Camcorder 101?

[CdnMom2]

I have this posted on the "Tips" section too, but I thought all you who regularly peruse this VERY helpful section would have advice.

I don't know if we'll take this plunge or not, but after reading all the threads recommending taking one and seeing how much prices have come down over the years PERHAPS we might purchase/rent/borrow one. Can anyone give me the condensed idiot's guide to buying a Camcorder these days? There's got to be a reason why some are SO much cheaper now
We have 4 children and this will be our only trip to WDW. We're thinking small is best given all we'll be carrying & trying to keep dry in the parks. AND money is ALWAYS an issue!

Thank you for any advice.

 

[Debbie-TN]

I have a Sharp Viewcam that I love. Mine is 8mm but the other size(sorry can't remember) can be put in an adapter for the VCR. Mine has the screen on the back so you can see what you're taping without having the camera up to your eye. A lot of them out now have the screen that opens on the side. If I got a new one I would get one of these. The less expensive ones do not have this feature and you have to hold the camera up to your eye constantly. But you could close the screen when you needed to tape in a dark place so you wouldn't see the light from the screen. Also be sure to look for one that can tape in very low light. There are some that have title makers on them also. If you're going to just take normal family pictures I think a lot a extras are just a waste of money. Hope this helps.

 

[Grog]

A lot of them out now have the screen that opens on the side.

This feature is great for parades as you can tape over people if you don't get a front row seat. It also makes it much easier to film and walk at the same time as you don't lose your peripheral vision like you do when looking through a view finder.

 

[MK Familystone]

I have two camcorders. One is the old panasonic on the shoulder and a sony handy cam with the 2 inch flip out screen. The only problem with both is the Jitter effect. When you tape something up close the motion by natural body functions causes the camera to shake and this shaking is magnified with the new zooms , 20X, 40X, 250X digital.
If you tape let's say the 3pm parade at MK and are stuck behind a line of people the flip out screen helps, but your hands get tired and start to shake , the stabilization feature in like on a Sony eliminates the shaky picture.
There are four types of camcorders on the market now! the vhs-c,8mm,digital, and dvd.
The first two, vhs-c are cheap but could be totaly obsolete in 4yrs(imhop). the others are expensive and require different equipment.
I prefer the 8mm Sony,stabilization,40x zoom,250 digital zoom, with editing dubbing features. You need a min of 20x zoom.
A spare battery is important, I was fortunate to get with my Sony a backup battery which looks like the regular battery but holds 6 AA batteries so I can go any where at any time in any store and by 6AA and get me out of a jam.
Filming at WDW hads to divided into two modes.
One is the Attraction mode, filming the ride so at a future date the family experience again the visual sensation at a later date.
Second, is the family reaction to the Attraction,
example my sons go on Buzz Light Year Spin, If get in the ship ahead I can turn the ship around and tape there reaction on the ride.
If I get in a Car from Test Track and sit in the front seat because of the sque I face the camcorder to the back seat,pop out the 2 inch lcd swing screen and tape the boys in the back seat while going 65mph.
Goffy's wild airplane ride get in the front seat and again turn the cancorder backwards, view who you are shooting thru the lcd while riding the whole 35 seconds.
8mm tapes are real cheap and I buy 120 minute tapes so I have plenty of capacity.
Any questions just send me a pm and I'll try to give you any tips at the WIDE WILD VIDEO WORLD OF WDW.
PS:I bought my first camcorder 6 mths before my first child and never regreted the $700 eleven years ago, they growup so fast....
ENJOY!





I average 45 minutes per day at any WDW Park filming the Family.

 

[CdnMom2]

Ooooh! Thank you for the great info. Again, the people on these boards have answered JUST what I wanted to know. Thank you again. Now I can start looking about ...

 

[Feelin' Goofy]

some of the shows say that you're not to use the lighted side veiwer so I have a not so expensive cam with both viewers.

 

[travelitis]

We wear camcorders out, and we just bought our 4th in May. We got a Sony with stabilization, the screen that pops out, digital stills, enough zoom, and it takes the tapes that fit in the adaptor for your VCR. We paid $330 because we bought the display model. We'd done this once before with no problems. They still have the same warranty. My first camcorder in 1991 was $1100. It reminds me of when my mother paid $100 for a calculator. Camcorders have become disposable. When one breaks it doesn't make sense to repair it.

 

[QuickGold]

I think the thing to remember about Camcorders is try to thing long term. I purchased one before my March 2002 trip and if you do your homework, you can get some great deals.

First, engross yourself in the world of electronics. Read sunday circulars, watch tv shopping networks, read reviews online(cnet.com, epinions.com, etc). Know your products. You should get to the point where you see one camcorder and say to yourself "Oh, thats a bad price because its lacking this, this, and this".

Formats: Couple different formats.
VHS/S-VHS: Camcorders in this format will be the cheapest and for good reason. They usually lack many of the neater features other camcorders have and they rely on VHS-C tapes. VHS is soo 1985. If your going to spend whatever it costs to buy one of these, spend an extra $100-200 and get a better model.

8mm/Super 8 - There are some good camcorders in this format. Try to go to the higher end of this range as they include certain functions that are really important. If your on a budget, look for an 8mm camcorder. The film isn't as expensive as DV but better quality than VHS-C.

DV/Digital - The Cadillac of camcorders! If you've got the loot to spend, go for it! You can't beat the quality!

Features that you you should consider:

Analog Zoom: The higher the better!

Digital Zoom: Ewww! Don't let this fool you. Digital zoom won't get you what your looking for. Digital zoom takes whatever picture the analog can get, and keeps doubling it to give a "zoom" effect. All it does is pixelate your picture and waste your time.

Nightvision/Zero Lux: Make sure your camcorder has this! Either low light or nightvision is great as you won't be recording all the time in perfect lit conditions. Night vision is fun and worth the money.

Light: Most cameras come with them, so make sure yours does too.

USB/Firewire Computer hook up: Nothing beats emailing friends and family clips from your vacation.

Brands:

There are only two really good brands. Sony and JVC. Sony is the Cadillac of camcorder companies. They're a bit more expensive than other models, but they give you the best product. Think about it this way, when you buy a camcorder you want it to last for a good few years(4-5 at least) while giving you the options you want. Sony products are wonderful and worth it. JVC is a good alternative if your budget isn't up to Sony's. Canon, I feel, makes inferior products that jip you on features and reliability for cheap thrills(those LCD screens that you've probably seen). Sharp is also another economy brand that isn't worth my money. Any other company is either unknown or new. When your spending a few hundred dollars for something, you want the best.

Bottom line:
Everyone has different things to look for in a camcorder. Be sure to know when you see good deals by researching things. Read reviews and compare prices. You can find some great deals out there. Hope this helps!

 

[CdnMom2]

Thanks for the great advice! I've started immersing myself in something other than The Dis now.

 

[DisOrBust]

I am just starting to research this and am already getting a headache,lol!

Can anyone tell me with the dit. camcorders...How are you able to edit on your computer...It records on a digital tape then you can edit it on your computer or download??? on to a CD?DVD???? Are you then able to watch the tape on your VCR?? If your computer has the capablities can you "burn" a DVD from a digital tape??? Sorry but I am technoretarded,lol!

Which one is also a good Dig. still camera? Can you watch the tape and then decide if you would like to make a still pix from the tape??

 

[diznee]

We just bought our second camcorder recently and are delighted with this jvc model we got at the local Wal-mart. It features vhs-c which is a bonus cause you can immediately pop the videocassette into the adaptor and watch it in the vcr; even our 5 year old can handle it! Another great feature is that it produces digital stills which you can print out on your printer at home or you can email to loved ones. For the usefulness and price ( about $300), we believe it's a great choice!

OOps: It's actually a RCA model!

 

[Mercenary]

So I have a camcorder but what about tips for carring it or using it in the park...

 

[QuickGold]

How are you able to edit on your computer...It records on a digital tape then you can edit it on your computer or download??? on to a CD?DVD????

The movies you shoot is stored on a tape. Only super-de-dooper new flashy camcorders store movies on mini-DVD's. What you do is once you get home, you connect your camcorder to your computer via USB or Firewire(IEEE 1394) cable and use video editing software that came with the camcorder.
The software takes the video from your camcorder and saves it to your computer.

Are you then able to watch the tape on your VCR??

If you just want to watch whatever you shot on a tv, then all you need is a TV with A/V inputs and to make sure your camcorder has output capability to a television(most do). Only VHS-C can be physically put into a VCR and played back(via an adapter tape so the tape will fit).

Which one is also a good Dig. still camera?

Thats a whole nother can of beans

Can you watch the tape and then decide if you would like to make a still pix from the tape??

Not as easily as you just said. It's a bit intensive.

So I have a camcorder but what about tips for carring it or using it in the park...

Tape as much as you can! I found out that lots of the stuff you'll remember doesn't all happen on rides. Tape walking around, talking, whenever you can while making sure you still enjoy your vacation