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Sniper
7th July 2007, 11:24
Plainly put, I want one.

I dont want anything that breaks the bank or means we dig into our Aussie/House/Gun/Stuff Sniper wants, but doesnt need fund too deeply.

Went to Noel leeming and a couple of others and was bombarded with digital zoom this, 62 trillion pixels that, can make coffee, only four billion dollars and you will need a warrenty.

Im only going to use it on our over seas trip, video my mates motoX, take out hunting and general video usage that doesnt mean any new internet videos.

ANY IDEAS?

S

The Lone Rider
7th July 2007, 11:31
Ok, you need to ask yourself three things.

How much do you want to spend?
How good a quality of encoding do you want?
What are you doing with it after you film?


I've used Digital 8 cameras for a long time, and they are cheap these days. They have a good resolution, and you can plug via firewire cable into a computer and capture it to disk and edit it.

My ex gf has a mini sony handycam, and it films at a very low 320.240 rez and can only capture using USB and through software that came with it. I worked out a trick so you can put the video into other programs, but it wasn't ideal if you were wanting anything to make anything other then b grade porn haha.

Sniper
7th July 2007, 11:40
Ok, you need to ask yourself three things.

How much do you want to spend?
How good a quality of encoding do you want?
What are you doing with it after you film?


I've used Digital 8 cameras for a long time, and they are cheap these days. They have a good resolution, and you can plug via firewire cable into a computer and capture it to disk and edit it.

My ex gf has a mini sony handycam, and it films at a very low 320.240 rez and can only capture using USB and through software that came with it. I worked out a trick so you can put the video into other programs, but it wasn't ideal if you were wanting anything to make anything other then b grade porn haha.


Cheers man.

First and last question is easy.

1. Not too much
3. Keep it, show it to friends, store it on PC and upload to site ect.

Encoding and compression are new to me. I am used to popping a Hi8 tape in, hittting record and then going from there.

Im really not after something that can do a bit of everything. Kinda of like a cellphonje, you just need one to ring, text and message. I just want a camera I can point at somethin, hit record and watch it later

The Lone Rider
7th July 2007, 11:53
If you are used to Hi8, get a Digital 8 camera. The are a lot a like, except of course digital 8 is digital. The tapes look the same. Digital 8 cams can take Hi 8 tapes (or at least ones I had could). It can encode hi 8 tapes out its firewire output so that you can capture onto your hard drive even.

Digital 8 has more clarity, less grainy picture.
Hi 8 can film more clearly in lower light conditions.

Camera I had was a DCJE or something like that. Recorded at 750 x 556 or something like. Big resolution, alright quality. I'm not sure how capturing video works these days, but for me I bought a Pinnacle Studios video capture card. You might be able to use just any standard firewire port now though. Not sure about that.

Sniper
7th July 2007, 11:53
Awesome man, thanks for the advice

Toaster
7th July 2007, 11:57
ooooh cameras that make coffee... now ya talkin' maybe I should turn my house into a fortress with a cafe service for bikers?

Sniper
7th July 2007, 11:58
Reason I ask is because I dont want to pay $2500 for something that all I want it to do is take a movie of something....

The Lone Rider
7th July 2007, 12:01
I think you might be about to pick up a Digital 8 for $600 or less. I think Cash Converters in town has one even. If you go in there to look, let me know. I might pop in and oggle at cameras. And then waunder over to the rock shop accross the street, then over to my ex gfs whos down the road from there lol.

Street Gerbil
7th July 2007, 12:06
Sniper, if this can wait till next week, PM me a reminder on Monday. I have a co-worker that found *THE MOST* cost effective videocamera. All bells and whistles for $500.
Remind me and I will ask him.

Sniper
7th July 2007, 12:06
I think you might be about to pick up a Digital 8 for $600 or less. I think Cash Converters in town has one even. If you go in there to look, let me know. I might pop in and oggle at cameras. And then waunder over to the rock shop accross the street, then over to my ex gfs whos down the road from there lol.

Cheers. I would joing you, but Im not allowed in the rock shop. I always buy something...


Sniper, if this can wait till next week, PM me a reminder on Monday. I have a co-worker that found *THE MOST* cost effective videocamera. All bells and whistles for $500.
Remind me and I will ask him.

Cheers man, I will do

Big Dave
7th July 2007, 14:32
I just bought a sony handycam DCR-HC28. $300 duty free last time I went to aus.

Uses tape - but It fits in Arlen ness's pocket, duct tapes to my helmet, mounts on handlebars and takes a reasonable shot.

Sniper
7th July 2007, 14:56
I just bought a sony handycam DCR-HC28. $300 duty free last time I went to aus.

Uses tape - but It fits in Arlen ness's pocket, duct tapes to my helmet, mounts on handlebars and takes a reasonable shot.

They noticably cheaper through duty free?

Big Dave
7th July 2007, 15:21
They noticably cheaper through duty free?

dunno - entirely an impulse buyer. mongo see mongo want mongo have.
fark shoppin'.

posted the model no for your googling pleasure. ;-P

jimbo600
7th July 2007, 16:49
Well mate I'd be going for one of these beauties

SC-X300L from Samsung

geoffm
7th July 2007, 19:43
Have just got a JVC videocam, whcih uses mini DVDs. $A499 in Brisbane duty free, and about $800 here.
I thnk DVD or built-in hard drive (for the more well heeled) is the go over tapes - they take less space, and transfering to computer is easy - just put into DVD drive.
Geoff

doc
7th July 2007, 20:01
Plainly put, I want one.

I dont want anything that breaks the bank or means we dig into our Aussie/House/Gun/Stuff Sniper wants, but doesnt need fund too deeply.

Went to Noel leeming and a couple of others and was bombarded with digital zoom this, 62 trillion pixels that, can make coffee, only four billion dollars and you will need a warrenty.

Im only going to use it on our over seas trip, video my mates motoX, take out hunting and general video usage that doesnt mean any new internet videos.

ANY IDEAS?

SI've got one, family stopped using it , generally think they are a bit of waste of time unless your really into it. I've end up mounting it as a tank cam, I've now got heaps of boring video of motorcycles going around corners all over NZ. On the odd event you get someone nearly having an off or Hwy Ptl flashing your mates over. The good stuff you see takes a lot of effort and editing skills. Start out cheap you may like it so you can spend more later.

Lias
7th July 2007, 20:56
Have just got a JVC videocam, whcih uses mini DVDs. $A499 in Brisbane duty free, and about $800 here.
I thnk DVD or built-in hard drive (for the more well heeled) is the go over tapes - they take less space, and transfering to computer is easy - just put into DVD drive.
Geoff

Hired a Mini DV camera last year to film something and OMFG never again.. having a max recording time of 30 minutes per disc is a giant PITA. HDD or Digital8 imo.

MikeL
7th July 2007, 22:34
You people need a reality check. A camera that fits in the palm of your hand, with fool-proof auto white balance and image stabilisation, that will record 60 minutes or more of high-quality digital video and stereo sound that you can upload to your computer at the click of a mouse - and you quibble about paying a grand or so for this technological miracle...
Let me tell you about the first portable video outfit I bought: 2.5 kg for the on-the-shoulder camera, plus about 5 kg for the portable recorder slung over the other shoulder, with batteries that lasted 30 minutes if you were lucky... And with 150 lux minimum you needed a couple of 1000W lamps to get a decent picture indoors... All for just under $6,000.

Seriously, modern video cameras represent amazing value. Tape, disk or hard drive, that's the difficult choice. Personally I still think there's life left in tape - at least mini DV (I'm not sure how long Digital 8 will be supported). Tape may be considered old technology but it's reliable and easy to troubleshoot if anything does go wrong.
Of course the other question is whether to stick to standard definition or go for HD...

Sniper
8th July 2007, 08:55
Cheers doc and cheers MikeL.

I think doc nailed it on the head. I just want something that does what a video camera is meant to do. Not have 2 million other functions that I would never need nor use.

The Lone Rider
8th July 2007, 09:01
You are more then welcome to come over sometime and I can show you various footage filmed in different formats on different cameras and you can make up your own mind. Just give me notice so I can find it.

Also you can phone ACE video and see what cameras they have for rental and then look them up online.

Also again, I have a friend from PLAY Media who could answer all your questions and then some if you want me to pass them on.

Big Dave
8th July 2007, 09:57
You people need a reality check.

I think you do mate - a grand is about 3 times more than you need to pay. ;-P

007XX
8th July 2007, 10:10
Cheers doc and cheers MikeL.

I think doc nailed it on the head. I just want something that does what a video camera is meant to do. Not have 2 million other functions that I would never need nor use.

For what it's worth...I saw yesterday that the TV show "Target" is doing a feature on them this coming week, so thought about you...

Sorry, but I don't know much about the digitals...I'm still an ol' fashioned Stills fan...

Anyway...good luck...

The Pastor
8th July 2007, 11:12
When I went on my last holiday I just used my dads camera (reall good one) it took movies as well as pics and that was more than we need, we never look at the photos or vids anyway.

Just need to get like a couple of gb flash cards for it!

Street Gerbil
9th July 2007, 15:26
Sniper,
the cam I was referring to is Canon MV960. My co-worker bought it from Parallel Imports for $500 but they no longer seem to carry it and others sell it for $150 more.
SG

Sniper
9th July 2007, 15:35
Awesome mate, cheers. I will look into it