Saturday, March 22, 2014

camcorder video quality?




Michael


Using Adobe premiere, Is there a way to increase video quality, not to HD, but better quality? Also, will replaying the video on the camcorder before putting it into the computer hurt the quality of video when I finally put it in the computer? Also, when video is put threw a USB cord, is that a form of compression?


Answer
"Using Adobe premiere, Is there a way to increase video quality"

Not really - you can play with things like the colour balance, exposure etc but whether you're getting an overall improvement is questionable.

"Also, will replaying the video on the camcorder before putting it into the computer hurt the quality of video when I finally put it in the computer?"

No. If it's a tape based camcorder you'll wear the tape out eventually, but it's not a real problem.

"Also, when video is put threw a USB cord, is that a form of compression?"

Not exactly. If you've got a tape based camcorder the video data has to be streamed - you can't go back and resend the last couple of bytes if your PC missed them because it was busy doing something else. USB isn't good at streaming so tape based camcorders use firewire for the video and mostly just use USB for transferring stills. I say "mostly" because some camcorders have a "USB streaming" mode - it's mainly so that you can use the camcorder as a webcam and it works by compressing the video. Unfortunately that compression lowers the quality and often leads to problems with AV synch when you try and edit the video.

What brand and model(s) camcorder can be used to get this same exact quality video?




Killa


Video link: http://vimeo.com/60241860


Answer
The best Quality Video Camcorder in the Consumer Level Camcorder Market, is a MiniDV tape Camcorder. HD Camcorders, that being any Camcorder storing the Video it shoots to anything but tape, and DSLR cameras, all interpolate the Video. What that means, as the take video and store it on the storage media, they take one frame from the lens, several from the internal electronics within the Camcorder, one frame from the lens, several from the internal electronics within the Camcorder, one frame from the lens, several from the internal electronics within the Camcorder, and so on until the end of your Video.

Looks like this, where lens frames are + and camera made frames are >

+>>>>>>+>>>>>>>+>>>>>>>+>>>>>>+>>>>>>> and so on

The frames made by the HD camcorder internal electronics, not from the lens, are 80% of any HD Camcorder's videos. They are all made using an algorithm based on the frame from the lens before and after these frames. Mostly impossible to edit

Furthermore, you can get a MiniDV tape Camcorder for under $600, to even try to get a HD camcorder that could shoot as good or better Quality Video, you would need to spend $5400 to find one that could.




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starting small film company interviewing models need a GREAT hd camcorder under $1000 with close up any ideas?




Juan


Im no professional but would like a camcorder with near professional features and quality i know there are many good ones but i'm on a budget of under $1000 ive been doing research and found a canon vixia hfs20 but it has mixed reviews and i truely want something GREAT thanks for the help


Answer
First, let's define professional camcorder:

Lens filter diameter 70mm or larger.
3CCD or 3CMOS imaging chip system - 1/4" or larger.
XLR audio-in connections.
Records to low compression (HDV, DVCPRO HD or XDCAM/HDCAM) video formats.

When you find a camcorder with the above, all the other stuff like separate manual focus and zoom rings, manual audio control and all the other manual controls on the outside of the camcorder will be included.

You already know that there is no "professional" camera made (new, anyway) that is under $1,000. Since you are doing interviews, I presume that means you get to control the environment - specifically, lighting.

Under good lighting conditions, ANY camcorder can provide good video. You just need to know what that camcorder's requirements are for "good lighting conditions". That leaves low compression applied to the digital video stream and audio.

Audio first. Consumer grade camcorders - if they even have a mic jack - use a 1/8", (3.5mm) stereo plug. Your mic selection will be a bit limited, but the NRG SA-568 and RODE video mic are worthy of investigation. Just because a consumer camcorder has a mic jack does not mean it has manual audio control - so be careful. Download the camcorder's manual form the manufacturer's web site to be sure.

Video compression: AVCHD is a LOT of compression to MTS files. This continues to be a large reason why professionals do not use AVCHD. This is a bigger deal if there is fast action. I can't imagine interviews with models being "fast action".

The Canon HF S series *should* be OK for you IF YOU TURN ON THE LIGHTS so they are bright enough to meet the camcorder's "good lighting" requirements. I prefer the HF S100. Learn about three point lighting and four point lighting. Learn about use of makeup in a HD video environment. high definition video sees EVERYTHING.

That said, given a choice, use of a miniDV tape based camcorder is preferred for a LOT of reasons... The Canon HV40 and Sony HDR-HC9 should be investigated - but only if your computer has a firewire port or you can add one (this is the only way to get the video from the camcorder to the computer for editing).

what is the Best HD Camcorder?




Banshee


What i want is the Best of the best camcorders in the market today. just camcorders not proffesional video camera.
hd,camcorder. simple as that.



Answer
Your question does not make sense to me.

A "camcorder" defined:
"A camcorder (video CAMera reCORDER) is an electronic device that combines a video camera and a video recorder into one unit.

In order to differentiate it from other devices that are capable of recording video, like cell phones and compact digital cameras, a camcorder is generally identified as a portable device primarily designed for video capture and recording."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camcorder

If you want the "best of the best" then you want a professional grade camcorder. Barring that, you will not be looking at the "best of the best". The step down from professional-grade would be "prosumer". But lets define professional grade, first... In my opinion, pro grade camcorders:
1) have lenses larger than 60mm diameter - usually 72mm.
2) have imaging chips larger than 1/4" - usually 3-chip array and more typically 1/3". Can be 3-CCD or 3-CMOS.
3) have XLR audio-in connectors.
4) record to DV or HDV or some other low-compression format (not AVCHD/MTS).
Deviate from any one of these and the grade of the camcorder drops to "prosumer".

Depending on your specific requirements, those worth investigating:
Sony HDR-FX7, HDR-FX1000, HVR-HD1000, HVR-A1.
Canon GL2

In the higher-end consumer grade area:
Canon HV40, HF and HF S series.
Sony HDR-CX500 series.

No consumer internal hard disc drives camcorders (knowm problems with vibration and altitude prevents recording video). No consumer DVD based camcorders.




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What is the best camcorder for web videos and kids sports?




sheila


Hi. I've been going around in circles trying to find the best reasonably price camcorder to meet my needs.
First I need to be able to shoot videos to upload to our websites. These videos would most often be shot indoors in auditoriums or conference centers and would often involve interview-style type footage so sound quality is very important as well ease in uploading to the web.

Secondly, I would love to use this same camera for home video including kids sports (i.e. football, basketball, tennis). Any help is greatly appreciated as I am not a big technology person and every time I think I've found a camera, I read something about poor low-light video or poor audio that causes me to pause.

Thanks!



Answer
The biggest difference between camcorders is mostly about how they handle low light situations. So when you pay more, you'll get better quality (most likely).

The bigger the sensor, the better it can handle low light situations. But you'll only get bigger sensor when you pay more than 1200 dollar for a camera.

Anyway what I actually wanted to say was that it's best to get an external microphone. You could get the RODE videomic for when your filming events. I would get another microphone which you can hold in your hand for the interviews. You'll get way better sound and background noise will be less loud than with the RODE videomic or your built in microphone.

The RODE videomic uses a mini-jack for the sound, if you go for a camcorder below the 1200 dollar price it will most likely have a mini-jack connector for microphones. But most hand microphones use XLR plugs. So you'll need a female xlr to male mini-jack connector. You can get those at a music store, just ask them to make one for you.

A camera which you could use is the canon HV40. It still records on tape, but tape has less compression and is easier to edit. The only problem is that when you record one hour, you'll need to play back and transfer one hour. You'll need to play back the entire tape at the normal speed. So it can take a while. But HDV is way better than AVCHD. They sometimes also use it for television. AVCHD is never used for television broadcast.

what are the best hd video cameras under $300 that record sports well in low light conditions?




jdl12321


i know that the $300 is not a lot for an hd video camera and that it won't be the greatest video quality ever, but i'm just a college kid so my funds are limited to say the least. i record tennis matches with my brother, and we usually play at night, as well as basketball games (during the day). any thoughts?


Answer
no consumer HD camera can record sports action except as a blur. that is because of the super high compression. MPEG4, AVCHD and similar codecs record only one actual frame and then throw out the next 7, giving it a GOF factor of 8. on playback the missing frames have to be guessed at by interpolation, which gives blurry jumpy results.

the solution is to use the system most widely used by action sports videographers, which is miniDV. while not HD it can be shot in the widescreen mode so the picture will fill an HDTV screen. And you can get one for under $300, look at the Canon ZR960.




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Friday, March 21, 2014

i have Sony camcorder hdr-sr11, i need to know what is the best ext. mic to record live rock band music?

Q. when i record using only the incorp mic the sound is very distortionated, therefore i want to use ext mic to record rock live music. thanks


Answer
I looked through the manual... It does not look like this camcorder has manual audio control.

You could get the best most expensive mic available and it will still sound distorted... The problem is that without manual audio control the built-in automatic audio gain leveler is not able to keep up with really loud audio. Lots of clipping and very muddy sounding. You need to be able to control that audio gain - and what gets through the audio circuit and through the camcorder and onto the tape.

The easiest option is to use a field recorder like those from Zoom, M-Audio, Marantz, Sony, Edirol, Tascam (and others). They have built-in mics and manual audio control. When you bring the video into a computer for editing, bring the audio in from the field recorder, too. Mute the bad audio that came in with the video and synch the imported audio from the field recorder.

Another easy option is to replace the camcorder. Personally, I don't like AVCHD compressed video - too much video compression - currently the least expensive camcorders of which I am aware with mic-in jacks and full manual audio control are the Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9.

Just so you know, I use a Sony HDR-HC1 with a BeachTek or juicedLink XLR adapter and for live music (if I have not made prior arrangements with the audio engineer to get a good discreet AUX send board mix), I use an Audio Technica AT-825 or Shure VP-88... and yes, I have successfully recorded live rock, metal, screamer and other bands with NO distortion.

Good video camera for live music?

Q. I'm filming a documentary for a band which will include a live concert and one on one interviews.

What would be my best option camera wise and do i need a mic for the interviews?
And how much would we be looking at?


Answer
What you would need is a camcorder with a MIC jack, run a wire from the mixer to the camcorder.. Any action, forget HD video.

HD camcorders interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi processor computer with the big Graphics and sound cards that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files a HD camcorder produces.

Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 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) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different 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.

Best camcorder you could get, - http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/products?m=gp&pid=1017#_030




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Looking For A Camcorder(possibly HD) that must have auto focus, and a good zoom.?

Q. I need this new camcorder for my YouTube beauty videos. http://www.youtube.com/katieluvsbeauty . The camcorder must have auto focus and a good zoom. HD would be nice as well, but is not a must. Please no more then around $250.00. Any questions email me at katieluvsbeauty@yahoo.com THANKS!


Answer
you might consider JVC Everio GZ-HM200 Dual SD High-Def Camcorder
# Dual SD card slot for dual memory continuous recording
# 1920x1080 Full HD recording
# 20x optical zoom with Konica Minolta HD lens
# Laser-touch operation with sub-trigger and zoom; one-touch upload to YouTube
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OMH1JQ?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001OMH1JQ

Panasonic HDCTM15 16GB Full HD Camcorder
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039SNYU8?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0039SNYU8

What kind of camcorder should I buy?




Abby


I want to record things to upload to Youtube, but to do so I need a GOOD camcorder. I have looked online, but I am not sure what one to get. It can't be over $500. I want to record things live traveling. Say if I went to France, I want to record my stay there. The places I see and things like that. I need it to have good quality. Good video taking, memory space, and I am not super picky about zoom because I probably won't use it a whole lot. I just need a good camcorder. Panasonic makes good ones according to the ratings they get, but one video said not to because the newer ones and the older ones are almost the same. This is very important to me, so please help me! THANK YOU A LOT


Answer
HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

DSLR Cameras, all Makes, all Models, all have the same problem when video taping some long videos, all overheat at the 13 to 18 minute mark, depending on the Make and Model. This is unavoidable, it all has to with the fact, video is an afterthought in DSLR camera production.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 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 and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview




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Thursday, March 20, 2014

What is the best consumer camcorder to buy?




the wonder


I am looking to buy a new camcorder and am not sure which one to buy. I want one that connects via firewire to the computer which is pretty standard and has pretty good quality. I am looking to spend around 1000 dollars. Thanks for the help.


Answer
I am suggestion the good quality camcorder :

1.Sony HDR-SR11 10.2-MP 60GB High Definition Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ($799).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00123XZNI?ie=UTF8&tag=cheap.suit.women-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00123XZNI

2. Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom ($568).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00114162K?ie=UTF8&tag=cheap.suit.women-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00114162K

See bestselling Camcorders at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26rs%3D172421%26sort%3Dpmrank%26ref%255F%3Dsr%255Fst%26keywords%3Dcamcorder%26bbn%3D172421%26qid%3D1230957299%26rh%3Di%253Aaps%252Ck%253Acamcorder%252Ci%253Aelectronics%252Cn%253A172282%252Cn%253A502394%252Cn%253A172421%26page%3D1&tag=cheap.suit.women-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

What's a good camcorder for an amateur film maker?




Nick A


My friend and I are attempting to create some professional looking movies. We have some specifications that we would like met for our camcorder, but if you can find something close, that would be good too.

It should have:
1 Standard Definition (because we dont have HD capability)
2 MiniDV
3 Mic Input
4 Manual Focus
5 Able to shoot well in bright and low light
6 <1000 dollars
7 Wide Screen capability
8 Image Stabliztion
9 Able to add audio later (dubbing)

We were thinking about the Canon HV30, but didn't know if this would be a good choice or not. Also, other equipment suggestions would be welcome (mics, editing software, lighting etc)



Answer
The HV20/HV30/HV40 will work - as will the Sony HDR-HC9. While they are HDV camcorders, they can easily be switched to DV. Later, when you have "HD capabilities" (whatever that means), you can upgrade rather easily. These are the least expensive camcorders available (of which I am aware) with a mic jack AND manual audio control.

These listed camcorders will meet all your requirements - except #5. They are consumer-grade camcorders and have small lenses and imaging chips. All camcorders can do well in good light. Low-light with small lenses and imaging chips will mean grainy video.

As for #9 - the camcorder is not really an "editing device"... the computer video editing application can be used for your audio correction and dubbing - and adding other sound design, soundtrack (music) or audio effects.

Because these camcorders are miniDV tape based, your computer needs to have a firewire port so the the video can be imported. Transfer using USB will not work.

Since you did not provide any detail on your computer, recommending editing software is a challenge.

Windows/Vista:
MovieMaker (bundled with Windows XP SP2 or newer)
Sony Vegas
Adobe Premiere

Macintosh:
iMovie (bundled with OS 9.2 or newer)
FinalCut (Express or Pro)
Adobe Premiere

Lighting:
Cheap work-shop lamps are fine. Check Wikipedia for tips on "Three point lighting".

Steadying device:
Try to NEVER shoot handheld. Use a tripod (SunPak PlatinumPro is a cheap consumer tripod for $90 at BestBuy or better). There is a DIY SteadyCam device... or make a SpiderBrace-like shoulder mount. Tables, chairs, rocks, whatever is around... also works - just no handheld.

Mics:
Wireless lavs are nice to have, but acceptable units from Shure and Sennheiser are expensive. Good shotgun mics generally use XLR connectors - but there are a few sort of OK ones that can use the 1/8" (3.5mm stereo jack on the camcorder. NRG Reasearch's SA-568 switchable mic is useful as is the RODE video mic. The Audio Technica ATR-55 is OK, too. If you get into good mics using XLR connectors, you will need an XLR adapter like those from juicedLink or BeachTek. You will need a long audio extension cable - which is what drives the XLR requirement. Long unshielded cable is like an antenna and can pick up radio frequency and electromagnetic interference (RFI & EMI). XLR cables are shielded and the probability of picking up interference is hugely reduced.

Dolly shots can be done with a flat hand-cart or a wheelchair or an office chair with wheels. Best when a flat surface swept of small debris is used.

Learn to use the white balance feature. And use it.

Try not to pan. If you must, pan s l o w l y.

Try not to zoom. If you must, zoom s l o w l y.

Write the script then story board it then create a shot list. This is you "plan". Stick to the plan - changing the plan means reshooting and potential issues with continuity. The shot list will allow you to capture video in one place rather than set up and tear down - only to find that you had more shots to do in the same place. Changing the plan means you have not done enough planning.

ALWAYS: SAFETY FIRST. Don't do stunts or stupid stuff if there is ANY possibility of anyone getting hurt. You cannot afford the financial, emotional or physical issues if something happens - whether accidental or not. The professionals carry LOTS of insurance.




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What is the best camcorder for web videos and kids sports?




sheila


Hi. I've been going around in circles trying to find the best reasonably price camcorder to meet my needs.
First I need to be able to shoot videos to upload to our websites. These videos would most often be shot indoors in auditoriums or conference centers and would often involve interview-style type footage so sound quality is very important as well ease in uploading to the web.

Secondly, I would love to use this same camera for home video including kids sports (i.e. football, basketball, tennis). Any help is greatly appreciated as I am not a big technology person and every time I think I've found a camera, I read something about poor low-light video or poor audio that causes me to pause.

Thanks!



Answer
The biggest difference between camcorders is mostly about how they handle low light situations. So when you pay more, you'll get better quality (most likely).

The bigger the sensor, the better it can handle low light situations. But you'll only get bigger sensor when you pay more than 1200 dollar for a camera.

Anyway what I actually wanted to say was that it's best to get an external microphone. You could get the RODE videomic for when your filming events. I would get another microphone which you can hold in your hand for the interviews. You'll get way better sound and background noise will be less loud than with the RODE videomic or your built in microphone.

The RODE videomic uses a mini-jack for the sound, if you go for a camcorder below the 1200 dollar price it will most likely have a mini-jack connector for microphones. But most hand microphones use XLR plugs. So you'll need a female xlr to male mini-jack connector. You can get those at a music store, just ask them to make one for you.

A camera which you could use is the canon HV40. It still records on tape, but tape has less compression and is easier to edit. The only problem is that when you record one hour, you'll need to play back and transfer one hour. You'll need to play back the entire tape at the normal speed. So it can take a while. But HDV is way better than AVCHD. They sometimes also use it for television. AVCHD is never used for television broadcast.

what are the best hd video cameras under $300 that record sports well in low light conditions?




jdl12321


i know that the $300 is not a lot for an hd video camera and that it won't be the greatest video quality ever, but i'm just a college kid so my funds are limited to say the least. i record tennis matches with my brother, and we usually play at night, as well as basketball games (during the day). any thoughts?


Answer
no consumer HD camera can record sports action except as a blur. that is because of the super high compression. MPEG4, AVCHD and similar codecs record only one actual frame and then throw out the next 7, giving it a GOF factor of 8. on playback the missing frames have to be guessed at by interpolation, which gives blurry jumpy results.

the solution is to use the system most widely used by action sports videographers, which is miniDV. while not HD it can be shot in the widescreen mode so the picture will fill an HDTV screen. And you can get one for under $300, look at the Canon ZR960.




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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

What is the best 1080p HD camcorder for under $1000?




Rulerof52


What is the best 1080p HD camcorder for under $1000? I've done a bit of research, but most websites are unclear as to whether their camcorders are 1080i or 1080p.

Must have:
1080p video
More than 32gb of built in storage
No tape!

Thanks!
~Rulerof52



Answer
I would personally get a canon hv30. It does a terrific job indoors and it sports some of the best prosumer functions. Although it doesn't have built in storage, and runs on hdv tapes, that works to it's advantage. I work at a camera shop, and the most frequent camcorders sent away from repair are hard drive cameras. Writing onto a hdv tape is simple, while writing onto a hard drive is the opposite. A lot of hard drive cameras break.

Another thing is 1080p. You will not be able to achieve true 1080p with a camera under one thousand dollars (with the exception of the canon t2i but that has limitations). True 1080p comes with a price tag into the thousands of dollars. 1080i however, works perfectly fine. It doesn't have the same CinemaScope aspect ratio but in hindsight, you're likely not shooting avatar 2.

I'd take a look at the hv30, maybe even it's predecessor the hv20, they're terrific cameras. Best of luck, take care.

starting small film company interviewing models need a GREAT hd camcorder under $1000 with close up any ideas?




Juan


Im no professional but would like a camcorder with near professional features and quality i know there are many good ones but i'm on a budget of under $1000 ive been doing research and found a canon vixia hfs20 but it has mixed reviews and i truely want something GREAT thanks for the help


Answer
First, let's define professional camcorder:

Lens filter diameter 70mm or larger.
3CCD or 3CMOS imaging chip system - 1/4" or larger.
XLR audio-in connections.
Records to low compression (HDV, DVCPRO HD or XDCAM/HDCAM) video formats.

When you find a camcorder with the above, all the other stuff like separate manual focus and zoom rings, manual audio control and all the other manual controls on the outside of the camcorder will be included.

You already know that there is no "professional" camera made (new, anyway) that is under $1,000. Since you are doing interviews, I presume that means you get to control the environment - specifically, lighting.

Under good lighting conditions, ANY camcorder can provide good video. You just need to know what that camcorder's requirements are for "good lighting conditions". That leaves low compression applied to the digital video stream and audio.

Audio first. Consumer grade camcorders - if they even have a mic jack - use a 1/8", (3.5mm) stereo plug. Your mic selection will be a bit limited, but the NRG SA-568 and RODE video mic are worthy of investigation. Just because a consumer camcorder has a mic jack does not mean it has manual audio control - so be careful. Download the camcorder's manual form the manufacturer's web site to be sure.

Video compression: AVCHD is a LOT of compression to MTS files. This continues to be a large reason why professionals do not use AVCHD. This is a bigger deal if there is fast action. I can't imagine interviews with models being "fast action".

The Canon HF S series *should* be OK for you IF YOU TURN ON THE LIGHTS so they are bright enough to meet the camcorder's "good lighting" requirements. I prefer the HF S100. Learn about three point lighting and four point lighting. Learn about use of makeup in a HD video environment. high definition video sees EVERYTHING.

That said, given a choice, use of a miniDV tape based camcorder is preferred for a LOT of reasons... The Canon HV40 and Sony HDR-HC9 should be investigated - but only if your computer has a firewire port or you can add one (this is the only way to get the video from the camcorder to the computer for editing).




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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Black Friday HD camcorder deals?




becca!


Anyone know of any good HD camcorder deals that will be going on Black Friday? If yes, where?


Answer
I don't know about any specific stores that will carry a special deal for a camcorder, but you're welcome to check yourself here - http://www.theblackfriday.com/ This site provides all incoming Black Friday deals as they're revealed, so you can search by item or specifically by store.

camcorder?

Q. wats the least amount of money i should pay to buy a good camcorder?.....it doesnt have to be like super hi-tech or anything, but i want the video and image quality to be good. also, wats a good brand of video camera to buy?


Answer
Personally I like Canon, Sony camcorder. You can try Canon DC210, it is 35X Zoom. I find a review for it,
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/11928/canon_dc210_camcorder/
A pretty price I can find for it is only $279.
http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=69291




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Cheap, good quality video cameras?




faith dutc


Okay. This might be a little hard to explain, but here goes.
I make clay charms, and I really want to start a YouTube account and an Etsy to get my business going. The only problem is, I don't have a good camera. My Kodak M863 is the crappiest thing on earth when trying to film little things up close (like clay charms). It is SO blurry. I have tried almost every camera I can find in the house. My mom's takes a little better quality than mine, but still extremely blurry. I tried my ipod, I even tried my dad's phone. All too blurry.
So I was wondering is anyone knew of some cheap, good quality, video cameras, that focus when you bring anything up close to it? I can't be spending over $150 dollars. =[
Thanks in advance, and I understand if it's kind of impossible to find a good video camera that cheap.

P.S. Just found this video camera on ebay. Have any of y'all tried it, and is it any good? http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Sony-bloggie-MHSTS20-8-GB-Camcorder-Silver-/100031837?_refkw=video+camera&_pcatid=804&_pcategid=11724&LH_BIN=1&_dmpt=Camcorders_Professional_Video_Cameras



Answer
HD camcorders interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 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) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different 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.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video.

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/products?m=gp&pid=1017#_030

What is the best cheap HD video camera?




Alex


I wanna know what is the best Full HD video camera under 300 Pounds. It needs to have an external mic input.
Oh, and it needs to be available on amazon.co.uk



Answer
Getting a HD camcorder is taking a step backward in Video Quality. HD camcorders Interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly, the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. MiniDV tape camcorders give every frame of every shot and usually cost less.

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 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) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different 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.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/zr960




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Monday, March 17, 2014

Why can't I see anything in the viewfinder of my camcorder?




DN714


I have a Panasonic PV-DV203D, I bought in in 2003 and never used it until now. The lcd screen works but when I look in the viewfinder I don't see anything but a gray screen.


Answer
With the viewfinder, it doesn't activate unless the lcd screen is closed. Also it may have a fuzzy display until the viewfinder is pulled out. My Panasonic has a viewfinder that pulls out about 2cm and does not angle like yours would I believe.

If still nothing but grey screen is showing, then probably the video circuitry inside the camcorder has failed for driving the viewfinder. You should still be able to connect a screen using the AV output jack but it is not as convenient.

Hitachi VM-2600A camcorder, no picture in the viewfinder?




lionheart


So this is an old camcorder, records to VHS. It hasn't been used in years because we couldn't get a picture to show in the viewfinder (thought the battery was the problem, and never got a new battery). I have it plugged into an AC adapter right now and there's still no picture in the viewfinder. It stays black and it won't record anything, I've checked. Doesn't pick up sound either. But when I switch it over to Video mode and plug in headphones I can hear the movie playing (tried it with Small Soldiers).

I also downloaded the owner's manual for this camcorder, and the troubleshooting just says to take the lens cap off (it is) and to make sure it's powered on. So that's no help. It's too old to have a warranty, and too old to take it in for repairs somewhere. I'm trying to revive the thing myself. Google isn't helping much either.

Can anybody here tell me what I could do to fix this? Thanks.



Answer
try the AV output from the camera. if it plays back previously recorded tape to your TV set properly, then you may be in luck. that would mean the viewfinder is the problem. you can work around a broken VF by running the AV out to a small battery operated LCD screen, like on a portable DVD player. this is a really old camera and you should consider an upgrade to digital video at this point.




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What's better? camcorder or digital camera?




Mystified


I'm confused on what to choose.. camcorder or digital camera which is point-and-shoot..

i'd like to have something that is both good in taking photos and videos.
but still handy...



Answer
Camcorders and digital cameras differ in their lens qualities. While there are a number of cameras out there that do offer zoom, most will not be able to zoom at the same magnification as a camcorder.

Another major difference between camcorders and cameras is that camcorders offer much more memory than cameras. Most only allow you to record between 15 and 20 minutes of video. Camcorders, depending on which type of camcorder you own, can record and store anywhere from one hour to seven hours of video at a time. Camcorders also allow you to record your videos straight to DVD , while cameras require you to transfer your videos to computer and burn them to DVD yourself.
Camcorders offer better internal microphones than digital cameras and many more audio recording options than cameras.

Finally, while digital cameras do offer a variety of video controls and special effects, they do not even come close to offering the same amount of controls and effects as camcorders. With cameras, you simply point and shoot. Camcorders, on the other hand, offer a variety of options to adjust the field of view, shutter speed, and white balance. Also, while some cameras may offer one or two special effects, camcorders offer several.
While digital cameras are great for taking pictures, they are not great for recording.A camcorder will allow you to record higher quality videos, while at the same time provide you with better recording lenses, internal microphones, video controls, and special effects.

Choose new camcorder today to capture and store hours of your most precious memories.

What should I look for when buying a digital camcorder?




gary d


what is a hybrid comcorder.
what questions should i ask the salesperson when i go and buy one.
I am looking to spend no more than $600.
any suggestions??

thanks



Answer
Key Features
Screen: Having a large LCD screen built into the camcorder lets you more easily see what you're recording and facilitates playback previews. Be careful when considering a camcorder's screen, though--some don't work well in bright sunlight, an environment in which you'll often use the device. Most camcorders come with both an LCD screen and a viewfinder, giving you the option to use either. The viewfinder can be useful if you can't see the screen in bright light; it also uses less power than the screen, extending the camcorder battery's life. Also, if you are considering purchasing a camcorder that can shoot in wide-screen (720-by-480-pixel) format, look for a camcorder with a wide-screen LCD, which won't crop your view of the video you're shooting.

Lens: Every camcorder comes with a zoom lens that lets you get closer to your subject. Camcorder manufacturers don't always distinguish clearly between digital and optical zoom. The spec for maximum optical zoom is the more interesting figure: It denotes the maximum zoom that the camcorder can achieve by moving its lens elements. Most modern camcorders have at least a 10X optical zoom, which should be more than adequate for general purposes. A digital zoom, on the other hand, magnifies after the optical zoom is fully extended, and the camcorder then enlarges part of the image to fill the screen. This method leads to grainy, pixelated, and generally unpleasant-looking images. At higher digital zoom settings, the quality is so poor that you often can't see what you are taping.

Image stabilization: All camcorders offer one of two types of image stabilization--optical or electronic--to reduce jittery video caused by shaky hands. With optical stabilization, the camcorder's lens mechanism moves to compensates for external movement. With electronic image stabilization, the image captured by the lens "floats" on the CCD, and the camcorder uses internal circuitry after the image has been captured to interpret the video. Optical stabilization usually provides the best results; in the past it was typically found in more expensive camcorders, but these days some moderately priced models have it too.

Batteries: The amount of recording and playback time you get out of a battery varies, but most camcorders should be able to record for at least an hour with the included battery. Additional higher-capacity batteries typically cost from $50 to $100.

Microphones: Sound is almost as important to a video as the images. We've found that camcorders with microphones mounted in the front tend to produce better sound than those with microphones on the top of the unit; top-mounted microphones often pick up the voice of the person operating the camera, drowning out everything else. Some camcorders offer zoom microphones that emphasize the subject's voice when the zoom lens is used, and some also come with a socket for plugging in an external microphone. Either type of microphone can be very useful when you're recording presentations or speeches.

Still photography: Many digital camcorders can serve as digital cameras, saving still images to a memory card or to tape. Some can save images at the same resolution as a 5-megapixel camera (but watch out for models that produce interpolated high-resolution images from lower-resolution CCDs). However, none of the camcorders we've tested has performed as well at taking still pictures as a dedicated still camera--they don't provide the same level of control or the same image quality.

Controls: We have found that smaller camcorders can be a little more difficult to use because their controls don't naturally sit where your fingers fall, particularly if you have large hands. Of course, heavy, bulky models can get tiring to carry, so strive for a balance.

Low-light modes: Many camcorders have the ability to film in very low light, whether with the help of an infrared light (which you can't see, but the camcorder can), a special slow-shutter mode that makes the most of ambient lighting, or built-in illumination from one or more LEDs. Some models offer all three methods. These modes can be very useful in poorly illuminated settings, but video captured with these tools enabled won't be as good as video captured in well-lit settings. For example, slow-shutter modes may cause moving subjects to smear or ghost.

Format: Most camcorders use the MiniDV and DVD formats, but models that capture to small onboard hard drives are becoming more common; others write to flash memory. MiniDV models still capture the best-quality video.

Hard-drive models: These camcorders' main advantage is that they give you near-instant access to any footage on the drive. Rather than having to fast-forward or fast-reverse to find the scene you want, as with a tape-based camcorder, you can go to a scene by clicking on a thumbnail in the camcorder. But once the drive is full, you must stop shooting until you can offload the footage (with a MiniDV- or DVD-based model, you can just pop in another tape or disc). Also, like DVD camcorders, hard-drive models capture in MPEG format, which requires much more computing horsepower to edit; in addition, not all editing applications will accept MPEG footage.

Wide-screen shooting: Several camcorders now allow you to shoot in the 16:9 aspect ratio used by HDTVs, even if the camcorders still shoot in standard-definition resolution. Note that some camcorders use a CCD with a native 16:9 orientation, so you get the full resolution of the CCD when you shoot in wide-screen format, whereas others use a CCD with a traditional 4:3 orientation and use only a portion of that CCD when shooting in wide-screen.

High-definition recording: Several models record in either the HDV or the AVCHD high-definition format. Because both are highly compressed, they require a very powerful computer to decode their files and a compatible video editing application to edit them. (AVCHD is a newer format; only Pinnacle Studio 11 and Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11 recognize it at this writing.) Even a powerful computer will take much more time--hours, not minutes--to render HDV or AVCHD files than standard-definition, DV-format files.




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camcorders?




crazykrise


I might be going to a concert and I need a camcorder/camera that would work because my phone has poor quality pictures and my camera doesn't record sound with videos so can someone please tell me kinds of camcorders that aren't too big for concerts, but still have good quality and maybe a website or store to find them? It would really help me out a lot!!!


Answer
Well, generally concerts are low-light events, which normally requires a somewhat high-end camcorder to get good quality in the low-light conditions. If you go with a Sony, they do have the NightShot feature built in which drastically improves low-light shots. Granted on some models it gives the tape a "green hue" so this may not be a desirable option. (Though Sony's are still a good choice in my opinion).

If it is an outdoor or day concert you can pretty much use any old camcorder. Preferably something with image stabilization (optical is better than digital stabilization) and a decent zoom (at least 10x optical) unless you're going to be right up next to the stage.

There are also various media types to consider. Mini DV tape, mini-DVD and hard drive are the three main types. As far as cost goes, mini-DV is the cheapest and actually offers the highest quality video, as it is compressed less than the other aforementioned media types.

As far as where to go... try http://www.bestbuy.com/ I am an employee in Best Buy's digital imaging dept. and I have people come in all the time with these questions. You'll end up getting a lot more information in a shorter period of time if you go and talk to someone as opposed to reading a bunch of different sources. Even what I wrote here is extremely basic and would only take a few minutes to explain verbally.

Good luck.

Is HDV tape camcorders always going to have better picture quality?




Justin


i'm looking at high end camcorders in the 1000 to 5000 dollar range and many of them are just ran with memory flash drives and many are the HDV tapes and many with both. so I was just wondering which is best if I'm going for the quality??


Answer
it really depends on the usage...

memory flash drives are portable and less prone to hard drive crash... there are certain limitations of digital such as size, speed, quality... but most are using it because in the long run its more economical and durable




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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Sony Vegas Pro 8.0 - How should I capture the video?




DirtBag


I have Sony Vegas Pro 8.0 with DVD Architect. I would like to know which method of capturing has the highest video quality between DV, HDV, and SDI. I have been using DV. Now that I have a newer HD TV, the videos don't look as sharp as they used to. They actually look pretty poor. I'm not sure if it's because I have a cheap dvd player or if I should be capturing in a different format. Store bought/rental movies look good on the tv though. I had Vegas 6 (I think) before I got the 8.0 and a smaller tv and had better quality than I do now. The camera that I use is older, but the video quality doesn't seem as good now. Just trying to figure out if I should capture the video to the program different or if the larger tv just shows the flaws better. I'm not an electronic expert by any means and I am well aware that Vegas has way more to offer than I will ever use. I mainly shoot my kids' sporting events and send them to the their grandparents and aunts and uncles. I have been able to put together a few good cd's for them though I question the quality that they get when they pop them in their sets.

A bit long winded, I know...PLEASE HELP ME



Answer
HD-SDI is the best format to capture in, but you need a lot of storage space since the video is captured in uncompressed HD. The problem is that you will have to purchase and install an SDI capture card and set it up in Vegas.

HDV is the easier and most common way to capture HDV. It uses a single Firewire or i.Link connection to transfer from HDV or miniDV tape to the computer. Your computer and Sony Vegas come ready to work with this set up right out of the box. http://motionpicturecentral.com/forum/post-production/editing/connect-hdv-minidv-and-digital8-camcorders-to-computers-capture-video

The lowest quality video capture is DV. This is actually SD video and it is usually stored on miniDV or HDV tape. The video capture process is exactly the same as HDV. http://motionpicturecentral.com/forum/post-production/editing/connect-hdv-minidv-and-digital8-camcorders-to-computers-capture-video

*** No there is a catch... Unless you plan to save HD videos to Blu-ray disc for use in a Blu-Ray player connected to an HD tv or for use as HD online video, it really does not matter whether you import via HD-SDI, HDV, or DV. All standard movie DVDs are SD quality only. Since you are using video CDs and regular DVDs, your final video is in SD. You can still record, capture, edit, and save your HD movies, but when you burn your regular DVDs, the movie is converted to

We film in HD on HDV, capture from HDV in HD, and even edit in HD, but most of our projects go out in regular DVD because most of our clients local clients still have standard DVD players like your older "grand" clients. Even if they have an HD TV chances are that they have a standard DVD player. We save the HD movies in case the clients want a Blu-Ray copy later when they get a Blu-ray disc player (or a Sony Playstation 3).

If you do not have a Blu-Ray burner or player, you can still watch HD video on your TV. You can get a long DVI cable to connect the DVI port on your video card to the DVI input on your HD TV. If you do not have DVI input on your HD TV, you will have HDMI input. You can get the appropriate cable or adapter to connect your DVI video port to the HDMI input on your TV. Once this is complete, you can play your HD movie on your computer using the HD TV as a very large monitor.

You can also save video to HD and post them online at Vimeo or other similar video sites that specialize in HD videos. You can also post small HD videos to a DATA DVD or CD and hand them to people for use in their computers. The person viewing the video will need to have a monitor set to a minimum resolution of 1280x720. Most current computer monitors and systems made since late 2007 are already capable. If the computer is new and has a widescreen monitor, then it is capable of playing HD video from the internet or a data DVD. Most current computers can play an HD video from a DATA DVD or CD but not from a standard movie DVD since like we mentioned earlier, the standard movie DVD is in standard definition.

Name 10 kids using only P names? +BQ?




pippa plus


BQ: Describe each of their personalities. They can be related or not. You can make them all related or just random children. But their first names have to start with P. Middle names can be anything. Have fun! :)


Answer
Phoebe Rose - Phoebe is Phil's twin sister. Phoebe is very popular and is best friends with Paris. Phoebe loves Soccer, gymnastics, Karate, shopping, movies and hanging out with her friend.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-380718-relaxed-pre-teen.php?st=2166e1a

Phillip Carter - Phillip goes by Phil and is Phoebe's twins brother. Phil is popular and very athletic he likes baseball, football, hockey, swimming, Skateboarding and karate. Phil is best friends with Parker and he loves playing sports with his younger brother Patrick and cousin Preston.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-385776-boy-w-braces-smiling.php?st=ba8e3d8

Paris Jade - Paris is Phoebe's best friend she is smart and funny. She plays soccer and softball and loves shopping and hanging out with her friends.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4276138-merry-go-round.php?st=cd69910

Parker Scott - Parker is Phil's best friend he is popular and smart. Parker plays baseball, football, hockey and he skateboards.
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-5393271-student.php?st=0626621

Patrick James - Patrick is Phoebe and Phil's younger brother and Paige, Payton and Piper's older brother. Patrick loves the beach and water sports he surf's and swims. He also likes baseball, skateboarding and Karate. He enjoys playing sports with his older brother phil and cousin Preston.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-12760798-surfer-boy.php?st=7dd5798

Preston Wyatt - Preston is Phoebe, Phil, Patrick, Paige, Payton and Piper cousin and Peter's older brother. Preston likes sports like Baseball and Surfing but he loves filming everything with his video camera like his friends and family. Preston also loves hanging out with his cousin Patrick and Phil.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-2781866-shooting-video-with-tripod.php?st=56b872d

Paige Elizabeth - Paige is very smart and loves Soccer, reading books and like writing story's. Paige also does Gymnastics and loves hanging out with her younger sister Piper.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-17246666-little-schoolgirl.php?st=ba67afa

Payton William - Payton is Piper older brother and Phoebe, Phil, Patrick and Paige's younger brother. Peyton skateboard's, surf's, swims and plays baseball. But Payton loves playing the drum's and singing.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-7020100-young-boy-biting-into-an-apple.php?st=e437d43

Piper Marie - Piper is the youngest child in her family. Piper does Gymnastics's and softball and loves drawing.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-5937140-little-girl-painting.php?st=e5bbb74

Peter Mitchel - Peter is Phoebe, Phil, Patrick, Paige, Peyton and Piper's Cousin and Preston's younger brother. Peter and his cousin Piper and Payton all love to play together they draw, sing and play games/sports together. Peter plays tee ball, swims, gymnastics and wants to surf.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-16681952-happy-little-blond-boy-at-the-beach.php?st=a76453f




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Video Camera recommendations?




Maia Dupui


What is a good camera to use for youtube videos. I'd like to use it for music covers and dance covers.


Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 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) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different 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. Consumer level HD camcorders interpolate the video. This means they take one frame, make up the next 4 or 5 frames, take a frame and repeat this, over and over, for the remainder of the video, every video it takes is like this.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 will 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.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/pâ¦

I use a Canon ZR930 to shoot the videos, then run the videos through Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate. I edit and make a 1080P file for upload to youtube. This is what I get http://youtu.be/njvi5det1Xs The Microphone you see in the video is an Apex 750. The audio goes through an Alto L-6 mixer, then stereo out to a smaller mixer then on to the MIC port on the camcorder, all these things can be seen here - http://asimplelife.ca/boss.html. This will give you an idea of what can be achieved with a Canon MiniDV tape camcorder. To be exact, all videos on my youtube channel have been shot by either a Canon ZR930, ZR800 or a ZR500.

Video Camera recommendations?




Jay


Hey, I'm looking a for a new video camera. I intend to use it for short films, but not professional, just for fun.

However, it should have good quality (doesn't have to be HD)good audio, manual zoom option. I would like it to also have a mic output so I can attach a mic to it.

If possible, I would like it to be able to hold a shotgun mic.

Most importantly, I edit on a mac, so it needs to be compatible.

My max is $350 (for just the camera)

Thanks!



Answer
Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 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) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes â four different 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 will need a firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer (your MAC has a Ieee1394 port already). 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.

These ZR series camcorders have no shoe for to mount anything on top, but I own 3 of them and have never had a problem with mics, mind you if I was using a shotgun Mic, it would be on the end of a boom pole, not attached to the camcorder. You can turn this camcorder on, press record and it will record to the end of the tape or until you press the button to stop it. Put the camcorder on a tripod, you can now be the boom pole person. When you get tired of staying within the limits of your cable, consider going wireless or get a Digital Audio Recorder and record audio separately .

When using a device to capture audio that is not your camcorder, use this tip to be able to SYNC your audio and video together once both are put on a timeline for video editing purposes. Standing close to Microphone, in front of your camcorder, with both recording devices recording the video and audio, CLAP, LOUDLY. Now so long as the recorders stay recording, you have a sync point so when you get back to the computer, it is much easier to sync the audio and video together.




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