[DM-MUG] Digital Video Camera Recommendations

[Jon Engelhardt]

Thanks Matt for your thoughts re: digital cam corders.  I stopped at 
Best Buy two days ago and actually had a young lady that was an expert 
on the subject, she's a graphic arts major and loves Mac's---how 
fortunate was I?  I'm not quite sure as to whether I should only look 
at the mini DVD's or the tape's, any ideas?  She also mentioned that 
Sony's at times don't work as well with the OS 10 platform as other 
brands, that surprised me a little as they do sell both products.  I'm 
going to keep looking and hopefully within a few weeks I'll make an 
informed decision.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas.

Jon Engelhardt
On Oct 7, 2004, at 11:46 PM, Matt W wrote:

> You should be able to do video EASILY under $1000 as long as you 
> already have a FireWire equipped Mac. I still use my 3-year-old Canon 
> ZR-10 and it makes great video for SDTV (Std def. a.k.a. today's TV). 
> For sending out DVD's of analog capture, just about any of the current 
> Mini-DV cams will be theoretically fine. One HUGE tip: avoid older 
> tapes. If you get a stash of used Mini-DV from a relative, turn it 
> down. If they're all the same brand they might be okay, but different 
> brands (at least 3 years ago) used on the same deck will produce 
> particles that mix like glue on the head. This was confirmed to me at 
> a Digital TV conference I attended after my Canon had to be sent back 
> for repair for a damaged head. Pick up a head cleaning tape too and 
> use it, it's cheap insurance.
>
> Early Canon's were nice because they had an analog video input right 
> in the camera for 1/3 less than anyone else's. I could hook up an old 
> camera and record directly to digital without a converter. I'm sure 
> most of the cameras will do that now. You get little or no control of 
> the conversion, but you also have an instant digital copy, handy for 
> on the fly video trading while at Dad's house for vacation.
>
> Just make sure you have about 1 GB/minute of raw footage that you want 
> to edit.
>
> On Oct 4, 2004, at 9:52 AM, Jon Engelhardt wrote:
>
>> Good Morning,
>>
>> After attending a DMMUG meeting this summer on how to utilize iMovie 
>> I think I'm ready to purchase a new digital video cam.  I have miles 
>> and miles of analog tape of our kids growing up (they are gone now so 
>> I can afford a better camera) but now I'm ready to start weaving 
>> digital stills and movies with music together of our activities and 
>> get together's and then place them on DVD's.  We just returned from a 
>> wonderful vacation in CO and I have some great still's but I do wish 
>> I would have had a video cam.  Jon Thompson sent me some great ideas 
>> when I questioned him but now I'd like to hear of your ideas and 
>> experiences.  I am mostly retired so I have time to produce cinematic 
>> epics, especially now that winter approaches.
>>
>> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I'd like to stay under 
>> $1,000.00 if possible.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dmmug mailing list
> Dmmug@dmmug.org
> http://cialug.org/mailman/listinfo/dmmug
>