soyboy
Frederick, Maryland
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I want to move up from out 12 year old Analog Canon Camcorder ($1,000 back in /96!!!). I am debating between getting an inexpensive SD model such as a Canon ZR 930 for a couple of years until the HD models go through a couple more product cycles. I could get the ZR for about $225 or so.
However, I do like some of the HD models especially the Canon HF10/HF100. I like the idea of using cards and not worrying about tape drives or hard drives failing. The capacity of an 8GB or 16GB card would be fine for my needs. I would lean towards the HF100 as I really don't think I need the built in memory.I can get the HF100 for around $649 on line.
Can you tell I am a "Canon Guy"? Started with an FTBn back in the 70's.
What do you think. Have you made the switch to an HD camcorder? If so are you glad you did? Or are you happy with your SD?
FYI: I do have a Panasonic Plasma upon which I can watch the videos. I also have two Intel macs for editing, a Macbook Pro and a "Blackbook".
I usually am an "early adopter" (and HD Video Cameras have been our for a few years) so maybe I am just looking for someone to say GO FOR IT.
That said your opinions are welcome.
I would rather post this here than on a DV forum etc. as I want a "real world" opinion not one from a videophile.
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troll3193
SouthWest, MI USA
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Probably not what you are looking for but here is my $.02...
We had a Sony camcorder in the early days... Even with the small 8mm form factor, it was something you had to lug around in a bag... Every time we wanted to use it the battery was dead etc... and in general we never used it..
I realize technology has come a long way in 12 years... Last couple of years I had been looking at the new models.. The hard drive based cameras had been catching my eye, but always came back to would I carry it with me...
I am the same with digital cameras, would love to have a digital SLR, but know I would not want to lug it around, so I don't buy one. I rely on the $100 kodak I can shove in my pocket..
With that said, here is my current video camera..
http://www.theflip.com/products.shtml
All I can say it is one of the coolest pieces of electronics I have owned... Runs forever on two AA batteries. Is simple and durable. Oh and cheap enough that if I break it while taking video sledding down a hill, no big deal...
SW that comes with it is slick and the video quality pretty darn good for the size and cost of the unit.
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GSF
full-timing in North America
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Go for it. You will never be satisfied with less than HD. And get the largest card you can buy - HD needs lots of space.
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soyboy
Frederick, Maryland
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Troll:
Thanks, I have thought about a Flip, but I would use that for those times when I wanted to stick something in my pocket. My daughter has been bugging me for one so maybe I will kill two birds with one stone. But I would still want something with more features/flexiblity for general use.
BTW: with the success of the Flip, it looks like there will be a number of other low cost, small form factor cameras coming out.
I know what you mean by lugging around, that is one thing I like about the Canon HF series is that they are a rather small form factor (of course not as small as the Flip). It's funny you bring this up as I am also thinking about getting a DSLR. I love my Canon G6 but I always had SLRs in the past and I miss ability to change lenses. Also the response speed when taking pictures is much faster than point and shoots. We do take a lot of photos.
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troll3193
SouthWest, MI USA
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soyboy wrote:
I know what you mean by lugging around, that is one thing I like about the Canon HF series is that they are a rather small form factor (of course not as small as the Flip). It's funny you bring this up as I am also thinking about getting a DSLR. I love my Canon G6 but I always had SLRs in the past and I miss ability to change lenses. Also the response speed when taking pictures is much faster than point and shoots. We do take a lot of photos.
I would like to have a DSLR with a good lens for those 5-8 school events during the year, where you want to get a picture of the kids on stage....
Bryan
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lhuff
Marietta, GA USA
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Our first video camera was HUGE and we had to carry around the recorder in a shoulder pack. Together with the battery it must have weighed over 20 pounds and with the AC power supply for home, was nearly $2500 with tax. We rarwly used it so when the 8MM tape versions came out, we bought one for another $1200. We rarely used it. Now I'm starting to consider a HD camera but just can't make myself think we'd do more than rarely use it.
All of that is to say, if you want one, go for it. I think it's your money and soley your decision.
* This post was
edited 05/16/08 06:13pm by lhuff *
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soyboy
Frederick, Maryland
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I guess I figure a lot of the videos that we take (even more so than photos) are for future viewing...10...20...maybe 30 years on. By that time SD (and I guess current HD) will be passe. So having the better images might be a plus. Of course in the end, the photo/video is more important than the quality, but higher quality is a plus. Also your kids are only young once and you only have so much of a chance to catch them "in the act".
I'm talking myself in to the HD aren't I!
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stevelv
FullTimers at Last!
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I think you need to consider how you will store the video and how to transfer it from the camcorder. Tape based camcorders have a limited life as everything is going card or hard drive based. Also with hard drives now 1TB in size (1000 GB) then digital storage is a reality and the PC and Mac editing software is just amazing.
So search for a camcorder that uses cards or hard drive to store the video on for easy transfer to your computer and if you can afford HD then go for it - it's marginally better than SD in a consumer camcorder - nothing compared to broadcast quality kit of course, and some HD camcorders do exhibit movement artifacts so get a review of what you intend buying before handing over the green.
If you can afford to get into the Semi-pro market then the difference between a $800 HD and a $2000 HD is very significant. But then you need to use it to justify the extra costs.
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8.1 Van
Millstone NJ
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I use my Canon TX 1 to shoot HD video and it comes with component cables to connect to your HDTV and play in 1080i mode. I use 8GB Sandisk Extreme III 20meg/sec SDHC cards and it takes only a few seconds to plug it into my laptop or PC and upload and watch the videos. It also shoots 7MP stills so on vacation you only need to take one camera.
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soyboy
Frederick, Maryland
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Stevelv:
Thanks. I have been reading a number of reviews on the internet. That is what got me to zero in on the flash based Canons. They get very good reviews, most folks seem to think they are close to, perhaps even equal to the MiniDV Canons such as the HV20/30. Those are a couple of the top rated consumer camcorders.
I would definitely store files on a hard drive with a back up. At home I use an Airport Extreme with a couple of Seagate Free Agent external drives. I am thinking about storing some important things on DVDs or an external hard drive (they are really getting cheap) in my safe deposit box, perhaps updating them once or twice a year. Photos, videos and my large (20,000+ file) music library are at worst impossible or in the case of music very tedious and expensive to replace.
I hear you about the marginal difference between SD and HD that is what got me asking the question in the first place. Of course, pixels are pixels so when you watch it on an HD TV I assume that is where the HD videos should hold up better than the SD.
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