Buying an entry level camcorder

secret society wrote on 12/4/2007, 5:31 PM

Hi everybody, I need some advice on buying the right type of video -cam. I plan on creating some music videos, short movie sound tracks and also live video/audio footage of me playng some of my songs for utube. I"ll be using Vegas Movie Studio Platnum.
So , bang for my buck including functionallity and compatability with Vegas, I need some suggestions.
Any help would be great, thanks much, Jim

Comments

Eugenia wrote on 12/4/2007, 5:36 PM

If you want HD, go with the best consumer camera out there today for it, the HV20. It currently sells for $700+. Sample footage here: http://vimeo.com/eugenia/videos and here http://www.vimeo.com/HV20 . There is a large and active community around the HV20 at HV20.com and elsewhere.

If you want plain DV, go for the Canon ZR800 which costs $200. Here's my samle footage of the ZR800. http://vimeo.com/411905
I bought this cheap camera exactly because I wanted to showcase that you can get good footage out of it too.

I would recommend against AVCHD for the time being and against HD "digirecorders" like the Sanyo Xacti or Aiptek because these are slow to edit with Vegas.

Ivan Lietaert wrote on 12/4/2007, 8:53 PM

Hi,
I own the Canon ZR800 (or MD101 in Europe). You can watch some footage here: http://www.vimeo.com/ivanlietaert, all edited with VMS6 or VMS8.
I like the camera a lot. The low light quality is unsatisfactory, so if you plan to film a lot indoors, you may want to look elsewhere, or go for the HV20, if that is in reach of your budget.

secret society wrote on 12/5/2007, 3:59 AM

Thank you so much everyone, this is exactly what I needed to know.
Take care, Jim.

secret society wrote on 12/5/2007, 5:05 AM

Hi again everyone, I just wanted to make sure of a couple things after looking at the specs on all three models of the ZR-800 series.
First of all, getting video out of the camera and into my computer would be as simple as just importing the footage via. hard wire into my system right?
Second, I noticed the only model that has a microphone is the ZR-800, does that mean the other two more expensive models dont even come with a mic. jack? If they did I could use a high quality large condencer mic to capture a live guitar/vocal performance, or is that built in mic on theZR800 good enough for that? what do you think? Thanks again, Jim.

Eugenia wrote on 12/5/2007, 9:45 AM

You need a firewire connection for your PC. All these miniDV/HDV cameras require firewire (not USB).

The ZR800 is the only cheap camcorder that comes with a mic jack. This is why I suggest it to all my friends. You are better off with the ZR800 if you want to do music video recording.

ADB wrote on 12/5/2007, 12:25 PM

SS,
You will probably need to buy a firewire card for your PC. It should cost about $20. It's usually very easy to instal. Newer PCs may already have a firewire (IEEE 1394) outlet.
Mini DVD camcorders may seem a simpler option but for newcomers, having to finalise DVD's etc is messy. I've seen this process confound quite intelligent users.

secret society wrote on 12/5/2007, 5:22 PM

Thank you for all the replys, Jim.

owlsroost wrote on 12/6/2007, 1:45 AM

> If they did I could use a high quality large condencer mic to capture a live guitar/vocal performance.

Keep in mind that most 'high quality large condenser mics' are not compatible with consumer camcorder mic inputs because they need 'phantom power' - supplied down the cable from the mixer or recorder they are plugged into. Some studio mics can be powered from internal batteries, but you'll still need an XLR to mini-jack adaptor and possibly an attenuator pad (to stop the camcorder input from being overloaded by loud music).

Tony

secret society wrote on 12/6/2007, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the reply, you bring up a very good point with the phantom power.Trying to prep myself for putting up some good quality accoustic guitar/ vocal videos for utube.I'll have to experiment with a dynamic mic with the right adaptor