Best Camcorder for my price range as of 6/9/2011?

best camcorder for sports 2011 image

sinfullsta

As of June 9, 2011, what is the best camcorder for around $300, give or take $50.

Keep in mind:
-No flip cameras please
-I am an amateur film maker
-I want to shoot music videos
-Shoot short films
-Even in the hands of the shakiest person, the film is still smooth, and clear.
-Able to shoot in very lowlight areas
-Please tell me if the camera you suggested has a mic input or not

I was looking at the Samsung HMX-H300, but give me your opinions on what you think the best camera that's bang for my buck. (as of today)
I forgot to add:
-If the camcorder has the ability to take pictures, it's a plus. (Not needed though)

Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 3 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes - all times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 seconds or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

You can get a Canon ZR960 for $250. It is a MiniDV tape camcorder, has a Mic jack. You need a firewire (IEEE1394) card ($25 to 30) for the computer and a firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer. To say this is not HD, think about this. It would cost in excess of $3500 to get a HD camcorder that could equal the video Quality of a $250 Canon MiniDV tape camcorder.

High Speed still images from video!?

Carlyn

im wanting to find a video camera capable of producing video with high enough quality that i can take stills out of the video. the reason for this is im doing some sports and want some stills of precise points of impact of a bat and a ball. and i dont want to use my dslr. i want to be able to set up a camcorder in a certain position and let it sit while i take pics of different angles with my dslr.

will any camcorder compare to what a dslr can produce ?

my budget is about $1200 but if thats unrealistic i will have to go more but shooting for 1200.

and preferably a camera that a waterproof case can be purchased for.

Answer
It's probably not a good idea.

Know why?

The highest-resolution HD video is 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels high. That's the equivalent of a 2-megapixel still camera. And that's the highest resolution image you could possibly pull out of a video file.
Additionally, stored digital video is "keyframed" -- the compression methods used to store digital video save an occasional full-resolution "keyframe" image, and then interpolate the succeeding images based on changes from the keyframe image for the next bunch of frames. Even the changes from the keyframe image are compressed (non-losslessly) as well. So for you to pick one arbitrary frame out very likely means you're not hitting a "keyframe," and are getting an interpolation -- so you won't even get a full 2MP image, you'll get a motion-compressed partial frame. Then there's rolling shutter artifacts, etc. to worry about...

The best way to do this is to get a sound/optical trigger, and use your DSLR. That will let you get the *exact* moment you want to capture, at high resolution and with no losses.
Here's one inexpensive piece of equipment that will help you do this:

http://www.makingitasapro.blogspot.com/2011/07/high-speed-flash-with-hiviz.html

Peace.

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