posted
OK, here's the deal. (I've been listening to David Butler too long)
I'm still looking around for a digital video camera within my $1,000 price range. Some of the newer cameras have capability for both video and still pictures, which I'm not interested in at the present - just a good quality digital video. I already have a still digital camera.
Some of the Sony cameras are nice, but don't have the capability to download to my computer.
One of the cameras that has caught my attention is the Panasonic AG-DVC7. Anybody familiar with this camera? From the reviews that I've read it seems like it may be what I'm looking for.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Raymond, if you do a google search for "digital video, reviews", you'll be able to find a lot of user reviews of that camera, plus pretty much everything else on the market.
posted
Thanks Don. Yes, I've seen those reviews and read most of them. But I was hoping that I might snatch a real live person here that knows about this camera and would be able to give me some advice.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote:Originally posted by Sid Besserman: I've got a Canon A75 (<$200). I like it. Great with rechargeable batteries. At your price range I think your looking for a higher level camera.
Sid, Raymond isn't looking for a still camera. He was in LA awhile back and now wants to get into moviemaking.
(Raymond, David and I might not be much help, but give us credit for keeping your query bumped to the top.)
Checking another of Raymond's posts, he's been hand lettering almost a half century, which translates into he wasn't "born yesterday". Somehow, I don't think either of us is getting a free camera out of this.
Hmmm... maybe we can sucker someone into a VersaCamm review...
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5089 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I have a hunch you're right, David. But, nobody can say we didn't give it our best shot.
Raymond, try googling "digital video, forums". I found some forums dedicated to the subject that way. Real people, too...not as real as we are...but still real.
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I bought a Panasonic VDR-M53 about 3 months ago and I really like it. It records to mini DVD. It can use either DVD-R or DVD-Ram. The DVD-Ram can only be viewed on most if the newer DVD players (all of the new Panasonic ones, and it is easy to hook to the TV), but you can get double sided discs and with the right setting you can get about 2 hours on 1 disk. You can also rerecord onto the DVD-Ram. The image quality of the video is very good as is the sound quality.Very compact and easy to use. Haven't tried putting the videos on the computer yet but it doesn't seem like it will be that difficult. A good camera for around $600.
-------------------- TJ Duvall Diamond State Graphics, Inc.
New Castle, DE 19720 Posts: 396 | From: New Castle,Delaware | Registered: Jul 2002
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I just bought a Canon ZR400 (less than $500)it has some cool stuff on it, but I was locked into the price range because of the school's budget. I would also look into the Canon Optura line.
I was talked out of the mini-DVD models from the Camera store rep. Our main use will be to shoot raw footage, send to the computer, and edit. His advice was that DV was more suited for that application and the DVD models were more for shooting finished product straight to the media. I would be curious to see how difficult it would be to send and edit on the computer using the mini-dvds.
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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BTW- most of the cameras I have looked at recently have firewire capability to send to the computer- although some computers don't have a firewire port. (except macs)
My Dell has just about every kind of port except the firewire- so it's time to upgrade anyway.
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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Don and David - thanks for the offer, but I think I'll pass this time. In fact, I've been trying to get the same deal out of Mr. Sawatzky with his flat bed router.
David, when the hand lettering video is done, I'll send you one. It probably won't do any good, but at least you will be able to see how real hand lettering is accomplished.
And just to set the record straight - I was looking for a video camera BEFORE I went to California.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote:Originally posted by Michael Clanton: BTW- most of the cameras I have looked at recently have firewire capability to send to the computer- although some computers don't have a firewire port. (except macs)
My Dell has just about every kind of port except the firewire- so it's time to upgrade anyway.
I've seen firewire ports at the electronic supply stores. I doubt they're difficult to install.
posted
Dunno, but I have several Sony's and they all interface simply with my Mac . . there's a Sony program that comes with all of them that doesn't even come close to speaking Mac but I have a reader program and Mac's system has a thingie called iPhoto that worlks swell . . .
Maybe you need a good computer and just keep the camera you got . . it'll all work out Raymond . . . Heh, heh . . . .
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Don't look at me, Raymond. I'm the one that posted that firewire cards are a simple upgrade. I don't own stock in Apple, so I don't have any reason to sell ya one.
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Raymond, I bought a Sony DCR-TRV460 not long after they came out (roughly a year and a half ago). It is a Digital8 Handycam, using the mid-sized tapes (Digital8). This camera play the older Hi8 tapes from our prevous Sony camcorder, plus it will play the even older 8mm tapes with a flip of a switch. This particular camera has three different output ports. Actually the top connection is a two way port that connects to a TV using a jack similar to a headphone plug. That plug also can receive video and audio from any other AV source like an old VHS or Betamax device, or even another TV. The second output port is a USB and the last one is a FireWire port. Both the USB and Firewire ports can connect to a computer, but the Firewire delivers the highest output quality necessary for DVD video production. We added a firewire card into Tyler's Windows XP machine for around $30, maybe less. It went in effortlessly.
The feature to watch for in a camcorder is the "pass-through" capability, along with the Firewire output port. Most of the better Sony camcorders should have it...even more so knowing mine is over a year old. When we plug in our camcorder to the computer via the Firewire port, the software automatically recognizes the input device and launches our Video editing software. From there, we can capture any or all segments of the tape. After that, it is just video editing on the computer.
I believe my camcorder was around $475, plus I added the premium battery back which has served us well. I purchased it at Sears and added a yearly service contract which allows for one free cleaning each year, plus free repairs.
Hope that helps, Mike Jackson
[ August 09, 2005, 11:23 PM: Message edited by: Golden ]
-------------------- Mike Jackson Golden Era Studios Jackson Hole, Wy www.goldenstudios.com/ Posts: 390 | From: PO Box 7850 | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
The Canon ZR400 has that "pass-thru" capability, like a bunch of other models. Like I said, it is probably on the lower end of your budget (less than $500), so some of the higer end cameras should have all the stuff you want, and a bunch of stuff you don't- like the still camera mode (I think mine is a whopping 1MP)
It seemed that Canon, Sony and Panasonic all had comparable models in various price ranges. I went to Best Buy's website and did a comparison on features, price and such. It was handy to be able to compare all of them.
I had my Dell built a couple of years ago, and they asked me if I wanted a firewire port- of course I didn't think I would ever need one, so I passed. Now I need one!
-------------------- Michael Clanton Clanton Graphics/ Blackberry 19 Studio 1933 Blackberry Conway AR 72034 501-505-6794 clantongraphics@yahoo.com Posts: 1736 | From: Conway Arkansas | Registered: Oct 2001
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