hdd cam

ste_bla · 26 Oct 2007 at 15:24

after a cheap (ish) HDD cam corder only going to be used every now and then for fam things so just want something cheap but yet al right quality for normal tv view so really not cheap but good value for money

any ideas on what sort of models?

ste_bla · 27 Oct 2007 at 19:17

a wee bumpage

Dangerous · 28 Oct 2007 at 00:00

I'd recommend not going for a HDD camera because of the video will be compressed and you can only store so much on the HDD before you need to uploaded to a PC. I'd also say away from DVD ones because the of the media can get every expenesive.

DV Cameras are still the very best out there but to recommend any models not sure

Brand wise I can recommend Sonys range.

ste_bla · 28 Oct 2007 at 08:18

Dangerous said:
I'd recommend not going for a HDD camera because of the video will be compressed and you can only store so much on the HDD before you need to uploaded to a PC. I'd also say away from DVD ones because the of the media can get every expenesive.

DV Cameras are still the very best out there but to recommend any models not sure Brand wise I can recommend Sonys range.

Ah okay, i only thought of a hdd one as at the most i currently use 3/4 tapes in the **** dv we have and so that would go onto a hdd one plus its easier than connecting to a tv card to get on pc

But then again, dv does offer better VFM

alexakasloth · 28 Oct 2007 at 08:40

Personally I would get a mini dv cam, you wouldn't have to connect it through a tv card, just firewire. Panasonic have a good range, as do cannon. How much were you looking to spend?

ste_bla · 28 Oct 2007 at 17:03

$loth said:
Personally I would get a mini dv cam, you wouldn't have to connect it through a tv card, just firewire. Panasonic have a good range, as do cannon. How much were you looking to spend?

£300 would be a nice figure for me, already have a few DV videos, bag and tripod

Also what software would i need extra for firewire, how does it work?

alexakasloth · 28 Oct 2007 at 22:12

I've got premier pro, which I find very well, though some people reccomend sony vegas. It's quite simple, hook up the firewire cable to pc and vid camera, and it will automatically recognise (in XP). In premier pro you just have to go to file>capture and a preview window will open, then you click record when you want to start recording at whichever point in the tape you are at. Capturing is done in realtime.

I have the Panasonic nvgs180 which I've found to be a great 3ccd camcorder for the price (was about £250ish last year). They seem to have the NVGS 230 this year as a similar model, seen it for £265. Though you could probably go for something a bit cheaper if it's for family things.

If the mic is the same on the 230 as on mine then it will be very good for an onboard mic, it handled up close loud base at my friends gig quite well for a consumer camcorder.