what would be a good kind/brand/etc. to get?
Give me some info, I really have no clue where to start...
I have a Kodak V550 digital camera. It's pretty good.
What's your price range?
I was looking at CNET's top picks for home-movie camcorders and the two top ones are the Sony Handycam HDR-CX7 and Sony Handycam HDR-SR7, they're basically the same except the latter has an HDD, and the former uses memory sticks. And it would appear that the HDR-CX7 is cheaper too, from the Sony store it's $611.99.
My price range is like up to 500-600 I guess
Also, a friend of mine who is big on that stuff told me that small tapes were better than DVD recorders. Is this true? and why?
I know quite a bit about consumer video cameras, and quite frankly, buying anything but a Sony MiniDV Handycam would be stupid.
In my experience Sony Handycams are pretty much the best consumer cameras in terms of durability and quality for price, and the MiniDV is because when you get the direct-to-DVD/SSD ones it compresses your video right off the bat... with MiniDV it's recording uncompressed video, so importing it to iMovie/Final Cut Pro/whatever is the first time you're downgrading the quality of the video, unless you import and still don't compress (this is ideal, but really not practical unless you're above a semi-pro level).
Oh, and yeah, your friend is right. MiniDV = small tapes, I should have mentioned that. I said why above.
So, recommendations... this (click) (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665294454) will be a perfectly good camera for you, unless you're trying to do serious amateur filmmaking or something (which is what I do)... in that case you'd want something like this (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039901), which is what I'll hopefully be shooting with by the end of the summer.
Also, when browsing cameras, disregard digital zoom. It's worthless and not something that makes a camera good or better... higher optical zoom is more desirable.
Quote from: Snorkel on May 17, 2008, 05:08:17 PM
I know quite a bit about consumer video cameras, and quite frankly, buying anything but a Sony MiniDV Handycam would be stupid.
In my experience Sony Handycams are pretty much the best consumer cameras in terms of durability and quality for price, and the MiniDV is because when you get the direct-to-DVD/SSD ones it compresses your video right off the bat... with MiniDV it's recording uncompressed video, so importing it to iMovie/Final Cut Pro/whatever is the first time you're downgrading the quality of the video, unless you import and still don't compress (this is ideal, but really not practical unless you're above a semi-pro level).
Oh, and yeah, your friend is right. MiniDV = small tapes, I should have mentioned that. I said why above.
So, recommendations... this (click) (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665294454) will be a perfectly good camera for you, unless you're trying to do serious amateur filmmaking or something (which is what I do)... in that case you'd want something like this (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039901), which is what I'll hopefully be shooting with by the end of the summer.
Also, when browsing cameras, disregard digital zoom. It's worthless and not something that makes a camera good or better... higher optical zoom is more desirable.
ahh somebody said my name three times like beetlejuice
Quote from: Jules on May 17, 2008, 10:54:37 PM
ahh somebody said my name three times like beetlejuice
i hate you
Well the plot thickens...
I just found a 1998 JVC camera in my parent's closet. It seems to be working perfectly fine, but I don't know if they manufacture the battery still, and I assume it is the same mini tapes they still use.
But Snorkel, if this doesn't work out for whatever reason, I will get that first Sony you showed me. It looks perfect for me. I see no reason to not get it. Thanks
Yes, go with MiniDV tapes. Using a HD or DVDs is not that great. It makes me mad because that is all they advertise anymore. But yeah I heard JVC has a good MiniDv handycam for $300.
Quote from: Selkie224 on May 18, 2008, 05:51:55 AM
Well the plot thickens...
I just found a 1998 JVC camera in my parent's closet. It seems to be working perfectly fine, but I don't know if they manufacture the battery still, and I assume it is the same mini tapes they still use.
But Snorkel, if this doesn't work out for whatever reason, I will get that first Sony you showed me. It looks perfect for me. I see no reason to not get it. Thanks
If it was one of the higher-end ones it could be okay for casual use; things you might notice are poor contrast and color in general, and a little bit of high-ISO/fuzziness.
Quote from: Snorkel on May 17, 2008, 05:08:17 PM
I know quite a bit about consumer video cameras, and quite frankly, buying anything but a Sony MiniDV Handycam would be stupid.
In my experience Sony Handycams are pretty much the best consumer cameras in terms of durability and quality for price, and the MiniDV is because when you get the direct-to-DVD/SSD ones it compresses your video right off the bat... with MiniDV it's recording uncompressed video, so importing it to iMovie/Final Cut Pro/whatever is the first time you're downgrading the quality of the video, unless you import and still don't compress (this is ideal, but really not practical unless you're above a semi-pro level).
Oh, and yeah, your friend is right. MiniDV = small tapes, I should have mentioned that. I said why above.
So, recommendations... this (click) (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665294454) will be a perfectly good camera for you, unless you're trying to do serious amateur filmmaking or something (which is what I do)... in that case you'd want something like this (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039901), which is what I'll hopefully be shooting with by the end of the summer.
Also, when browsing cameras, disregard digital zoom. It's worthless and not something that makes a camera good or better... higher optical zoom is more desirable.
You should just get a VX1000. I purchased mine back in December and was debating weather or not to get it or the VX2100. But really a VX1000 is pretty much the same thing except I hear the auto white balance is somewhat better on the VX2100.
Alright well the piece of shit I found isn't working. When I turn it on with a tape in, it just stays on for a second, then shuts off.
Then again it is fine without the tape....but the tape was literally brand new, I just opened the packaging so...
Screw it I'm just gonna get a new one.
Sony. Avoid those cheap general brand kinds. I got a generic digital camera for about 30 bucks, thinking I made a good deal, and I was better off getting a film disposable camera. doodthing;
Quote from: The Cookie Monster on May 18, 2008, 10:50:59 AM
You should just get a VX1000. I purchased mine back in December and was debating weather or not to get it or the VX2100. But really a VX1000 is pretty much the same thing except I hear the auto white balance is somewhat better on the VX2100.
That's not the actual one I'm planning on getting, it's just one of the only ones Sony has in their online store for some reason... the one I'm really thinking about is this: http://www.zoommania.com/descript.asp?prodid=HVRHD1000U (couldn't find a better website)
Quote from: Snorkel on May 18, 2008, 05:26:03 PM
That's not the actual one I'm planning on getting, it's just one of the only ones Sony has in their online store for some reason... the one I'm really thinking about is this: http://www.zoommania.com/descript.asp?prodid=HVRHD1000U (couldn't find a better website)
Ah, what do you film? Just kinda out of curiosity.
obligatory do not get a cybershot post
Quote from: The Cookie Monster on May 18, 2008, 05:40:16 PM
Ah, what do you film? Just kinda out of curiosity.
Amateur shorts for a variety of amateur film festivals and contests, and a small amount of freelance videojournalism stuff (weddings, random things).
I'm heading toward film school and cinematography or directing as a career, so yeah
Quote from: Snorkel on May 18, 2008, 05:45:31 PM
Amateur shorts for a variety of amateur film festivals and contests, and a small amount of freelance videojournalism stuff (weddings, random things).
I'm heading toward film school and cinematography or directing as a career, so yeah
I'm too much of a bitch to go to school for film because I feel there is a small amount of jobs (though I could be totally wrong) and am just going for education instead.
Though I do plan to get a group of friends in college who will be willing to make movies and shit and that will be something that will hopefully somehow propel me into the big business writing and/or directing.
Quote from: Selkie224 on May 18, 2008, 05:49:25 PM
I'm too much of a bitch to go to school for film because I feel there is a small amount of jobs (though I could be totally wrong) and am just going for education instead.
Though I do plan to get a group of friends in college who will be willing to make movies and shit and that will be something that will hopefully somehow propel me into the big business writing and/or directing.
well my plan is to be one of those indie directors who happens upon success at some point (not talking about Juno-type indie success, but success enough that I can not starve), which doesn't necessarily require formal training if you're pioneering your own projects... obviously this is a pretty hefty goal, though, so something like a media design degree with specialty in film arts can get a lot of "regular" jobs.