiling of a Jazz Club, in order to give the patrons in another room, a view of the stage via Television monitor. I've already tried a few security style cameras, but in the low light of the club, the resolution is very poor.

Picking a new compact video camera

remi — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:43:07 -0800

I have a Canon PowerShot G10 taking great pictures and VGA-resolution videos. I'm now looking for a video camera that will allow me to capture videos in HD. Any ideas? There are a few video projects I have. One of them is to document my one-year stay in Japan starting this October. And maybe, if everything goes well, I'll turn all of what I've recorded into a documentary, but I don't want to plan too big.

I know someone else asked for advice here for choosing a camera for filming documentaries, but the answers were a bit general. Last year, the community here recommended me the PowerShot G10 when I was asking for recommendations for a good compact photo camera. Today, I am hoping for someone to point me in the right direction with their recommendations in brands or models of video cameras. So far, I've enjoyed my G10, and I'm sure I'll get great advice here for a video camera.

A few years ago, I was the proud owner of a JVC GR-DVL725U camera. By today's standards, of course, it was a bit bulky, and transferring video from its MiniDV tapes via RCA cables or Firewire to my computer was a time-consuming process. However, its picture and sound quality was satisfactory.

Now, I'm also sure I can buy something that is smaller, works better, and is more efficient. A few months ago, a saw a Panasonic 3CCD camera, which looked interesting. I like Canon digital cameras, but I don't know what to think about their video cameras. I shy away from the Sony brand because of its proprietary technologies -- including their Memory Sticks, since I'm a heavy user of SDHC cards.

As for specific features, I'm not too certain what I should look for. I'll probably need a camera that stores videos on SDHC cards with HD video, manual zoom and focus, remote control, RCA/S-Video/Firewire output, light, internal stereo microphone, external microphone port, etc., but I think these features are usually the standard. I saw some cameras which have some interesting special effects, like time lapse, but I want to focus on quality video and audio, while having a camera that is easy to bring with me anywhere (i.e. not a large and heavy camera like those used by news reporters). The cost is not a problem.

Finally, unlike before, I have some video editing software on my Mac, including Final Cut Express. (I was previously using Linux for editing video. It was really painful at times.)

Any suggestions on what camera I should buy?

I don't need a video camera shaped paperweight.

miss lynnster — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:24:16 -0800

I've inherited a Canon Optura 100 1.3 Megapixel video camera. There's a tiny video of my dad on there that I want to put on YouTube for relatives. I haven't owned a video camera before and really want to learn how to use this, also for other things... but the manual is huge! I've tried sifting through it, but I have a Mac and I see nothing about Mac compatibility anywhere and I don't see any cables that look familiar. I know it *should* be easy... hellppp! Are there any good web sites on this or do you have experience with it yourself? What do I do?

DIY Streetview?

yellowbkpk — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:04:21 -0800

I'd like to make a DIY Google StreetView clone. I have a computer in my car. What kind of camera(s) should I get and what's a creative way to take pictures once every 1-2 seconds, downloading them to the in-car computer afterwards? I can deal with the software to geo-reference the images, but I can't find a image capture source that works:

>2MP webcams will let me take still shots of their video quick enough, but I haven't really come up with any quality images. I can control point and shoot digicams with gPhoto2, but it takes 5-20 seconds to take the picture and download for every frame.

Can the hive mind think of any creative ideas to solve this DIY conundrum?

Camera, look the other way!

It's Austin, TX! — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:59:29 -0800

Is there some sort of adapter, like a small prism that I could clip on my laptop's built-in webcam so that I can record video behind the laptop (in front of me) of what I am looking at? I have a 1.3M pixel cam built into the LCD panel of my Lenovo Y430 laptop.
What I want to do is be in class taking notes but have my webcam recording the teacher's lecture.
I've searched for prism adapters but I dont see anything. It would be something along the lines of this, but kinda doing the opposite I guess.
Or, any easy home made solutions?

$1000-$2000 Professional Video Camera advice needed

Vaike — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:03:53 -0800

$1000-$2000 Professional Video Camera recommendations for my sister. My sister is over her head trying to find the best video camera for her needs.

She will be using it to create horseback riding training videos. So it will be mostly outdoors and in an indoor arena with available light. She has not done much video taping before and is really confused.

1) So far her choices are: sony hdr fx7, sony dcr vx2100, panasonic dvx 100b, canon gl2, sony hvr a1u/v1u. Any stand out or should be avoided?

2) She wants to know if is it OK to get interlaced scan?

3) She doesn't want to spend over $2000 and she wants it to last her a good 5 years.

4) She will be editing on a new Mac.

5) Is there a reputable place to buy used cameras?

Thank you.

Getting video footage to youtube?

tangyraspberry — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:08:04 -0800

How do I get video footage from a Sony, DCR-TRV900, video camera to youtube?

Mummy ! They won't ship my new toy to Belgium !

Baud — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:03:27 -0800

The Flip Mino HD with my own image will not ship outside the US. How can I have it reshipped to Belgium ? This has me dropping of small river of saliva on my laptop keyboard.

Alas, the personalised design will not ship outside the US. I live in Belgium. How can I have it reshipped to Belgium in a reliable, affordable way ?

How long will it take ?

Digital videocam capable of slow-motion video?

rubadub — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:54:55 -0800

Can you suggest a video camera for recording slow-motion video? I'd like to find a digital camera that can record at an increased frame rate (300fps? 600fps? more?) and output at 30fps.

The only one I've found on my own is the Casio Exilim EX-F1, which seems to record 1200fps at 336x96 or 60fps at 1920x1080.

Are there any other possibilities? Used gear is OK, I'd like to get something for as cheap as possible since this is for entertainment purposes only and not something academic.

Interviewing techniques for the amateur videographer. GO!

nitsuj — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:37:58 -0800

Interviewing techniques for the amateur videographer. GO! For instance, when watching various television shows and documentaries, the person being interviewed usually responds to questions in a way that recaps the question without the interviewer's voice having to explain anything. Is there a special way to craft this sort of question? "Never ask a yes or no question," I once heard, but it seems like there's more to it than that.

What are some other tips and tricks to get good responses (read: natural, not nervous, real) out of people on camera?

Please note: I'm not looking for any tips on the technical process (sound, camera, lighting, etc.) I've got those covered!

Oscillating Video Tripod

Mckoan1 — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:24:06 -0800

I am giving my wife a video camera for Xmas. I was wondering if there exists an oscillating tripod or small pedestal that would pan 180 degrees and then reverse itself. This would be similar to an oscillating fan. So far I have only found small electric pedestals that rotate 360 degrees. Thanks in advance.

I'm Not Going To Pay A Lot For This Video!

Mister_A — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:52:19 -0800

Calling all East Coast video production pros! Price check. My company has done a ton of video work, but usually fairly elaborate shoots where we work through a producer to get everything done. Now we're doing a very small-scale, one-day local (Philly area) indoor location shoot with a DP that we know and love. I want to get a baseline on what everything ought to cost. I have some numbers from old estimates and things from production companies we've used, but I want to see what the raw costs are (I assume they marked things up).

Here's what I'm looking for:
DP - 1 day PLUS 1/2 day pre-pro
HD cam + stock (not sure what kind we're using just yet)
Sound - 1 day
Lighting - 1 day
Makeup - 1 day

Please give me costs for associated equipment in cases where it is customary to charge, or where it's something that has to be rented. Just looking for ballpark costs here, I'm not going to hold you to any of this.

I'm pretty solid on post, but if any freelance editors want to weigh in with usual rates, BONUS POINTS!!!

PS Don't worry about talent.

Thanks hive mind!

Music for Home Movies

passtehbrainz — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:25:04 -0800

I'm looking for a website to get ideas for music that would match the theme of home movies that I put together on my Mac. In other words, if im putting together our trip to the beach home movies, 'Surfing in the USA' might match the theme, etc. I understand there might be legal issues, but that should be up to the end user.

Which camcorders let you turn off all the clever stuff and access the raw video?

handee — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:30:24 -0800

I'm thinking of buying a camcorder. My requirements are slightly unusual: I would like one that does all the "bells and whistles" stuff (image stabilisation, auto light balance, H.264 compression etc). But I also want to be able to turn off all the clever stuff and access the "raw" video. Any recommendations? Hard disk/SD recording is a must, high definition would be good.

What kind of lights are these?

Newstuffoldstuff — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:10:42 -0800

What kind of lights are these? Can anyone give me information about these? I want to sell them but don't even know what to call them in the ad. There are video-studio-set lights of some sort. They all work. They're used but in good condition, so any input on what I could ask for them?

How to rent out my video equipment?

JMB1138 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:45:19 -0800

Where to list my video equipment for rental? I've accumulated what I think would be a great equipment package for no-budget indie filmmakers to rent in the New York area. Canon HV20 and HV30 HDV video cameras, plus a dual-channel wireless lav microphone system that I used to shoot a big project recently. I was thinking of trying to rent it all out as a package at a competitive rate to earn some extra cash while it's just sitting around collecting dust. Where's the best place to list something like this?

Best Bang for the Buck in an Inexpensive Digital Video Camera

Alabaster — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:51:17 -0800

Best bang for the buck in an inexpensive digital video camera? I'm looking to replace a 10-year-old Sony MiniDV camera which was lost. My wife (a teacher) uses it primarily for making film projects with her students. These are burned to DVD for the students and sometimes projected onto a large screen.

We're on a tight budget and are looking for a consumer-grade camera, preferably in the $2-300 range, although this could stretch to $500 if absolutely necessary).

-Video quality must be roughly equivalent to the MiniDV (or better).
-Storage must handle at least 1-2 hours of video at this quality (compression isn't a problem unless it's noticeably degrading to a non-expert's eye).
-Must have decent zooming capabilities
-Storage medium is negotiable. She's accustomed to MiniDV but I think flash/card/hard drive storage storage would be faster/more convenient for sorting through footage and transferring to PC.
-PC interface is also negotiable -- firewire, USB, memory card, or DVD would be acceptable -- again, convenience and speed for transfer and editing (in Premiere Elements) are priorities.
-Built-in mic is necessary, but the option to connect an external mic would be appreciated.

Any suggestions on a small camera that will give us the most bang for $2-300 bucks? Thanks

What's Pre-Roll?

Ironmouth — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:53:28 -0800

What Does Pre-Roll Mean? A friend is filming an event for a producer with his high-end video camera. The producer is asking for 5 minutes of "pre-roll" on each tape. What does that mean?

Help me find a good camcorder.

zardoz — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:28:25 -0800

I'm in the market for an inexpensive (under $1000) camcorder but every spec on any camera brings up a thousand questions. 3CCD? CMOS? HD? HDV? MiniDV? BluRay? File formats? Still shots? Help! So I have some criteria for a video camera, and I hope you all can at least direct me to some good sites explaining the differences, if not give some specific camera examples.

1) I want manual control. Especially manual focus, which to me is a physical ring, though I understand some cameras have manual focus with a small joystick or jog dial.

2) A decent zoom, 10x optical or more.

3) High quality. I want video that looks good on an HDTV. This is where it gets a bit confusing to me. As I understand it, 3CCD will give the best color quality, but high megapixel (?) CMOS chip cameras are just as good if not better. Is there a big difference in quality between 720p and 1080i? And is a non-3CCD 1080i "good enough"?

4) Still image ability. I have a so-so Canon digital SLR, but it's starting to show its age and limitations, so I'd like to be able to take good quality stills with the camcorder. I've seen the new Canon 5D Mark II, which would be almost perfect because it takes HD video as well, but alas, it's out of my price range. The Nikon D90 is nice, and the price is much better, but only mono sound is a dealbreaker for me.

My dream camera would be a professional one like the Canon XL2 or the GL2, the JVC GY-HD200CL17, etc. But these are in the thousands of dollars and my budget is stretching it even at $1000. And they are a bit bulky, and perhaps more than I really need. I'll be using this for basic home moves mainly, but would like to do some projects in which I can use the HD ability for high quality.

What format is best? Is there a big difference between DV tapes, mini BluRay disks, hard drive cameras, flash drives, etc. I'll be using my Intel iMac to edit, and I have Final Cut Pro (or iMovie), but I can fire up Windows as well and edit in Premiere. Is there anything I should know about proprietary file formats and transfering to my iMac?

So what prosumer camera out there does the best job? I know this is all kind of a tall order, but if you can point me in the right direction I'd be grateful.

Recommend: small budget camera with movie and audio prowess

oneous — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:25:18 -0800

Hi all-- I'm jumping the gun and asking for a personal recommendation for a used camera purchase. My budget is $200-250 and I want to buy used. My priorities in order are: 1. As much manual control as possible -- so I'm leaning towards Canon for the CHKD firmware. 2. FAST to start up and take shots and switch modes. 3. 30FPS VGA movie ability that looks comparable to a cheap dedicated camcorder (but it doesn't need to record for a long time -- I'm fine with MJPEG). 4. Good quality audio pickup for the movies. 5. Smaller than SLR-size. ...Everything else is low priority. I hope these criteria and its answers will be useful to others.

I need a good camera.

zardoz — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:12:19 -0800

I want a camera. I'm not quite satisfied with just an SLR or just a video camera, but one that can do both. If I had the money I'd buy one of each, but it's more economical and practical to just get one. I'd like to get a Nikon digital SLR, if for no other reason than the ability to change lenses. For video, I'd like a 3CCD video camera, but this doesn't seem to be part of any digital SLR that I can find (is the hardware for 3CCD too bulky?).

Which brings me to a corollary video question: is there a big difference between "HD" video cameras and 3CCD video cameras?

In short, can anyone suggest an SLR that has good-to-outstanding video quality? I seem to remember reading on a tech blog very recently that Nikon or Olympus is releasing a video SLR but I can't find anything. One that is under US$1000 would be ideal.

MiniDV camera research

mwhybark — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:36:43 -0800

Suggestions and research sites for DV camera? I am beginning a for-work acquisition research quest to determine the best route to go for getting a video camera. We have already ruled out high-end, 640x480 is fine. We do need advanced fiddly controls - white balance, exposure, that sort of thing.

A digital connection that allows us to direct-capture to hard drive is a requirement. On or off-board audio recording does not matter, but I would tend to err on the side of audio-in-jacks for outboard mics. Mini-jacks are fine.

We will be using the camera to create short marketing-support videos which will not require outside shooting or the use of models or actors. Think simple product demos.

First decision point: should we even look at still-and-video point and shoots? I lean away, thinking that the fiddly controls won't be sufficient.

Second decision point: any pointers to that evergreen of the obsolescence-oriented geeks-n-gadgets publishing market, the current-models comparison for miniDV cameras?

Thanks very much and I look forward to your wisdoms.