camcorder recommendations please!

[catsrule]

If you have a camcorder, what kind do you have and what do you recommend. Looking for something that will take good nighttime recordings.

 

[Patch'sD]

I have a JVC GR30 which use Mini Digital Tapes. Not the best but the price was right at about $230. Since it was Digital I purchased a Firewire connection for my PC. I have been able to edit and create movies on my PC. I have not been able to dowload the completed movies back to the camera yet. It has night vision capabilites, but I have not used it. The Zoom is 13 Optical and 720 Digital Enhanced. So far very happy with it. It helped alot in putting together College Sports tapes for my son.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Originally posted by catsrule
If you have a camcorder, what kind do you have and what do you recommend. Looking for something that will take good nighttime recordings.

Ok, I love my SONY. It is a "mini DV" recorder... DV stands for Digital Video, and at this point, that is THE ONLY way to go. Everything is moving to digital quickly; do not get left behind.

BTW, FWIW, I work in TV as an engineer, and I could go all technical on you, but I won't. Digital is cheap now.

Mine is the Sony DCR-HC40, and it took GREAT pictures for me at night when I was in Disney last month, but to optimize the quality of your night time records you need to operate the manual controls, and not use the automatic "easy".

I bought mine at www.abesofmaine.com

Great price. And my model, as opposed to the next cheaper model -- the DCR - HC30 --- it allows you to "pass through" your old vhs recordings through the camera to make them digital for computer editing, without actaully having to re - record your old videos first.

I really love my camcorder.

.

 

[tkyes]

I would love to know this too! I'm sure we'll want to video the little rugrat when he/she comes.

 

[hipporina]

Another vote for Sony! I have a Sony Mini-DV camcorder too and it is fantastic. Mine is a few years old so the model (DCR-TRV11) isn't made anymore, but there is an equivalent out now that just has a different button layout. I absolutely adore my Sony. I have not had any problems with it at all. It is small, lightweight, and has great quality. The only thing I really don't like is that the still photo function is pretty low-res, but I have a digital camera that I use anyway, so it doesn't matter to me. They are probably better on current models if that is a factor.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Originally posted by hipporina
Another vote for Sony! I have a Sony Mini-DV camcorder too and it is fantastic. Mine is a few years old so the model (DCR-TRV11) isn't made anymore, but there is an equivalent out now that just has a different button layout. I absolutely adore my Sony. I have not had any problems with it at all. It is small, lightweight, and has great quality. The only thing I really don't like is that the still photo function is pretty low-res, but I have a digital camera that I use anyway, so it doesn't matter to me. They are probably better on current models if that is a factor.

The low res stills would be true on ANY consumer level camcorder when compared to a digital camera.... even "prosumer" level camcorders rarely exceed 2 megapixels.

 

[Pop Daddy]

get somthing you could tape underwater

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by catsrule
Looking for something that will take good nighttime recordings.

Could I see the finished video?

 

[Pop Daddy]

Originally posted by browneyes
Could I see the finished video?

sicko

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
sicko

Yeah, like you weren't thinking it too.

 

[catsrule]

thanks for the replies.

Fireworks will be exploding on the finished nighttime recording.....

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by MJ
thanks for the replies.

Fireworks will be exploding on the finished nighttime recording.....

Originally posted by me
Could I see the finished video?

 

[catsrule]

Of course you can see the finished video, Shannon. Relax with your cup of coffee and watch the fireworks. Be sure to wear your goggles also, so you don't get blinded. You may also see a grey cat running across the screen.

 

[browneyes]

Originally posted by catsrule
Of course you can see the finished video, Shannon. Relax with your cup of coffee and watch the fireworks. Be sure to wear your goggles also, so you don't get blinded. You may also see a grey cat running across the screen.

<IMG width="100" SRC="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid146/p7458c10f167d79196db4272022e8c397/f6490e52.jpg"> <IMG width="100" SRC="http://212.227.150.184/sites/cy-x/ProdukteBilder/25_gr.jpg"> <IMG width="100" SRC="http://www.themeparks.com/library-06/wdw/fireworks/wishes006.jpg">

 

[catsrule]

Now you're properly prepared. Now I just gotta buy a camcorder.

 

[browneyes]

I've got 2 you can borrow. One takes VHS tapes (poor night quality, but it's 11 years old), the other one takes 8 mm tapes (I'm not sure of the night quality on it). It has a spotlight on it, but we've never tried it out.

I'm ready for the viewing.

 

[catsrule]

I'll be ready for filming in April. Can you hold on till then?