I need camcorder suggestions!

[Terk-1]

I want to purchase a small camcorder for my upcoming trip and have no idea what to get. I don't want to spend more than $400. What would you recommend?

 

[moon]

I have a little HD camcorder. Nothing fancy, just one of those Aiptek HD ones.
(Aiptek 720P HD)

I'm pretty happy with it. I like how you can see the videos from the camcorder directly on your TV. I think HD pic looks great on a 50' inch TV.

However, I'd like to transfer the videos on to DVD. But I recently read that the software used to transfer and burn the videos will diminish the quality of the image, so your DVDs aren't really HD. Is this true?

I wonder (if it's true) if then is it worth it to record in HD, or is it better to record in a lower quality setting, since the HD can't be burn into a DVD?

Another thing, does anyone have any tips on having a less shaky video when you're recording without a tripod (hand held)

I have a PC, (Windows XP) and can't buy a Mac (not for a long while). Video software I currently own: Total Media Extreme, and AVS video editor 4.

Any help will be apprediated. Thanks!

 

[moon]

I have an Aiptek 720P HD camcorder. I'm happy with it. I like the quality of the videos, and the fact that it's small enough to carry everywhere. I'm not that happy with the sound quality, but -unlike many people assume- the camcorder HAS an input for an external mic. I juss recenty found it! (you have to remove the little raise square on top of the mic.

This camcorder is way cheaper than $400. you can find it for les than $150.
I'm sure that you can find a better camcorder for the price you are willing to pay. But I like my Aiptek. And if anything, my reply will give you a bump and you'll get more and better advice

 

[DawnM]

We needed a little video camera for my sons to take to Disney and kind of play around with (one son makes his own mini-movies).

I just ordered a little one that comes with the underwater casing to take to the waterparks.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11484348&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US

We will be taking it with us this trip.

But I just wanted something like the Flip.....something small.

I like this one because you can use 4 batteries instead of 2, and you can put a memory card in it to record more hours at a time, which is imp. for a trip like Disney.

Dawn

 

[hughtopia]

I have the Kodak Zi6 and love it. The Zi6 is a competitor of the Flip cameras but it has expandable memory. The memory is nice as you'll probably be shooting all day. Plus It's small enough to have with you all day and takes HD video.

And looking at Amazon apparently a new version will be out in September (Zi8).

 

[moon]

Anyone, Please?

 

[Frantasmic]

I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. My camcorder to DVD experience has been using a DVD recorder that is external to a PC where the recorder is hooked straight to that unit.

However, this link seems to indicate that your PC may not be your problem; it may be your DVD burner. You may need blu-ray recorder to record your HD video.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/d/Reviews&level_b=Camcorder&level_c=HD.htm

 

[MarkBarbieri]

It is not the software that causes the problem, it is the DVD format. DVD's in the US are limited to a resolution of 720x480. Your camcorder is recording at 1280x720. So there is definitely a resolution loss. You will also lose image quality because your video well be decompressed and then recompressed.

If you want to preserve as much of the image quality as possible, you could copy the files to Blu-Ray discs. They can have resolutions up to 1920x1080. You'll probably need new software and a BR burner.

You could also just encode the video files to your computer and attach a computer to your TV.

As far as camera shake, a tripod is your best bet. If you can't use a tripod, using something like a Steadycam is your second best choice. If you can't use that either, then you should use your camera's image stabilization and practice holding the camera as steady as possible. It helps to use both hands, support the camcorder from below, and keep it close to your body.

 

[moon]

Thanks Frantasmic and Mark for your help. I understand much better now.

 

[BarleyJack]

Just bought my first camcorder, its a Sony DCR SX40. I've never owned one before, but as this will probably be our last trip to Disney I wanted to video memories of the trip.

Now my question: I'd like to take some videos on attractions, and while the cam has no external light (no flames please) the view finder thingie I imagine puts off some decent light in dark conditions. I don't want to be "that person" with the light on the dark rides. Is there anyway to dim the screen? I've been playing with it all afternoon but can't seem to find a way to do it....any pros out there who may be able to shed some light (or not )?

TIA!

 

[JasonDVC]

I figured I would ask the experts...What are your thoughts on the Sanyo WH1Water Resistant camcorder? It is small, light weight and records in 720 HD. The price is below $370. I want to use it for WDW trips and other vacations.

Do you know anything about it? Do you recommend it?

TIA for any thoughts

 

[carolrie]

Has anyone tried this camcorder? What do you think? I think the underwater feature would be fun and we would use it in our upcoming cruise trip, but not much after that. I don't want to sacrifice picture quality for underwater features if we will only use it occasionally for that. Our camcorder just died-two weeks before we are going to leave for WDW The learning curve on what to look for in a HD camcorder is so huge for me right now with trying to pack, starting a new job, and my photography business taking off. If someone has a camcorder they love I would love to check it out. Not that I'm not willing to do some more research on my own, but the clock is ticking and I trust all of your talented judgement!!

Here is the link

http://www.buy.com/prod/sanyo-dual-camera-xacti-wh1-720p-hd-underwater-camcorder-30x-optical/q/loc/111/210790651.html

 

[webshark3]

I love my video. I don't like running out of battery. I DON'T run out of battery.

However, I recently replaced my Panasonic DV camcorder with a Canon HF11. Now I need to determine how many batteries will get me through a "Disney day": 7AM-12AM. That would be the max hours out without charging capabilities. I usually never record (key word: record) more than 90 minutes in a day, but standby times can be significant.

I can do this on my old camcorder on the one stock and 2 extended batteries. I know the technical ratings and what the batteries are capable of when recording non-stop, but now I want to know:

What is your REAL WORLD Disney experience with Canon batteries (any HD HDD or Flash camcorders)?

Right now I'm thinking that in addition to my 1 stock battery, I'll get a Canon BP-827 (big guy). This should do it, but I'm debating picking up a cheap non-OEM as a tertiary backup. But based on what I'm reading (non-Disney experiences), I shouldn't need to.

 

[llrain]

We purchased a HG-21 last year for our wedding in Disney.
I had thought that the stock battery was junk so i purchased a
backup battery. We got a canon BP-827 battery. On a full charge you get about 300 minutes recording, roughly 5 hours.
I thought this still was not enough. I thought I would be taping every minute of the day every day.
Trip time came and for the time I really recorded this battery was plenty
5 hours out of a day is alot of recording..We never reached that...
Each night we let it charge and it was full the next day for another 5 hours.
plus we had the stock backup for another 2 hours of recording possibilities.

So the 829 was the perfect extra battery to have, although it is now the only battery we use with the stock battery as the backup

 

[webshark3]

Thanks IIrain,

Not only is that exactly what I want to hear, but what usually happens to me too. The 827 will become my primary and the stock battery will be a backup. Do you think you recorded up to 90 minutes of actual footage on any day? For my camcorder "on all day", I still usually end up with 60-90 minutes of actual footage (1 DV tape a day in LP).

 

[webshark3]

opps deleted duplicate post.

 

[llrain]

i'd say we did about an hour a day.
my original post mentioned the 829 battery...Now that i am home it definitely is the 827...
I do have to say that we did NOT have the camdorder ON for the whole day.
if your is anything like the hg (vixia) camcorders its a camera that quickly fires up so I would have it shut off alot too during the day and flip it on when i wanted to record. There were also times that we just left it on...
I would recommend at least closing the LCD when you are not taping..I find when i do that on my it goes into a standby mode and the LCD shuts off too without completely shutting down the camcorder.

with that hour a day I really did not have to think twice or even worry about loosing battery to 0 life.

Remember too you will have the the full 4 hour plus the backup 2 hourish one....

This weekend I will turn it on and let it stay on and let you know how long it really lasts with the LCD open and then again with it on standby...

stay tuned.....

 

[webshark3]

Thanks again. From what I've read, your model bests mine by about 10 min on the same battery, so they're very similar. I experimented with mine in standby, and I agree with you: when not in use, just turn it off. I have it set to go from standby to off in 5 min as a precaution too.

One disappointing thing (so I'll be curious if yours is the same), when I close the LCD and go to standby; if I open the screen 4 min later, 4 mintues will be deducted from the battery. Seems that totally on and standby have the same effect on my model which seems very strange. I should gain something from the LCD being off at least.

 

[LynnTH]

I have a Sony Camcorder right now with the mini discs. It is very easy to use and I change discs often - one for kids sports, one for school programs, one for Birthdays etc.

Well, on QVC I saw a really small camcorder that has a 16GB internal hard drive or you can take movies on a memory card. That I get. What I don't get is if I want to use the camera one day for sports and then next day I have a Birthday and then I want to put them on separate DVD's - how do I do that. Does anyone know if you can do that and how easy it is. ( I am technology challenged).

It sure would be nice to carry around a much smaller camcorder and not have to worry about changing disks... but not sure how much harder it would be after the fact...

 

[zackiedawg]

You would have two options...

One would be to buy different memory cards, using those to record for different purposes. That could get a little more expensive, but not too different from using minidisks.

Two would be to just record using the internal memory (or a single large memory card), and using your computer to download the movies. When you download movies to a computer from a harddrive camcorder, they come over as separate files for each time you turned off the camcorder then turned it back on, or each time you hit 'stop' then record again (as opposed to 'pausing' recording, which continues to save as a single file).

You then piece together the segments that are all for the same movie or segment using the simple supplied software from the camcorder, and burn it to a DVD. That allows you to separate all the different 'movies' you've saved on the harddrive and burn to their own disks.

Many camcorders will come with the ability to download files directly to a DVD burner - and will allow you to download multiple files as a single movie...or keep other files separate to download as a separate movie.

As for easy or not...that depends on you! For me, I don't find it too hard, but I've been copying movies through my computer and editing them for a while, even with my MiniDV camcorder. Rather than transferring directly to VHS or DVD, I always preferred to load the movie files to the computer, edit the way I like it, add transition effects or music, then burn to DVD.