Replacement for a Panasonic NVMX2B? (Camcorder)

GM2

GM2

GM2

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Hi

My venerable (2002) Panasonic NVMX2B (WARNING - PDF link) is at the end of its useful life. I'm now not sure whether or not it is recording half the time and I struggle to get it to play back.

So, what should I replace it with?

In its day, it was a £1000+ camera - but most cameras were more expensive than they are now. When I bought it, it had been superseded and I paid something under £500.

I now need something to replace it.

It will be used almost exclusively for general household videoing of kids, family etc etc.

I don't have an HD TV and no plans to get one yet - but no doubt, we will have at some time in the future. So HD is not a must, but might be nice - if the price is OK.

Price: As much as I need to spend, but as little as possible ;):D If I can get something decent for £250-£350, great. If it needs to be a bit more, OK.

Ideally, quite small - but I think most are now.

Quality needs to be good - but I'm not looking for state of the art.

If there is a model that's really good, but has been recently replaced (even within the last 12-18 months) but may still be around if I hunt - that would be fine. I don't need 'latest and greatest'. Hopefully something that will last for 3-5 years at least.

Suggestions, tips, hints or redirection to other forums, much appreciated.
 
Haven't got much experience of recent models, but the Canon models and Sony models generally get good reviews. Are you looking at miniDV, DVD, HDD, flash memory?
 
3dcandy said:
Are you looking at miniDV, DVD, HDD, flash memory?
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I don't really know!! Hoping to be guided.

Where is the current best value / quality to be had?

What is going to be around for a while?

MiniDV has the advantage of playing my existing tapes. Flash, I'm guessing, is going to be smaller. Not over keen on the DVD idea - but for no real reason, just doesn't feel right. But, if someone told me it was the 'must have', I'd be happy to look at it further.
 
Just picked up a cheap Panasonic camcorder that uses SD cards. Records for nearly 2hrs at highest quality on one 8gb card (which can be had for no more than £15.

It's only standard def but seems good quality - it's certainly comparable to standard miniDV camcorders. Has 10x optical zoom and image stabilisation.

Only slight concern might be it's size since it is truly tiny!

Comes in at well under £200 delivered too (that price would still be under £200 if you included a couple of 8gb cards as well).

Model code is: SDR-S7

gt
 
I'd go for a Panasonic from personal experience as for that price you'd be able to get the NV-GS230EB-S which is a 3 chip (I know, when people ask for a camcorder of that price I always pimp pana!)
 
I had a GS-280 which I instantly regretted :( CCD smear and flare was unbelievable with it.
 
Mine flared whenever you shot in low light and there was a light bulb in the shot, or outdoors if the sun managed to get anywhere close :(

eg:

CCD-smear.JPG
 
Its what made me go looking for something else, the name of it is "CCD smear" and its apprently down to the way that a CCD sensor stores light energy and it spills across when there is something very bright in the scene.

CMOS chips dont have it tho.
 
HV20 when it first came out for £799 :S

You can get the newer one for £599 now the HV30, the HV20 is still around but harder to find.
 
The HV20 looks really nice, but a bit more than I'm hoping to pay... unless I can find a recon or similar.
 
Its a lovely piece of kit, I use it for commercial work and cant fault it!

Check ebay for bargains, Canon Outlet etc. Best thing about it for people is it will record in HDV to tape but can output to your PC as both HDV and DV so if your PC / software isnt up to HD or you dont need it just now at least in the future you can have the full richness of HD to come back to.

Here's one of my videos shot with it : http://vimeo.com/1862612?pg=embed&sec=1862612
 
Rikki said:
Here's one of my videos
Click to expand...

That's awesome!!

What a great job! (as in, what a great job to have, but also what a great job shooting and editing etc)

Quality is fantastic for such difficult lighting - are you shooting just with the available light or is it being boosted?

I love the way it's all put together too - is that hours and hours of work? What software do you use?

Really want this camera now!!!
 
LOL. Thanks mate.

I built a DIY LED lamp which only really projects a bit forward (you can see it when DJs and dancers are close to the camera), the club lights in the background are as they were. You do get a bit of gain noise (grain) but that seems to get filtered out when its compressed for web playback.

As for editing that was a good few hours with Sony Vegas Pro 8, a brilliant piece of software. Using some of the built in filters and effects I touched the colours and brightness up a little (not much) and then outputted to Vimeo.

The camera itself is astounding and really set the indie film making world on fire last year when it came out - you should see the quality of it with GOOD lighting!

Here are two other videos Ive shot with it in better lighting :



In case anyone who has one is interested in the tweaks used to get the output like this I set the camera to HDV25 mode and TV mode 1/25 shutter. That allows the max light into the sensor.
 
Rikki said:
In case anyone who has one is interested in the tweaks used to get the output like this I set the camera to HDV25 mode and TV mode 1/25 shutter. That allows the max light into the sensor.
Click to expand...

I take it, that's for the club, not the cars?
 
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