Video Camera

[dogrocco]

Ok I am ready to get rid of the hi8 video camera. I really want something small I can take everywhere like the boat, snowboarding and such. you know the kids are only small for a short time. I would like something that is easy to put on DVD unlike the hi8 there is a ton of rendering to do. So if anybody knows of on e please let me know.

[tigeboarder1122]

Sony HandyCam is pretty good. Its small, and has those mini discs.

[ragboy]

I have the Sony HD camcorder with the hard disk. I will never again buy any camcorder that uses tape, or dvd, or whatever, I have had them all. Hard disk is BY FAR, the way to go for me. Hours of video, even in HD. Those mini dvds were a pain in the butt, and tape is even worse. If you have a mac, iMovie just sucks the video off of it, and you are editing.

[dogrocco]

Rag,
what model do you have?

[ragboy]

HDR-SR1

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...tNumber=HDRSR1

You can get the SR5 now, for like 800 or so. I know you can get cheaper camcorders, but the hard disk makes a HUGE difference. You will use it more, and so easy to dump to computer and edit, especially with iMovie. You don't even have to use the HD video, you can shoot in standard, and it looks great.

I have had hi-8, miniDV, which was cool to capture over firewire when it first came out, then I tried a Canon with mini-DVDs. I can't tell you how many times, I couldn't get footage off the dvd, cuz it got scratched or something. And those things last like 20 mins, if you want it to look good.

So I saw they made a hard disk one, and I went right out and got it, put the canon on ebay. I almost bought a panasonic that saves to SD card, but the hard disk and finally being able to do High Definition sold me. I actually filmed in SD for a while, because the AVC format was hard to edit. Then mac came out with new iMovie, and its a snap. Getting your HD footage off of it, is like plugging in your digital camera, just takes a bit longer.

I am on HD XP, highest rez, and I get 242 mins of time to shoot. So we take it out on the boat, shoot all we want, never worry about tapes and just suck it off when we get home.

Anyway, you won't regret the hard disk camcorder, trust me on that one.

Here is a link to the video I edited after the summer using stills and footage from the hdr-sr1. Done in a couple hours on new imovie.

http://gallery.mac.com/ragboy#100000

Click on the LARGE format to get the highest rez. With iMovie and .mac account, you can just push a button, and put your stuff online like this.

[TRD]

I agree w/ Ragboy. He gave me some info on the hard drive camera and I love mine. I got the Sony HDR-SR5 (hi-def w/ hard drive), I don't have anything to playback the hi def yet but I will in the future. Very nice camera. I can't wait to take some pics while on the water.
Thanks again for the info Ragboy.

[ragboy]

NP, its real nice to not deal with tapes or dvds. Its like a camcorder ipod.

[dogrocco]

When you capture a Hd video and burn it on disc., What do you play it on?
Will it play on a blue ray hd dvd player? Also how is the rendering/editing with a PC and not a Mac

[hoopykat]

Check out the JVC Everio HD camcorders. I got one at Christmas, and it's pretty cool. 30GB HD, and great quality. I can convert the format and burn DVDs...all for around $400 bucks. Not too bad!

-Mike

[ragboy]

When you capture a Hd video and burn it on disc., What do you play it on?
Will it play on a blue ray hd dvd player? Also how is the rendering/editing with a PC and not a Mac

You can actually connect an DVD burner directly to camera and burn. But the AVC format, is supposed to also play on bluray players, but I haven't tried. I edit and output to quicktime and play on my apple tv.

[dogrocco]

is it worth the extra$$ to go with the sr 10 sr11 sr12??

[ragboy]

When I bought mine, I didn't have a choice, it was the only HD with a hard disk. It would be nice to have all the extra space, and one has a better picture, but I would have to compare. I can tell you, I have only 30gig drive, and I have never come close to filling up. But maybe if I went to the zoo all day or something, I don't know. Even when we went to INT all weekend, we didn't fill up, plus, I had a laptop with me, that I could use to suck off video. But, something I always say, buy the best you can afford, it won't feel out of date as fast. So if you can afford it, go for it.

[dogrocco]

Hey guys thanks a ton for the info. I am going with the Sony now just looking for the best price..

[dogrocco]

I bought the Sony HDR-SR5 what is the best way to shoot the video I will not be burning and playing in a blueray yet. hd or SD

[ragboy]

It depends on what you have to edit the video. If you have a mac with latest iMovie, I would use HD, and then your mac can edit it fine, it can also edit your SD, but HD looks great.

If not, I think adobe premiere handles AVCHD. Shoot some test stuff, and see what is easiest for you to edit, and choose that.