Not even sure what to call them; decided I might like one. I dragged out my old Sony 8 mm videocam and...it does not play back so that you can watch it. Funny colors, funny speeds, funny sounds. Phooey...it was a nice camera for the few years I used it. I guess all those tapes are worthless now. All tapes had the same problems so it is the camera.
Thinking of getting something that records to its own hard drive. But am not a "bell and whistle" person...I'm a "point and shoot." I have a Canon Powershot digital camera that I only use for point and shoot even though it will do other things. So looking for the same in a "movie camera."
Suggestions? Now seems the time to buy, or maybe at the "after" sales.
MA
Handheld video recorders
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MaryAnn
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SplatterTone
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Re: Handheld video recorders
I recommend a long, thorough session of reading web reviews and owner comments. The technology changes fast enough on these things that last year's star is this year's so-so.
With that said, I bought one last year and got the Panasonic SDR-S26. I wanted something that recorded to a memory card because: 1) I figure reliability is improved by not having the moving parts. 2) Memory cards are cheap now, have huge storage capacity, and make it easy to load the video onto a computer for editing. I also wanted a camera that recorded the video in a common file format so it would be compatible with a wide variety of computer applications; I did not want to get put into a proprietary format box.
Image stabilization to compensate for you not holding the camera absolutely steady is a pretty big deal. Some do it better than others, so read the reviews and owner comments. The SDR-S26 has excellent stabilization. Its big claim to fame is the 70X zoom. While that adds some wow factor, and I can read a car license plate two blocks away, my experience has been that I rarely use above about 12X zoom. You DO want genuine optical zoom and NOT digital zoom which is really not zoom at all.
Another thing to consider is low light capability and if you think you will need it. The SDR-S26 is mediocre there. Note that some cameras have a low light mode, but achieve it by reducing the frame rate, so you get choppy motion. The small size of these cameras means that few have a built-in movie light or an attachment for one. So if you plan on shooting a lot in the family room lit only by a couple of end table lamps, the low light capability will be a big deal. Rooms, such as offices or shops, lit by commercial flourescent type lighting are no problem.
Another consideration is if the camera is high definition or standard definition. The SDR-S26 is a standard def camera. It's OK, but now that I've had it for a while, hi-def would be nice. I'm not offering any recommendation for or against the SDR-S26, but using it as an example of what to condider. I got it because, at the time, it was closest to the combination of features I was looking for at the price range I wanted to stay in. If I can post a sample video for you do download, I will.
Another thing I'll add is that extra batteries can be gotten for the SDR-S26 from non-Panasonic sources at a very reasonable price. So you might take a look at battery availability and price for whatever you are considering.
With that said, I bought one last year and got the Panasonic SDR-S26. I wanted something that recorded to a memory card because: 1) I figure reliability is improved by not having the moving parts. 2) Memory cards are cheap now, have huge storage capacity, and make it easy to load the video onto a computer for editing. I also wanted a camera that recorded the video in a common file format so it would be compatible with a wide variety of computer applications; I did not want to get put into a proprietary format box.
Image stabilization to compensate for you not holding the camera absolutely steady is a pretty big deal. Some do it better than others, so read the reviews and owner comments. The SDR-S26 has excellent stabilization. Its big claim to fame is the 70X zoom. While that adds some wow factor, and I can read a car license plate two blocks away, my experience has been that I rarely use above about 12X zoom. You DO want genuine optical zoom and NOT digital zoom which is really not zoom at all.
Another thing to consider is low light capability and if you think you will need it. The SDR-S26 is mediocre there. Note that some cameras have a low light mode, but achieve it by reducing the frame rate, so you get choppy motion. The small size of these cameras means that few have a built-in movie light or an attachment for one. So if you plan on shooting a lot in the family room lit only by a couple of end table lamps, the low light capability will be a big deal. Rooms, such as offices or shops, lit by commercial flourescent type lighting are no problem.
Another consideration is if the camera is high definition or standard definition. The SDR-S26 is a standard def camera. It's OK, but now that I've had it for a while, hi-def would be nice. I'm not offering any recommendation for or against the SDR-S26, but using it as an example of what to condider. I got it because, at the time, it was closest to the combination of features I was looking for at the price range I wanted to stay in. If I can post a sample video for you do download, I will.
Another thing I'll add is that extra batteries can be gotten for the SDR-S26 from non-Panasonic sources at a very reasonable price. So you might take a look at battery availability and price for whatever you are considering.
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SplatterTone
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Re: Handheld video recorders
Here are some videos which should give you a good idea of the capabilities of the camera and what standard definition looks like. If I recall correctly, the .MOD files have been edited and saved by the software that came with the camera. The camera records the files with .mpg extension; the software saves it with a .MOD extension. The software is basic and kind of cranky and inflexible to use, but it's free, and you can make a DVD with it. These files are exactly what you get from the camera. There is no resizing or scrunching down to save space or Internet band width. So they are BIG files. If you don't have a high speed connection, then you will have a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g download time. Even with a cable modem connection, it might take 10 minutes to download the files.
They are essentially MPEG2 (I think, which is one reason I got this camera), so Windows Media Player should play them (mine does), however you will probably get an error at the end of the file. I assume that is because there is still some post-processing that needs to be done by a good video editor to make the files fully compliant with all standards. If anyone wants to supply further info, please do.
The outdoor shots show what image stablization can and can't do.
First up is outdoor action with some fiddling around with the zoom, transitions from close to distance, and motion. This is the biggest file at around 160 MB.
http://t-recs.net/pics/video/JUNIOR1.MOD
This is a continuation of the above, but with a transition from light to the shadow of the porch. There is some jerking around of the camera at the beginning where I was watching where I was walking (always a good idea) more than watching the camera. I'm not sure this adds anything to what the first file shows. This one is about 70 MB. By the way, the rotten deck has been torn out, and the steel encasement of the porch is nearing completion.
http://t-recs.net/pics/video/JUNIOR2.MOD
This is a mpg file straight from the memory card. I included this file as an example of a worst case situation where lighting is low. You saw the good above, now for the bad. This shows that if you do a lot of this kind of shooting, you might need to spend more money to get a camera with better low-light performance. This one is about 35 MB.
http://t-recs.net/pics/video/eric1.mpg
They are essentially MPEG2 (I think, which is one reason I got this camera), so Windows Media Player should play them (mine does), however you will probably get an error at the end of the file. I assume that is because there is still some post-processing that needs to be done by a good video editor to make the files fully compliant with all standards. If anyone wants to supply further info, please do.
The outdoor shots show what image stablization can and can't do.
First up is outdoor action with some fiddling around with the zoom, transitions from close to distance, and motion. This is the biggest file at around 160 MB.
http://t-recs.net/pics/video/JUNIOR1.MOD
This is a continuation of the above, but with a transition from light to the shadow of the porch. There is some jerking around of the camera at the beginning where I was watching where I was walking (always a good idea) more than watching the camera. I'm not sure this adds anything to what the first file shows. This one is about 70 MB. By the way, the rotten deck has been torn out, and the steel encasement of the porch is nearing completion.
http://t-recs.net/pics/video/JUNIOR2.MOD
This is a mpg file straight from the memory card. I included this file as an example of a worst case situation where lighting is low. You saw the good above, now for the bad. This shows that if you do a lot of this kind of shooting, you might need to spend more money to get a camera with better low-light performance. This one is about 35 MB.
http://t-recs.net/pics/video/eric1.mpg
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SplatterTone
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Re: Handheld video recorders
I should add one big factor in my choice of the Panasonic is my old Sony Hi-8 camera. It was among the top choices available when I got it. $900 about 20, 25 (???) years ago. I made exactly three tapes with it. Do the math. Adjust for inflation. And I have actually watched only one of them ... a long time ago.
It's easy to get star-struck and want to spend a big bundle on the best, but one has to make an honest assessment of just how much a video hound one is before setting the budget. I'm not a video hound. Thus the casual class of camera. And the technology ages quickly on these things.
It's easy to get star-struck and want to spend a big bundle on the best, but one has to make an honest assessment of just how much a video hound one is before setting the budget. I'm not a video hound. Thus the casual class of camera. And the technology ages quickly on these things.
Good signature lines: http://tinyurl.com/a47spm
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Carroll
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Re: Handheld video recorders
I am with you on the "point and shoot" aspect! I have the skills to dig into features and tweak to get results... but I do not want to. I bought a cheap (less than $100) video camera to record my high school band on Friday nights then burn a quick and dirty DVD to show the kids on Monday. It does that. The image stabilization works well, as does the auto focus and auto exposure and white balance. My 10 year old likes to make dance "instructional" videos and enlists my 7 year old to do the shooting. It has a pistol style grip and simple controls. SD cards are cheap and easy to find. The USB charging cable also tranfers files. Wal*Mart carries the brand, but possibly not the model. It is a Sanyo XACTI cg6.