My First Digital Camcorder

[bicker]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread I started discussing this in. I just got a DCR-HC32 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder as a present, and need a crash course to get up to speed for using it on our upcoming vacation in mid-January.

I have never owned a camcorder at all, so I'm starting from less-than-ground-zero.

My main priorities would be to be able to take good video, of course (and all advice regarding that would be greatly appreciated), but then specifically mastering my own DVDs with the output. I have Nero 6 Ultra Edition (which includes Nero Vision Express 3). I'm assuming that will help, at least with the mastering. Is that true? or do I need new software?

Believe it or not, the camcorder doesn't come with any media, so I'll have to go out today and buy something so I can at least play with it a bit. I'm figuring my best bet is a 2GB memory stick, instead of the DVC tape, but I'm probably wrong about that, so I'll probably just get a small (cheap) memory stick and a couple of tapes, and wait to hear recommendations for the bulk of my media needs.

I will most likely not have a computer with me in Florida, so I'll need enough media for a full week.

What do I need to know?

If there is a forum out there that someone thinks I would be better off asking this on, please let me know.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

For video, still use miniDV. My rule of thumb is 1 tape for every 2 days (if you want to tape parades, shows, fireworks etc). or 1 tape for every 4 days if you just want to take snippets of everything.

For pics, I don't think you'd want to use your camcorder. IIRC, the still pic on that camera is "sub-1 MP interlaced" (instead of a regular, to me, minimum of 3.1 MP progressive on a regular point and shoot entry level camera, which is equivalent to "6 MP interlaced" pic quality)

 

[bicker]

I concluded quickly that we're still using our regular digital camera for stills... cannot beat Canon A-series for quality and convenience.

Tapes seem really inexpensive -- like $5 each -- and they're reusable, right? I am assuming that after I get the video onto DVD, I can reuse the tape.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Although tapes are reusable, I wouldn't recommend it. Consider them as your master tapes. Something that you can refer back to just in case your DVD-R became corrupted, smashed etc. Magnetic media is, believe it or not, still the most stable recordable storage media.

PS: you can find miniDV tapes for around $3 on eBay. Buy them in bulk of 10 or 20. You can always re-sell them to your relatives and/or friends if they are too many for you.

 

[bicker]

I really don't like doing business on eBay.

I know there are some issues with which tapes I use -- I cannot use tapes with the memory chip in them.

Beyond that, I can use any brand, correct? So how about these?

http://www.cdrdvdrmedia.com/panaylinplus.html

That works out to a little more than $2.72 each (plus s&h).

I have had lots of good experiences with that website.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

no problem with those tapes. I tend to use Panasonic tapes instead of Sony anyway

 

[bicker]

How should I expect to get the video from the camera to the computer? I know I can use USB, but it says that Firewire is better. I don't have a Firewire connector in my computer... should I add an adapter?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I no longer use PC to convert my tapes to DVD. I use a standalone DVD recorder. Much less hassles and I can do the recording in real time.

 

[Miller1412]

Bicker, I hope I'm not hijacking too much but I read on the other thread you'd posted on some advice that was given to you about getting a wide angle attachment for your Digital Video Camera. We just got the Panasonic mini DV camera and I'd love to know where you'd find an attachment like that.

Kelly Grannell...You have tons of good pointers. Thanks for sharing. I'm taking notes .

 

[bicker]

I found it listed in the accessories catalog that came with our camera. I haven't decided to buy it yet.

I have a general question about what quality I should expect. I've started playing with my Sony DCR-HC32 Handycam Camcorder. I'm not terribly impressed with the video quality -- it seems to be much lower than the moving-video quality I get from our Canon A85 digital camera (which is, of course, primarily intended for stills). So I'm wondering what could I be doing wrong? What level of graininess should I expect on the videos?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

The HC-32 has a 1/6" sensor, which in camera speak means very very tiny sensor. The largest one Sony has in store is the HC-90 with 1/3" sensor which is 4x the surface area of the 1/6" sensor. Moreso, the HC-32 uses 600k+ pixel sensor which is also much much lower than the 1.3M pixel sensor.

The combination of both (higher pixel count and larger sensor size) will yield a better colour rendition, resolution and low-light performance.

Last but not least, I would recommend eBay purchase for camera accessories such as batteries (third party would be fine), tapes and lenses (don't buy third party, buy OEM but usually sold at a much lower price on eBay). If you want to get third party (usually they are much cheaper PLUS better quality than OEM) buy the following brands (based on my personal experience alone)

tapes: TDK and Fuji
blank DVD: Ritek/Ridata, Verbatim
attachment lens for pocket camera and handycams: Kenko but no wider than 0.7x magnification. Lower than that (0.6x, 0.5x) WILL make the picture distorted (barrel effect)
attachment lens adapter (usually in a form of plastic tubes, mostly for pocket cameras, virtually nonexistent for handycams): get the cheapest thing out there.

 

[tmt martins]

I have the BT-120 sony this is also a great CAmC Kelly has alot of great info .Even if you don't want to use E-bay as a buying point most media I use the Panasonics aswell )sellers have web sights that you can purchase from as well .

I also suggest using a filter lens this will save your lens from debris and water marks as well.I have a 2x lens ,wideangle and a fisheye that I use often .Your Nero should work well I use Ulead .
Also keep your zoom to a min. ( in and out during taping) and watch the Dig ital zoom as well it will produce a better output .

One last thing get a small (mines 6inches) tripod they are great even just for stability it has a strap and the three legs fold together like an angleiron so it will strap and be stable to a pole.

Have fun and enjoy My CC days are limited now as I'm alittle tired of watching everything through a 3in window but boy do I have some great onride vids. love the dark ones with the nightvision.

 

[tmt martins]

Bicker, I hope I'm not hijacking too much but I read on the other thread you'd posted on some advice that was given to you about getting a wide angle attachment for your Digital Video Camera. We just got the Panasonic mini DV camera and I'd love to know where you'd find an attachment like that.

Kelly Grannell...You have tons of good pointers. Thanks for sharing. I'm taking notes .

Go to E-bay punch in your model # and you will find kits that include most part #'s for the different acc. You can get them there or order them from the manu. or local camera shop .

 

[bicker]

Okay, another very basic question.

I can record 4:3 or widescreen. It seems that when I record widescreen, playback is distorted. Am I doing something wrong while recording, or while playing back. What's your recommendation between these two settings; stick with one (if so, which one), or switch back and forth based on context (and what guidance would you offer in that regard).

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Widescreen is to be used if you have widescreen TV. The 'distortion' is normal and once you watch it on a widescreen TV, the image will be re-'pressed' to normal-looking picture but with higher-resolution appearance.

If you don't have a 16:9 TV, stick with 4:3. Or record everything in widescreen, transfer it to DVD and code the DVD with 16:9 flag so when you pop it into a DVD player the aspect ratio will be adjusted accordingly by the DVD player (more on this later, if you're serious about doing DVD mastering and such)

 

[bicker]

Widescreen is to be used if you have widescreen TV.

What about if I'll have one next year? What about, next year, when I have a widescreen, but some family members I'll be sharing my videos with won't?

code the DVD with 16:9 flag

I was figuring there had to be a way, but I couldn't find how to do this in Nero Vision.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

The answer to both of your question is to enable 16:9 flag when you're burning the DVD. You won't find that under Nero. Nero is a great burning program but that's it. For editing, mastering etc it's (to my taste) somewhat abysmal.

Here's a link for 16:9 flagging:
http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1184234#1184234

 

[bicker]

I just read a great review of my new camcorder... got a great laugh out of this part:

"If you're feeling especially brain-dead, you can access the easy mode via a button directly above the LCD screen to reduce your menu options to Beep, Clock Set, and Display Guide. Actually, considering the great strength of most of the automatic controls on the DCR-HC32, this might be the best thing to do. It's so solid that you could operate the DCR-HC32 in a drunken stupor at a Jimmy Buffet concert, pass out, and awaken to a camcorder whose settings haven’t changed a bit, thank God. And your video (probably) won’t be that bad."

 

[bicker]

no wider than 0.7x magnification. Lower than that (0.6x, 0.5x) WILL make the picture distorted (barrel effect)

Could you please comment on this lens, or suggest a better alternative?

VCL-TW25 25mm 2.0X & 0.7X Twin Conversion LensVCL-TW25

I've found it online for $65.

I really felt the lack of a wide-angle lens during our recent trip.

I don't have any filters either. How major is that?