What Video Camera to Buy?

Grimspoon

Grimspoon

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Hi dudes,

I want to buy a video camera for my honeymoon and i cant decide between Tape and DvD.

Tape video cameras are alot cheper and apparently the quality is better, however to edit the tape you apparently have to copy the whole tape over onto a HD then edit...sounds like a mission.

I was looking at a Samsung DvD recorder, what appealed to me was it was cheaper than most and comes with a free bag,2 batteries and 2 discs.

Any thoughts.

Thanks in advance.
 
Samsung=crap video camera. (IMHO)

Rather buy Canon, Panasonic or Sony. DVD Cameras are no good if you want to edit, rather go with tape. If you don't want to edit, DVD is pretty cool, as you can just pop the DVD into your player and watch the footage.

Editing from DV is pretty easy, you only transfer the parts that you want to edit to your HDD, and there are plenty of software solutions available.

If money is not such an object, you could get a HDD model, which is probably the most flexible. Makro usually does some good pricing on the Sony SR42

<edit>What are you going to film on your honeymoon?;)
 
arf9999 said:
<edit>What are you going to film on your honeymoon?;)
Click to expand...

lol, no not that

Going to botswana so there will be lots of game drives etc to use it on..Is samsung that bad? The model i was looking at is the VP-DC175Wi



Thanks for your reply.
 
arf9999 said:
Samsung=crap video camera. (IMHO)

Rather buy Canon, Panasonic or Sony. DVD Cameras are no good if you want to edit, rather go with tape. If you don't want to edit, DVD is pretty cool, as you can just pop the DVD into your player and watch the footage.

Editing from DV is pretty easy, you only transfer the parts that you want to edit to your HDD, and there are plenty of software solutions available.

If money is not such an object, you could get a HDD model, which is probably the most flexible. Makro usually does some good pricing on the Sony SR42

<edit>What are you going to film on your honeymoon?;)
Click to expand...

+1

My personal preference on brand would be Canon and Sony.
 
Grimspoon said:
Going to botswana so there will be lots of game drives etc to use it on..Is samsung that bad? The model i was looking at is the VP-DC175Wi
Click to expand...
I really don't like Samsung camcorders, they're really cheap and nasty and video quality is really average. If you're buying a tape based unit I'd look at Sony, Canon and Panasonic. If you're buying DVD: Panasonic or Sony. And if you're buying HDD, Sony or JVC; and for solid state - Pana or Sony.
 
My problem is i am a sucker for a good deal :D

Samsung VP-DC175WI + 2 batteries + bag + 2 DVD disks for R2399 :eek:

OR

Sony DVD - DCR-DVD608E with NO extras for R2799

Sigh i hate this, why cant things like this just be easy! :confused:


However i was thinking, the sony HDD is also on special for only R900 more than the DVD version.... SR42E 30GB HDD Video Camera - R3699


Whats the quality like on the HDD and whats the negatives to a HDD cam?

Thanks Guys :D
 
Grimspoon said:
My problem is i am a sucker for a good deal :D

Samsung VP-DC175WI + 2 batteries + bag + 2 DVD disks for R2399 :eek:

OR

Sony DVD - DCR-DVD608E with NO extras for R2799

Sigh i hate this, why cant things like this just be easy! :confused:
Click to expand...
Buy the Sony. Goedkoop is duurkoop


However i was thinking, the sony HDD is also on special for only R900 more than the DVD version.... SR42E 30GB HDD Video Camera - R3699


Whats the quality like on the HDD and whats the negatives to a HDD cam?

Thanks Guys :D
Click to expand...
Negatives to HDD: you can't change the media. You are stuck with 30GB on the camera (thats the same as about 17 of those mini-DVDs). Although there is HDD protection, there is a chance that you'll lose data if you drop the camera. Quality of HDD is the same as DVD (same MPEG-2 codec).
Positives: No media to buy. Smaller, lighter camera. No disk finalizing, better battery performance.
 
Would you still be able to edit footage recorded onto an HDD-based camera as you would with a DV?
 
As a videographer by profession I say the following,

1. Stay well away from DVD cameras, quality not that hot and very unrelyable (trust me I have had many a client whose disk has crashed on them.)

2. I am a Sony man and that has always been my choice

3. HDD is ok....but what happens when you go on a long holiday and then you dont have any more space left....buy another hard drive? sure, they cost a packet. You can easily lose your data.

4. Good ol faithfull is MiniDV, Very low compression ratio, a format used by pros, casettes are cheap, its digital and very relyable.

Happy hunting:)
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the advice!

Well i think i have come to the conclusion to as you say stay away from DVD cams, there are not many websites that have much good to say about them.

I was seriously considering the sony HDD cam, but then again, you loose quality when editing etc etc. Also a Cnet review done on the Sony SR42E 30GB HDD Video Camera had pretty much nothing good to say about it - IE: Vey average vid quality, no viewfinder, no wind filter, feels plastic and cheap....Not what you would expect from a camera that normally costs around R5 grand.

I think the only real option here and what most people seem to have alot of faith in is miniDv.

Thanks

Grim
 
Leftfoot said:
4. Good ol faithfull is MiniDV, Very low compression ratio, a format used by pros, casettes are cheap, its digital and very relyable.
Click to expand...

Grimspoon said:
I think the only real option here and what most people seem to have alot of faith in is miniDv.
Click to expand...

I found this real handy when traveling and for home events - I keep the original footage on it's own minDV regardless of how much of the tape is used for each location or country in my travels, or home event like birthday etc.
Never had a miniDV go bad.

You can edit in and send it back to the camera for storage without loss.

I am very happy with my Sony but would consider the Canon with optical stabilser when I buy the next one.
 
Like Leftfoot said - my brand of choice is Sony.

Dont go near DVD video cams - they are absolutely crap.

If you are on a budget - get a mini dv camera. The beauty of some of the models is that they can fit into your wifes handbag - and trust me when you travel a lot like I do it really helps. Whats the use of having a great camera that is bulky and you do not what to reach for it all teh time.

I really like the Sony HDD camera - if you are not looking for professional quality video but very decent quality you cannot beat it. Plus the interface with your PC is awesome and quick. I regret missing out on a real bargain a SOny SR60 HDD from Makro for R3100 (yes R3100) on promo when Silverlakes opened.

Samsung is crap - you WILL regret buying it not matter how good the bargain is.
 
A tip from me for ad hoc videos: Make use of the video function of your still camera. My Sony takes bloody good footage (outdoors) and they look excelllent on my Wega TV. My philospohy is that it is better to capture a lower quality video than none at all.
 
OK so i purchased the Sony DCR-SR42E yesterday, was on special at game & makro for R3699.

I havent had to much time to play with it as today is my big day, but the video i did take last night was impressive. Im not crazy about the form factor, i find it not that comfortable to hold, but not a train smash. I will get used to it im sure.

I was impressed that it comes bundled with alot of stuff, all the cables, a docking station etc.


Anyways thanks for all the input guys.


Grim
 
i also found the sr42 uncomfortable to hold the sr45 is beautifull in my hands.

I am waiting for the sr65 .. thats the one I want to get.
 
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