Camcorder Shopping.

[Mikeyman64]

I am in the market for a new camcorder and I know nothing about them, so I need to ask a few questions to anyone who knows something about them.

1. What's a good brand?
2. Is MiniDV very much better than SDHC (other then the obvious capacity and size).
3. How much good quality video can a SDHC 8GB card hold?
4. Do I need a special card reader for a SDHC?
5. Where is the best place to buy the camcorder (best warranty/care plan).

A couple of things I know is that I would like to spend no more than $300, it needs to have a decent still option and I would prefer tapeless (smaller and sexier).

Thanks in advance.

I have found this so far. Is it any good?

[lifeisbetterwithketchup]

I am in the market for a new camcorder and I know nothing about them, so I need to ask a few questions to anyone who knows something about them.

1. What's a good brand?
2. Is MiniDV very much better than SDHC (other then the obvious capacity and size).
3. How much good quality video can a SDHC 8GB card hold?
4. Do I need a special card reader for a SDHC?
5. Where is the best place to buy the camcorder (best warranty/care plan).

A couple of things I know is that I would like to spend no more than $300, it needs to have a decent still option and I would prefer tapeless (smaller and sexier).

Thanks in advance.

I have found this so far. Is it any good?

1. canon is the best I've used in that price range
2.Yes.
3. not sure
4. probably
5. not sure

Quality-wise miniDV is the best quality. HDD, SD, and DVD based ones are not as high quality but can be more convienient.

[Mikeyman64]

What do y'all think about this cam?

It's got great reviews and I read that it can film either 240min of 1280x720HD or 560min of 720x480 on an 8GB SDHC that I can get on Newegg.com for $70.

[Limewater]

I am in the market for a new camcorder and I know nothing about them, so I need to ask a few questions to anyone who knows something about them.

1. What's a good brand?
2. Is MiniDV very much better than SDHC (other then the obvious capacity and size).
3. How much good quality video can a SDHC 8GB card hold?
4. Do I need a special card reader for a SDHC?
5. Where is the best place to buy the camcorder (best warranty/care plan).

A couple of things I know is that I would like to spend no more than $300, it needs to have a decent still option and I would prefer tapeless (smaller and sexier).

Thanks in advance.

I have found this so far. Is it any good?

I more or less agree with Ketchup.

1. Canon is a good brand. I have a very nice Panasonic that I got used for $200, but it was originally a $900 camera originally. I don't know too much how their lower-end stuff is.

2. MiniDV is significantly better in image quality, particularly if you are trying to stay under $300. If image quality is your primary concern (though it does not appear to be), then then go with MiniDV.

Problems with solid state camcorders (particularly at low price points):

The optics are really crummy. Megapixels sell cameras, but a six-megapixel sensor behind a cheap lens gives a worse image than a three megapixel sensor behind a good lens.

MPEG-4 encoding. The solid-state cameras have to do real-time MPEG-4 compression, which is rather difficult. This causes noticeable artifacting in many scenarios. MPEG-4 can look great when properly encoded, but that takes time. This is a large part of the problem with the HD football broadcast Ben mentioned in one of his podcasts (I think it was the video one).

You get fewer recording options. SD cameras usually offer very little in the way of optical zoom, and digital zoom is such a quality hit it's almost never worth using. You're also less likely to get good options on things like white-balance, image stabilization, and shutter-speed. Actually, I'm not so sure that the SD cameras even have shutters yet. Some camera specs claim to have them, but you never know how reliable that is.

If you get an SD camera, you will be impressed with its picture quality, knowing that it came from such a small device. But next to a comparably priced miniDV camera, it will show its weaknesses. Fortunately, you probably won't have much opportunity to do side-by-side comparisons.

3. How much "good quality" video an 8GB card can hold depends on what constitutes "good quality." However, you can most likely expect something on the order of several hours.

4. You can usually just use the camera as a card reader and transfer video over USB.

5. Usually the manufacturers handle the warranty. I would just recommend buying a name-brand camera so that you know you'll get good service.


I hope I didn't sound too down on SD cameras. Their picture quality is noticeably poorer, but it's good enough, and they do have one huge advantage over miniDV. They are MUCH more convenient to use. They are smaller and lighter, and they tend to save your video as individual files that you can drag and drop right to your computer without having to worry about finding the appropriate place on your tape. If you get one, you're probably more likely to get full use out of it than a miniDV camera. I know I don't much care for the video transfer process to get stuff off of my miniDV tapes.

I hope that's helpful.

Oh yeah, and between the two you posted so far, I would suggest you go with the first one to which you linked. For a camera that small, image stabilization is pretty valuable, and I would be wary of HD promises from such a cheap camera at this point.

[Mikeyman64]

I found another good one. Tell me what you think?

It's the big brother of the one I had first posted. The main differences are 1. it uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 as apposed to regular MPEG-4, which is supposed to be an amazing %25 smaller compression. 2. it has a built in 18MB (woohoo!) as apposed to none. 3. I think it has a slightly better battery (which is important!)

Btw, has anyone here had any experience with otter boxes? If so, how do you like them?

[bicostp]

VGA quality? That's lower than DVD. If you're serious about making videos, get a camera with decent optics, maybe one that uses mini-DV tapes. You may need to take more time and software to copy the video but it will be much higher quality. But if you do get an on-the-fly solid state unit, buy a good, fast, high capacity memory card. A faster card makes a huge difference, even in our digital still camera.

You could always get a camera <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/RCA-CC300-COMPLETE- ... Item">like mine</a>... The image quality can be very good, especially considering the unit is probably older than most of you. (We bought it back in the late 80s.) 100% analog for the win!

[Mikeyman64]

You could always get a camera <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/RCA-CC300-COMPLETE- ... Item">like mine</a>... The image quality can be very good, especially considering the unit is probably older than most of you. (We bought it back in the late 80s.) 100% analog for the win!

...no.

[Limewater]

So, what exactly are you planning on doing with this camera? That really is an issue in deciding which one to get.


Also, I would be wary about all of the still picture claims from all of these cameras. They claim very high resolution, but you know the optics aren't going to be that great, and I'm more than willing to bet that the high resolution images are software interpolated.

But that's just the nature of the beast. You're never going to get a really great still picture from a camcorder.

[Mikeyman64]

Still pictures are the least of my worries.

I am mainly planning on using this just for carrying around with me for those "crap! I wish I had a camera" moments during the summer (camp) and all. I can just use my parents camera for HQ stuff for now. Once I move out, I'll probably look into a really nice MiniDV, or the like, camcorder.


EDIT: Have any of you ever used plemix.com? I found that CG65 there for $270, and it comes in different colors. (nobody likes silver)

[Limewater]

EDIT: Have any of you ever used plemix.com? I found that CG65 there for $270, and it comes in different colors. (nobody likes silver)

Nope, sorry. I don't know anything about plemix.com.

If you're taking it to camp, I would suggest getting whichever of the ones you posted that you can find cheapest, except for the one without image stabilization. For a camcorder that size, stabilization is a big help.

One of my younger brothers bought a very cheap (about $100) SD camcorder a couple of years ago. It was pretty good for just goofing around and the "oh crap" moments you mention. However, it was so small that it was pretty easy to lose, so we haven't seen it in over a year. That's something to also keep in mind when buying something like that. I'd worry about losing it, but you may be more responsible than I am.

[Mikeyman64]

I think I might just try and find a MiniDV camera that can take 8GB SDHCs as well. That's the main reason I want one. I'm just not sure.

[HotDog-Cart]

HALT! before you do anything. Take a look at this amazing deal!

http://www.uxcell.com/uxcell/retail/ite ... l0310cm006

For $50, you cant really complain. This is what Im buying, to film my Parkour with.

(PS: This site kicks ass for japanese brands! They have mp3 players, mp4 players, digital photoframes, phones, watches.)

[Mikeyman64]

Hmm... That is a good deal, but I'm not sure it's the camera I'm looking for. Cool site though!


EDIT: I think this might be another good one.

[Kurt_]

You can't go wrong with Canon. They're more expensive, but no matter what you get, their products are all quality. And they last near forever!

Check eBay for some deals, maybe. They usually sell New overstock for a little cheaper than stores.

[Limewater]

I think I might just try and find a MiniDV camera that can take 8GB SDHCs as well. That's the main reason I want one. I'm just not sure.

You probably don't want this if you're hoping to record video to an SD card. MiniDV cameras that take SD cards pretty much just use them for storing still pictures. For video, you are forced to use miniDV tapes.

I mean, there may be a camcorder out there that gives the option to record video to an SD card or a tape, but I have not seen it.

If you go the MiniDV route, the canon you listed looks pretty good, though I didn't see the price.


@HotDogCart:

That camera looks a lot like the one my younger brother had. Picture quality wasn't great, but I'd certainly buy the thing for fifty dollars.

I'm sort of tempted now.