best camcorder ever made image
Q. I am about to buy a camcorder and shoot some no-buget film ;) but uh, should I use Mini DV, a camera with a built in Hard Drive (HDD) or with Flash Memory...and why?
And which brand is best? And how much should i spend new or old? And my computer doesn't have a Firewire connection...and I have Vista
Thank You all very much
How can I move this question to where some FilmMakers might read it?
And which brand is best? And how much should i spend new or old? And my computer doesn't have a Firewire connection...and I have Vista
Thank You all very much
How can I move this question to where some FilmMakers might read it?
Answer
If your computer doesn't have FireWire, consider buying a FireWire card to install for your computer, they're not too expensive.
I still go with MiniDV simply because of the quality and widespread support. Just about every editing program ever made supports DV, and the quality beats the rest anyway. It's all about compression, you can read up on the technical reasons.
Don't worry so much about brands, think more about individual cameras based on features, design, and so forth. All the big manufacturers do a good job; I've used Panasonic, Sony, Canon, and JVC and been happy with all of them. But again, look at individual cameras. For example, one Panasonic model has the Firewire port inside the battery compartment, so you MUST use wall power if you want to use Firewire. Bad design there. However, other Panasonic cameras are great. Just look for which one meets your needs for the best price.
As for how much you should spend, that's entirely up to you, and what your budget and needs are.
Good luck!
If your computer doesn't have FireWire, consider buying a FireWire card to install for your computer, they're not too expensive.
I still go with MiniDV simply because of the quality and widespread support. Just about every editing program ever made supports DV, and the quality beats the rest anyway. It's all about compression, you can read up on the technical reasons.
Don't worry so much about brands, think more about individual cameras based on features, design, and so forth. All the big manufacturers do a good job; I've used Panasonic, Sony, Canon, and JVC and been happy with all of them. But again, look at individual cameras. For example, one Panasonic model has the Firewire port inside the battery compartment, so you MUST use wall power if you want to use Firewire. Bad design there. However, other Panasonic cameras are great. Just look for which one meets your needs for the best price.
As for how much you should spend, that's entirely up to you, and what your budget and needs are.
Good luck!
What is a Good Camcorder to get for a Beginner?
Madison
This is going to be my first ever camcorder, so I want it to be reliable but easy to use. My two biggest things are that it needs to have a good mic and it needs to be able to connect to a laptop easily. Also, if it's too advanced I won't be able to understand it, so I want it to be simple but with lots of extra features (such as fade in/fade out, nightcam, flashlight, etc.) Lastly, it needs to be pretty cheap. I want the best camcorder I can get for below $200.
I'm going to use e camera for lots of different things, filming both close-up and at a distance. I'll probably upload it's videos to YouTube as well.
I've never had a camcorder before, so I don't even know where to start... Basically, if it's cheap, easy, has a good mic, and uploads to YouTube, it's the one I want. Oh, and reliable. Don't want it to quit working right away.
Thanks!
Answer
There is nothing in your price range with everything on your requirements list.
The built-in mic is only as good as the audio source and level and your ability to use the mic elements close to the audio source when the level is normal and not loud. If you plan to record loud audio, there is no camcorder that can properly capture good audio. As well, if the audio source is far away, there is no camcorder's built-in mic that can capture the audio very well. This is not the camera mic's fault. The problem is that when the built-in mics are in the right place, the shot framing may not be so good... The resolution is to use an external mic - but there are no camcorders in your price range with a mic jack and manual audio gain control... the closest I can get you is the Canon HF R400.
All digital camcorders have some sort of computer connectivity. Flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders use USB; digital tape systems use firewlre. Since you did not tell us anything about your computer, we have no way to know what sort of connections are available. Assuming USB, then we should be OK.
Don't use the camcorder to edit the video or provide transitions, titles, etc. That is what the computer is for. Again, since we don't know anything about your computer, we do not know if it can deal with editing video.
Sony dropped the "NightShot" feature from the low-end camcorders a couple of years ago. The ones over $1,000 might have it. There are none under $200 unless you get something used.
"Cheap" = poorly made. This word should fall off your requirements list... "Inexpensive", perhaps is a better word to use - that way you get "reliable".
For $200 you might find a Bell & Howell with night vision, but some of the other requirements you have may not be met...
If you go with a point and shoot camera that happens to capture still, but can also capture video as a convenience feature, you will need to add a video light and there's no mic jack (and the audio is not so good).
I think you need to either reduce your requirements or increase your budget... or both.
There is nothing in your price range with everything on your requirements list.
The built-in mic is only as good as the audio source and level and your ability to use the mic elements close to the audio source when the level is normal and not loud. If you plan to record loud audio, there is no camcorder that can properly capture good audio. As well, if the audio source is far away, there is no camcorder's built-in mic that can capture the audio very well. This is not the camera mic's fault. The problem is that when the built-in mics are in the right place, the shot framing may not be so good... The resolution is to use an external mic - but there are no camcorders in your price range with a mic jack and manual audio gain control... the closest I can get you is the Canon HF R400.
All digital camcorders have some sort of computer connectivity. Flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders use USB; digital tape systems use firewlre. Since you did not tell us anything about your computer, we have no way to know what sort of connections are available. Assuming USB, then we should be OK.
Don't use the camcorder to edit the video or provide transitions, titles, etc. That is what the computer is for. Again, since we don't know anything about your computer, we do not know if it can deal with editing video.
Sony dropped the "NightShot" feature from the low-end camcorders a couple of years ago. The ones over $1,000 might have it. There are none under $200 unless you get something used.
"Cheap" = poorly made. This word should fall off your requirements list... "Inexpensive", perhaps is a better word to use - that way you get "reliable".
For $200 you might find a Bell & Howell with night vision, but some of the other requirements you have may not be met...
If you go with a point and shoot camera that happens to capture still, but can also capture video as a convenience feature, you will need to add a video light and there's no mic jack (and the audio is not so good).
I think you need to either reduce your requirements or increase your budget... or both.
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