HD Camcorders Suggestions

[fc3]

Final Cut Express ($200) will edit AVC HD, on an Intel Mac. You PowerPC guys are left out on that deal. You don't have to go whole-hug and get FCP. Although FCP is sweet, especially if you go all out and get the 8 core Mac Pro. A friend has those systems and FCP just hums on them.

Which is kind of the point. HD is expensive to do right. If you're willing to put up with some crap, you can do HD. Some of that "crap" is HD that's not quite as good as it should be. Difficult editing. Non standard "standards." Evolving features, formats, and media. Etc. Etc.

I'm still doing SD. It's more than good enough. Really good SD is pretty good. Some of the detail gets lost in the background, but there's little pixilation when the data rate can't keep up with the motion. Also drop outs aren't as big of an issue since you only lose the dropped frames, not all of the frames in the group of pictures. I'd rather have pretty good subjects and iffy background than the subject getting fried because the codec can't keep up

Best regards,
Frank C

 

[Turtlesboat]

Well, now he has to go buy a new intel mac so he can get Final Cut Express.

Do you see where this is going???? your $600 camcorder is now reaching about $4000.

Oh, and you'll still only be able to burn a SD DVD to send to your family.

 

[Turtlesboat]

I don't want to discourage you from the the whole thing, I just want to bring some real world views to the discussion.

I shoot a lot of video, some professionally and other times just for fun. I have a nice camcorder (not crazy big or anything but it's decked out with all of the gizmo's) and I have a $100 miniDV camcorder that I keep on the boat. guess what gets used more. Guess which one I don't care if it gets a little wet, someone drops it in the sand, one I can throw in a backpack, one I can take the footage and edit it on a spare laptop on the boat, burn DVD's and send to my friends and family without expensive software, hardware, 4 gigs of ram etc...

Just sayin'

 

[Weave]

So any suggestions on an nice SD 'corder? Things to look for?
Not spending $$$$ to upgrade PC or mega software. since it is not that old......Wish I went Mac but thats another story...
You guys have been a wealth of knowledge ...keep it comin :smt038

 

[Turtlesboat]

I haven't shopped in a while, but some things you would look for.

If it shoots in 16X9 (widescreen). Some will do it electronically and others natively or optically. It's cool to see the video in widescreen if you have a widescreen tv. Some shoot in low light better than others, get one that shoots good in low light. If you go the hard drive route, memory stick route, or MINIDV route, that's really your preference. Each has their plus's and minus's.

If you like to tinker, get one that you can put a wide angle lens on.

If you are going to be in the water with it a lot, see if they make a water tight case that you can shoot with for the camera.

Maybe others can chime in with specific models they like.

 

[JVM225]

I have a Sony HD Camcorder that uses the Mini-DV tapes and I'm very happy with it. It's about two years old and I've never had a problem with it.

 

[boatmailster]

So any suggestions on an nice SD 'corder? Things to look for?
Not spending $$$$ to upgrade PC or mega software. since it is not that old......Wish I went Mac but thats another story...
You guys have been a wealth of knowledge ...keep it comin :smt038

Almost any new camcorder with good glass will do the job. For us, PC user there is still some software left. Final Cut is not the only game in town: Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas, Avid Media and my personal choice Canopus (GV) Edius.There is some soft for home use from AVS, Ulead, Adobe PremiereElements and more. Look for optical stabilization if you planning to shoot free hand. If you looking for shoulder cam there is few inexpensive Panasonics. Electronic zoom is one BS, look for good optical zoom and biggest optical sensor you can afford. I started working on Sony pmw ex1 month ago (and still learning). Nice 14x optical zoom, F1.9 lens! and records on memory cards - no more moving parts but expensive media. Native full HD (1080) recording, not highly compressed avchd. Check www.videomaker.com There are always fresh reviews of new models.