I wanna DVD camcorder

Steve_Handbag

My sister has one she says its excellent but it does not like cheap 8cm blank discs.

I cannot remember which ones work but i will ask her later.

Addicted2Chocolate

another question: if you go for a mini DV format camcorder, can you save the film onto your pc then transfer it to DVD? looking at the sony mini dv camcorders now as you seem to get mroe for your money....

Addicted2Chocolate

the sony HC35 is £222.00 online from currys whereas the HC24 is £222.20..so the better spec one 20p cheaper!!

gerretl

Spot on addicted2chocolate.
On the Sony is a socket called i-link. This is a Sony name for firewire, which is the best way to transfer from the mini DV camcorder to the PC. You can also use USB with the Sony, but I don't think its as good (others may disagree)
Once its in the hard drive, you can edit to your hearts content, then burn it using a DVD rewriter (£40 if you haven't got one). Stick it in the DVD player, and hey ho you're away

Rikki

gerretl wrote:

Hi. I work selling camcorder for Currys at Lakeside. Maybe I can help. I won't get too technical, but heres a few pointers when buying a camcorder.
1) There are four main formats of camcorder. Advantages,/ disadvantages are as follows.
Mini DV- Its a tape format, that can be connected directly to the PC and TV. Tapes are cheap (About £2 each for 60 minutes). Cameras are also very cheap. Downside is that you have to wind forward to the action.
DVD- these use small DVD disc (yes, they do fit into your player. There is a small tray in it, just look very hard). Very simple to operate. Film, and stick into the player. Job done. Downside - Discs are expensive (About £5 for a half hour disc) discs are also very fragile, you really need to look after them. There are also three formats of disc, DVD +, DVD-, and DVD-RAM. Check what formats your player can take.
Hard Drive- These have a computer hard drive built into the camera, so no discs tapes etc. Very easy to connect to the PC or TV. JVC make a good range. Downside- still a little pricey.
Memory cards- Similar to hard drive, but store on a memory card instead. Nice small camera, but the memory cards are still very expensive.
2) Feel the camera before you buy. The cheaper makes don't feel right. They feel plasticy, too light, and the controls are just out of comfortable reach.. Try holding a JVC 350 (Budget), and a Sony HC24 (not budget), and you will get the idea.
3) Any salesperson who tries to sell you a camcorder on the basis of it having a bigger zoom does not know what they are talking about. Zooms come in two types, optical (where the lens moves,)and digital ( where it blows up the picture). You do not need more than twenty times optical zoom. The quality of picture deteriorates so much with digital zoom, that it is not worth talking about (the hitachi you were talking about has 1200 digital zoom). The only time you will use a load of zoom is if you are filming Lord Lucan, riding Shergar, with the Loch Ness Monster in the background.
4) Don't discount editing. I know you are filming the baby, but (and no disrespect intended) people will get bored of even two minutes of a sleeping baby. The rough proportions of your filming will be one sixth utter rubbish (Out of focus, filming the floor, or wobbly camerawork) two thirds will be alright (groups of people enjoying themselves , yawwwwn), one tweflth pretty good (bit of action, granny falling over etc) and the remainder will be excellent (Lord Lucan riding Shergar with the Loch Ness monster in the background). Ulead and Pinnacle do some great packages, where you can whittle down an hours filming to about ten minutes very quickly, and stick a few fades and titles on it. Believe me, it is well worth it. People will want to watch the footage.
5) Don't zoom in and out when you are filming, it makes people feel sick when they are watching it. Zoom into the subject, until it is framed as you like it, and start filming. Don't stop filming immediately the action has stopped.Keep gpoing for five seconds longer. If you do edit, the splicing is a lot easier.
6) If you get a small camcorder, you can carry it all the time. You never know when you will capture that clip that is broadcast world wide (i.e. Lord Lucan riding Shergar with the Loch Ness Monster in the background). You can then retire, (like the bloke that took the picture of Bing Crosby playing golf, just before he died.)
Hope this helps, and if you live near Lakeside, pop into Currys, and I will run through the models if you want.

What a lovely and helpful post.:T

Addicted2Chocolate

thanks again Gerretl! Think i will go for the sony HC35. your a star, very helpful!

gerretl

No prob. If you go into Currys, ask for an internet price match. At managers discretion, they may do it/ go half way. You have the benefit of dealing with a high street store i.e. human beings, and there are deals available on the accesories like bags and tapes if you ask nicely.
Hope the birth goes ok.
Is hubby/ BF going to film the labour?
I suggest not

Addicted2Chocolate

:rotfl: no he wont be filming the labour. i expect i will be too busy swearing at him/demanding massages/breaking his hands. no seriously might film a bit between contractions but defo not the pushing out stage.
Hubbie thinks we should get a dvd camcorder we dont have a dvd rewriter on the computer. am confused now between lowest spec sony dvd camcorder and the HC35.....

gerretl wrote:

No prob. If you go into Currys, ask for an internet price match. At managers discretion, they may do it/ go half way. You have the benefit of dealing with a high street store i.e. human beings, and there are deals available on the accesories like bags and tapes if you ask nicely.
Hope the birth goes ok.
Is hubby/ BF going to film the labour?
I suggest not

gerretl

Hi Addicted. Heres an idea. Lets keep the debate going until you are due. Then give birth in Currys/ Comet/ Argos. They might give you a freebie.:rotfl:
A DVD rewriter will cost you about £40. Installing is pretty easy. the thing you may need is to install a firewire card on the back of the PC.
I really can't advise you any more. I personally would stick with mini DV, but editing can take time. DVD is convienient, but you are stuck with what you film.

Anne_Marie_2

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but was going to be posting similar question myself. Hubby has asked me to check out buying camcorder for filming progress of house being built, also for use on holiday. He is great for sending me emails to do this or that whilst he is at sea - meanwhile I am the one feeling all at sea when I read the blurb! Aaargh........

Anyway, was looking at your recommendation for the Sony HC35, and this probably has all that we would need...
Then I looked at the JVC GZMG21 - okay its £180 difference in price, so my gut instinct tells me to go for the cheaper Sony.
However Gerretl, would you like to comment on that JVC model? Or, would you like to recommend any other model up to that price range, which is about £400. Gives me a choice to put to him - and he will just tell me to get what I like!
I hate it when hubby says just go and get! Obviously he hasn't got a clue, so easier to leave it up to me, and he has given me no idea of what he is prepared to pay - not that that has ever stopped me in the past!

Further to the above, we don't have firewire on home pc, but do have it on both laptops, also we do have DVD re-writers if that makes any difference to your reply. (Assuming that you do reply that is - sorry for that assumption! )