Tech: Digital Video Camera help

Subject: Non music: Digital Video Camera help
From: GUEST,Mikeyjoe
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 04:51 AM

Recently while away for the weekend my friend fell into a rifver. That settled it. I have deided to get a digital video camera. I really like these small ones that fit into the palm of your hand. I'm looking to spend £800 -£1000. However I know feck all about these things. I have seen some SOONY ones PC6 & PC9 that look nice but can anyone give advice on other models or what I should be looking for. I want one that takes still photos as well.

aTdHvAaNnKcSe

Mikeyjoe

Subject: RE: Non music: Digital Video Camera help
From: Mac Tattie
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 07:18 AM

Buy a magazine like "What Vidio Camera" or similer and read from cover to cover. I recently took the notion to buy a still digital camera and totaly absorbed two magazines, read all the adds. and checked out most of the web sites in the adds. and realised how much "blinding by science" and misleading information there was. I have been taking pictures for more than thirty years and know a wee bit about cameras but a newcomer going in to some high-street shops should prepair themselves realy well or they will get muged. Try and find an older styled (real) camera shop, somewhere you can go back to and get information and good advice. By the by I eventuly bought a second hand mint Olympus C2500L For £275 a bargan or what? Decide, what you want, what you can afford, what you are going to do with your vidio and go to a reliable specialist shop. cheers

Subject: RE: Non music: Digital Video Camera help
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 12:22 PM

When I scouted around for my PC1E (E for Europe) I rejected the Panasonic (or was it JVC) only because I needed it for a January production (neices son not video production) and they were promising it in one month and I have waited in vain in the past for vapourware. The upshot is my PC1E gobbles battery charge especially taking single shots. I was warned buy the competition! Newer models are better and there is always memory stick (et al). And although I have low (2 lux do ya?) light settings it trades time for apperture, so if the subject moves in low light nothing looks god, movie or still. The lesson is if you think you will take snaps make sure it has a flash - for that price it is essential. And you will start taking snaps - trust me - it has a 750 shot memory on 1/2 hour tape. If you are into video editing insist on firewire/IEE1394/I-link (all same thing).
Oh and if you think you can record from a PC back to the camcorder do the research. A widget to do that can be purchased from a third part like Digivision (PM me for URL) and they work a treat but not always on all machines so do that bit of research before you buy.
Finally, the old video8 cassettes have digital versions (As opposed to mini DV) and they reportedly can record "analogue in" with a widget but do the research!
?let us know what you get

Subject: RE: Non music: Digital Video Camera help
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 02:51 PM

Get a minimum 3 mpixels and preferably 4-5. A 5mp has gone down to about $1200 US dollars. That will give you excellent pictures. They are within the price range that you quoted.
Several makes use the same electronics. Essential is ease in handling, to YOUR feel. Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Fuji Leica, Kodak, Minolta, Canon all good. I just got a catalogue which lists a Sony 5 mp with a 5x Carl Zeiss zoom for $1800 in Canadian dollars, within the range you quote. Another I have seen has a Leica summicron lens, I think a Fuji, in the same range. A Nikon 5mp lists at $1600 Canadian dollars.
For small size, the Pentax Optio, Canon S40 and Olympus D40 offer 4mp for $1100 Canadian, but these lack some of the features of the larger models.
Sony offers one with a rewritable cd and Zeiss lenses for $1800 Can., but just 3.3 mp (good detail in 8x10 prints).
Confession- I still prefer my 35 reflex with interchangable lenses if i am taking a lot of shots.

Subject: RE: Non music: Digital Video Camera help
From: Mikey joe
Date: 01 May 02 - 09:00 AM

Thanks for the info

Is a good lens more important than pixels.

Dicho does you mean megapixels by mpixels. i thought that vido camrea quality was measured in lines of resolution as in 500-530 and that still images on most of these cameras ranged from 300000 to 1 megapixel. ?

Mj

Subject: RE: Non music: Digital Video Camera help
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 May 02 - 11:56 AM

Digivision? Widgets from Datavision - they sounded like a solid outfit. I assume the are still in business, I felt well rewarded by giving them my business. Widget works a treat. £50 or less will get you one.