Small camcorder for whipping out at dlp?

[hollymattbenmilo]

Hi, well title explains it really? I have seen two I think look goof value for money.. if anyone has anyexperience of these cameras or simluar... please give me your advice?

There is the sanyo, which is showerproof... so thats a bonus

http://www.digitalrev.com/en/sanyo-xacti-vpc-ca6-1196.html


And the flip video camera... which looks so tiny and easy to quickly whip put to catch magic moments etc..and very cheap?? also can buy a waterproof case for it..can even be used under water!

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Ele...ics&keyword=Flip+Video+Ultra+Camcorder+(White)

 

[Disneyfoo]

There is a review of the Flip camera on youtube
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AxAIAqM5TVk

It seems to be pretty decent for the price, and looks really easy to use. Stuff magazine also reviewed it http://stuff.tv/Review/Flip-Video-Ultra/
They have given it top marks

I have experience of the other camcorder, it is pretty decent but does have some focusing problems. I found it quite easy to use but not as simple as the other one looks! I would recommend you read this review
http://www.cnet.com.au/camcorders/0,239035877,339273886,00.htm

It seems the editor had the same opinion as I did, although it appears to be much cheaper now.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

WOW! Thank you, thats all so helpfull! Thank you.
Is the flip one ok with vista? And would it be easy to put the clips onto a pc then onto a cd? should be shouldnt it? just want to check!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

http://stuff.tv/Review/Creative-Vado/


does this look better? does 2 hours footage?? rather then one?? and do they both take recharable batteries?????????????

 

[Disneyfoo]

It appears it works fine with Vista. I found this on a gadget website...so as long as your computer meets the specs below it should be fine.

Minimum requirements for Flip Video Software:

* Windows - Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz, Windows XP SP2 with 512MB of RAM, or Vista with 2GB of RAM, and USB port
* Mac - Power PC G4 1.0 GHz or Intel Core, with 512MB of RAM, OS X Tiger 10.4 or Leopard 10.5, and USB port

As for putting the clips on CD, I don't see why that would be a problem at all. I copy videos from my digi cam to CD and it is the same principle

Only one cautionary note, the video quality of the flip is VGA which may or may not be good enough depending on what you plan to use the camera for. If it is just point and shoot etc then it will be fine .

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Well its for my holiday to dlp.. children blowing out their birthday candles, school plays, sports day... that kind of thing, memories really... just wanted something, i could have on me with one child on my hip type thing. Just light and can put it in my handbag....

so what would you go for then? the flip? the vano? other?? if you were after it for the reasons i am? as you seem very clued up on this!! haha

 

[Disneyfoo]

Hmmm, well stuff seem to reckon the video quality of the Flip is better, and this seems to be echoed in other reviews too. http://blog.laptopmag.com/cheap-camcorder-face-off-creative-vado-vs-flip-video-ultra

The flip takes AA and the Vado uses a rechargeable that charges using your computer it appears. I am not sure if the flip would work with rechargeable AA batteries.

I suppose it depends what you are after, the vado has the best LCD screen and shoots an extra hour but the video quality of the flip is better. Bear in mind that the battery life of the vado is rated at 130 minutes so if you record something then delete it and then repeat I would assume you would not be able to record the full two hours or in other words you might end up with the same length of footage as the flip can hold.

If it were me I would choose the Flip, it has better quality video which is after all the main purpose of the camera. This might seem like a strange video but it shows the quality of the camera http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7yOuxqNwjVk

I always have a difficult time choosing things like this!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

yes I see what you mean...mmm....decisions decisions?? SO if i went on holiday with the flip i should take some spare aa's then, haha... seems a bit annoting you ahve to keep rebuying batteries though...added expence??? mmmm... eak!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

the new flip phone..thats realised on the 15th..that says that takes rechargable..and i am guessing it will only be better then the last one?? maybe i should pre order that one?

 

[Cyrano]

I'd ask the question on the Photography board. They are very helpful and knowledgable

We have a Sony zoom camcorder that uses Digital tapes and have been pleased with the results

 

[Disneyfoo]

okay well the new flip mino looks like it is an improvement http://blogs.zdnet.com/digitalcameras/?p=275

I did read somewhere that the videos are slightly more awkward to connect to PC, and it does not have the option of an underwater case. I think it is a tough call. The addition of the rechargeable battery does seem like a major plus point. If I remember correctly the first time I went to DLRP the AA batteries were extortionate and ever since then I have taken those huge packs you can get from discount stores!

Definatley worth asking on the photo board like Cyrano said though!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

sorry to bombard you with questions, bet you wish you had never answered now!! haha... how long do normal cheapish aa batteries last then in the ultra? as i would really like to get the underwater case....???

 

[Disneyfoo]

Don't worry about asking questions, I don't mind! Reports on the internet suggest that the battery life is around 140 minutes using normal duracells. It is best to buy slightly better batteries like the duracells then cheap ones which might end up being more expensive. Especially as some cheap ones might not even power the camcorder up in the first place.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Thank you!!! been looking and one review said with the really good batteries it can last up to four hours?? I have seen the video differences and the picture on the new flip is deff better...BUT.... I think that maybe the older one would suit my purpose more... i can buy the waterproof case to use it in rain etc.. can take a pile of batteries with me on holiday... but i cant really charge the battery on other one without a pc with me, and i dont have a laptop..so maybe for holiday and weekends away.. the older one is of more use to me really....???

what you think??

 

[Disneyfoo]

I think the AA battery powered one is of more use if you do not have a laptop to recharge the other one. The only other option would be to buy extra rechargeable batteries for the newer one, but then you may as well buy a cheap netbook!. I imagine very good batteries such as the panasonic evolta ones could last a good three hours.

The only problem I can envision is that if you went away, for say four days, you might want to shoot more than one hours worth of footage and as you do not have a laptop you cannot transfer the videos. Unless of course you only use it on shorter trips

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

yes I know what you mean.... mmm.... I went and saw the sanyo in a shop today and it looked really nice... I guess advantage fo that would be I could have one or two memory cards etc.. and rechargable battery..... dont know if I will ever make a decision!! haha

 

[Disneyfoo]

It is difficult to decide...the Sanyo is a good camcorder, just has a few issues.That might well exist on the Flip as well.

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/review/Sanyo_Xacti_VPC-CA6_11359.php

I have just dug up this review and it seems to suggest that the Sanyo is actually quite good. I had no problems with it as I said on the first page!

You probably know all this already but here goes!.... It appears the Sanyo chargers via a mains socket....if this is true it is ideal. I have also read that the battery life lasts around 3-4 hours if you are playing with deletion, fast forwarding etc. Apparently it takes 5-6 hours to recharge as well.

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

Thank you so much for all your help, wanted to make sure I got the right one!! Well I saw an offer on hotukdeals and the play.com had the sanyo going for £124 free delivery, so grabbed it!! i saw so many great reviews on it... i thought..well I will go for it, and its weather proof too! Thanks for all your help!! Now need to hunt for some cheap websites to get one or two memory cards!!

 

[paula34]

i bought a Toshiba Camileo Pro Camcorder from amazon for 80.88 and its awesome, very small and neat fits in a pocket and quick to get going easy to set up and effortless to make films and burn to disc, also takes pics and stores music for playback.....you will need a card for it though, think i bought a 4gb and it had tons of space left still after all the film and pics i took, and everything is good quality