Anyone know anything about camcorders?

[nile455]

I want to get a camcorder for my sister, and everyone's telling me to stay away from the mini-DV ones and to go for a hard drive or memory card camcorder. My 3-year old mini-DV camcorder has a 3 CCD color chip and I would like my sister's to have this as well, but I don't even know if they make hard-drive and memory card camcorders with 3 CCD chips. Anyone know?

 

[nile455]

0 replies and just 20 views in over 2 hours?

This is not the DIS that I know and love.

 

[Duckfan]

I am not an expert but I thought I would pass on some advice I heard, again from a salesman so it could be a grain of salt kind of thing. He advised us not to do with the hard drive since when it is full you have to have a computer to download it and that can be a bit inconvient on vacation. Personally, I would look into the one with the card since that seems to be what a lot of cameras use and it would be easy to take out and put in another one like the old tape system. Also easy to carry around extras. Does that help at all

 

[nd5056]

I want to get a camcorder for my sister, and everyone's telling me to stay away from the mini-DV ones and to go for a hard drive or memory card camcorder. My 3-year old mini-DV camcorder has a 3 CCD color chip and I would like my sister's to have this as well, but I don't even know if they make hard-drive and memory card camcorders with 3 CCD chips. Anyone know?

Who's everyone and what do they know about camcorders???

Furthermore, what is your sister need???

If you have a 3 CCD camcorder I’m sure it serves you just fine and so it would serve your sister. 3 CCD is the top option consumer camcorder can have.

And I wouldn’t cross out DV tape yet, it is still one of the cheapest solutions when it comes to not only usage but also a long term back-up storage. Let say you go on vacation and shoot 6~8 hours of video, how much space does it take to carry 8 Mini DV tapes with you? And how much does it cost? I have HD Sony Camcorder that 1 hour of HD Video fills up 8 GB Memory stick, 1 year ago I was paying over $100 for one 8GB Sony Memory stick, now they are cheaper but does it come close to the DV tape? And how much do you need to spend on a backup for all those files?

As far as camcorder with a Hard Drive in it… I did read so many stories of people handling the cam a bit too hard, the HD goes bad and weeks, if not months of footage goes bye bye…

3CCD is being replaced with CMOS sensor in consumer camcorders, and the HD Video Format on the consumer level is AVCHD. It’s a compromise between performance and cost, but for what consumer needs, it works just fine.

I have purchased the Sony HDR-CX7 because the Canon Vixia HF S100 wasn’t available yet. Yet I’m happy with it. I’d prefer Canon since SD media cards are cheaper the sony Memory Sticks and the Canon has features that the Sony doesn’t. But they are totally different camcorders and I don’t have any regrets, Sony camcorder works just fine.


Educate yourself some more HERE: HERE: or HERE:

 

[Papa Deuce]

I'm about to get a new camcorder ( I also work in a TV station as an engineer )... I too, would NOT buy a Mini DV.... One reason is that they are slowly on the way out, but my real reason is that they have moving parts, which is what usually breaks most.

If buying one with a hard drive, I would look for one with an SSD - Solid State Drive. Personally, I am getting one that uses the removable SD cards. Why? Lots of reasons.

1. Unlimited Storage... need more room? Use a new card. They are CHEAP.

2. Easy to keep separate stuff.... For instance... you could have a card with Magic Kingdom, One with Animal Kingdom, and One for MGM.... Most likely none will fail, but if one did, you wouldn't lose all your footage like if a tape got eaten by the camcorder.

3. For editing, it is awesome just to put the card in your computer to transfer footage. No USB or Firewire cables are needed ( usually ).

4. You could carry 100 of them in your pocket. How many DV tapes can you carry?

Just my Two Cents.

 

[nd5056]

0 replies and just 20 views in over 2 hours?

Need to be more patient, any Yoga classes in your neighborhood???

Even if you pay big bucks for technical support, you’ll never get help that quick anyway…

.

 

[nile455]

Who's everyone and what do they know about camcorders???

Furthermore, what is your sister need???

If you have a 3 CCD camcorder I’m sure it serves you just fine and so it would serve your sister. 3 CCD is the top option consumer camcorder can have.

And I wouldn’t cross out DV tape yet, it is still one of the cheapest solutions when it comes to not only usage but also a long term back-up storage. Let say you go on vacation and shoot 6~8 hours of video, how much space does it take to carry 8 Mini DV tapes with you? And how much does it cost? I have HD Sony Camcorder that 1 hour of HD Video fills up 8 GB Memory stick, 1 year ago I was paying over $100 for one 8GB Sony Memory stick, now they are cheaper but does it come close to the DV tape? And how much do you need to spend on a backup for all those files?

As far as camcorder with a Hard Drive in it… I did read so many stories of people handling the cam a bit too hard, the HD goes bad and weeks, if not months of footage goes bye bye…

3CCD is being replaced with CMOS sensor in consumer camcorders, and the HD Video Format on the consumer level is AVCHD. It’s a compromise between performance and cost, but for what consumer needs, it works just fine.

I have purchased the Sony HDR-CX7 because the Canon Vixia HF S100 wasn’t available yet. Yet I’m happy with it. I’d prefer Canon since SD media cards are cheaper the sony Memory Sticks and the Canon has features that the Sony doesn’t. But they are totally different camcorders and I don’t have any regrets, Sony camcorder works just fine.


Educate yourself some more HERE: HERE: or HERE:

Thanks for the info. I'd be happy (and so would she) getting a mini-DV despite the word that they are on their way out, but I didn't realize they are still being made (with 3 CCD). I went to Best Buy and they didn't have a single one. Perhaps you know of one still being produced?

About that CMOS, is that equivalent in quality to 3 CCD? As you can probably tell, color quality is the most important factor here.

 

[nile455]

Need to be more patient, any Yoga classes in your neighborhood???

Even if you pay big bucks for technical support, you’ll never get help that quick anyway…

.

This is the DIS, where posts get responses faster than you can hit the refresh button. Sorry, when I saw my post was at the bottom of page 2, I figured it would just go ignored without the bump.

I love yoga and am looking forward to my class this Saturday.

 

[manning]

I'm about to get a new camcorder ( I also work in a TV station as an engineer )... I too, would NOT buy a Mini DV.... One reason is that they are slowly on the way out, but my real reason is that they have moving parts, which is what usually breaks most.

If buying one with a hard drive, I would look for one with an SSD - Solid State Drive. Personally, I am getting one that uses the removable SD cards. Why? Lots of reasons.

1. Unlimited Storage... need more room? Use a new card. They are CHEAP.

2. Easy to keep separate stuff.... For instance... you could have a card with Magic Kingdom, One with Animal Kingdom, and One for MGM.... Most likely none will fail, but if one did, you wouldn't lose all your footage like if a tape got eaten by the camcorder.

3. For editing, it is awesome just to put the card in your computer to transfer footage. No USB or Firewire cables are needed ( usually ).

4. You could carry 100 of them in your pocket. How many DV tapes can you carry?

Just my Two Cents.

And you don't have to go thru the bag search at the parks because you don't need one to carry the tapes

 

[nd5056]

Thanks for the info. I'd be happy (and so would she) getting a mini-DV despite the word that they are on their way out, but I didn't realize they are still being made (with 3 CCD). I went to Best Buy and they didn't have a single one. Perhaps you know of one still being produced?

About that CMOS, is that equivalent in quality to 3 CCD? As you can probably tell, color quality is the most important factor here.

Here is a link to an older article on this topic, however, IMO today's CMOS is on par with the CCD.


CMOS vs. CCD: Changing Technology to Suit HDTV Broadcast

CCD vs. CMOS

As far as color goes, it’s difficult to say. It depends on monitor, color calibration & personal preference. Obtain a sample video somehow (google it maybe) and see it for your self.

HD Video is much better when it comes to the picture, maybe you should “give” your sister your camcorder and get something new for your self…? Majority of consumer camcorder makers made the switch to CMOS, it’s going to be hard to find 3CCD cam cheap right now, try online.

Going back to DV camcorders, if you use it casually, it will last you for a long time. And as I said, DV tapes are very cost effective back-up solution. I have two 1TB Hard Drives in Array on my system just for video and will need to double that soon. 1 Hr of HD Video = 8GB.

I agree with “Papa Deuce” - Solid State Hard Drive is the best choice in camcorder, low power consumption and no movable parts. But I’d like to see a “build in” HD, something over 100 GB in size. While I like flash cards, they get lost or mishandled, ending up unreadable.

As far as transferring Video to the PC, in most cases you just can’t stick the card in PC and copy the files. Sony does write something in the first file (at least my cam does it). wthout their file transfer utility, the first file is a dud.

Canon on the other hand, formatted their SD cards in FAT limiting the file size to 2or 4 GB (don’t remember), when recording non stop for longer time, it forced the camcorder to create second video file. Without the file transfer utility again, just by copying the files from the SD card and joining it together for continues play again, there was a very noticeable video glitch on the join mark. Maybe it’s fixed by now.

So in a way, you’re forced to use USB or FireWire in consumer camcorders using flash media.

Editing??? Since AVCHD video was designed with consumers in mind, not to be edited, you’ll still need a Higher End PC with decent power to do some editing…

It’s a “$$$” experience to move to the HD video…
.

 

[nile455]

Here is a link to an older article on this topic, however, IMO today's CMOS is on par with the CCD.


CMOS vs. CCD: Changing Technology to Suit HDTV Broadcast

CCD vs. CMOS

As far as color goes, it’s difficult to say. It depends on monitor, color calibration & personal preference. Obtain a sample video somehow (google it maybe) and see it for your self.

HD Video is much better when it comes to the picture, maybe you should “give” your sister your camcorder and get something new for your self…? Majority of consumer camcorder makers made the switch to CMOS, it’s going to be hard to find 3CCD cam cheap right now, try online.

Going back to DV camcorders, if you use it casually, it will last you for a long time. And as I said, DV tapes are very cost effective back-up solution. I have two 1TB Hard Drives in Array on my system just for video and will need to double that soon. 1 Hr of HD Video = 8GB.

I agree with “Papa Deuce” - Solid State Hard Drive is the best choice in camcorder, low power consumption and no movable parts. But I’d like to see a “build in” HD, something over 100 GB in size. While I like flash cards, they get lost or mishandled, ending up unreadable.

As far as transferring Video to the PC, in most cases you just can’t stick the card in PC and copy the files. Sony does write something in the first file (at least my cam does it). wthout their file transfer utility, the first file is a dud.

Canon on the other hand, formatted their SD cards in FAT limiting the file size to 2or 4 GB (don’t remember), when recording non stop for longer time, it forced the camcorder to create second video file. Without the file transfer utility again, just by copying the files from the SD card and joining it together for continues play again, there was a very noticeable video glitch on the join mark. Maybe it’s fixed by now.

So in a way, you’re forced to use USB or FireWire in consumer camcorders using flash media.

Editing??? Since AVCHD video was designed with consumers in mind, not to be edited, you’ll still need a Higher End PC with decent power to do some editing…

It’s a “$$$” experience to move to the HD video…
.

Thank you so much for this information, I really appreciate it.