DV flash camcorder recommendation

weaver wrote on 5/29/2010, 4:33 AM
I just bought a sony handycam-sx63 with the intent of creating video for my website. It is a flash memory camcorder (DV ... no HD). I have to create alot of web content and I was hoping a flash memory camcorder could speed up the workflow. However the .mpg resulting video quality is strangely poor (way too dark). If anyone is interested, I prepared a short comparison video of my older tape based Hi8 DV Sony camcorder (DCR TRV140) and the output from the new sx63. I used Sony Vegas Plat Pro 9.0b to render. The test video is located at the link as follows:
http://idwkeyboard.com/sony/

Has anyone worked with these Sonyhandycams with any success? Basically, playing back a recorded video on the SX63 LCD (and staying within the camcorder) - it actually looks great. However, when I transfer the .mpg file to my computer and playback the file using windows media player or Sony Vegas - it looks pretty tired and grim looking.

I contacted Sony help - and they asked my to review the video from within the Sony Picture Motion Browser (PMB) program which is the program used to transfer videos from the camcorder to the computer. Interestingly, the video is much brighter - and almost passable. Their only recommendation is to use their browser program.

The problem with my current camcorder is if I record a 1 hour video ... I have to playback the tape for 1 hour to capture the video. I was hoping to speed up the process! If anyone can recommend a camcorder that actually works by creating digital media that I can quickly drag from the camcorder to my computer ... and start working on it immediately within VMS (without any pre-processing or minimal processing)... would be appreciated.

Sorry for the long post.
Thanks
IW

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 5/29/2010, 8:46 AM
You are rather confused on your terminology. Your camcorder shoots Standard Definition MPEG-2 at DVD quality. It does not shoot DV, which is an AVI format.

The TRV140 is Digital 8, which shoots DV-AVI format. However, there is no such thing as "Hi8 DV." Hi8 is an analog format and the TRV140 will not play back tapes shot in that format.

Tired and grim looking? Why don't you post a short clip of your raw video (not from PMB) and let us take a look at it?

Converting your video through PMB will not make it "better," just different. That being said, both camcorders you listed are/were entry level devices, with abysmally low sensor resolution, mediocre glass, and do not measure up to even good SD, much less HD comparisons.

There are lots of relatively inexpensive HD solutions that you can drop the card in your computer and go to work. What is your intended use and budget?
weaver wrote on 5/29/2010, 11:41 AM
You are right - I am confused on the terminology. Thanks for straightening it out.

I posted the raw video (mpg) file (link is in initial post) from the sony handycam and also the raw avi file from the old sony trv140. I took both test clips from just minutes ago.

You are right about the general consumer level quality - which tends to be low. Thanks for asking me to post the raw mpg file. I didn't realize I could access that file since the manual for the sx63 makes a big deal about using their 'browser". It read like that was the only method to access the video file.

I was "surprised" to see improved lighting with the mpg file that I just posted. However, I think this is attributed to the fact that it is daytime - and the keyboard is in front of a window. The original clip was taken at 4:00 this morning (it was dark!). The clip does highlight the poor video quality (optics) of the sx63 at the far left and right ends of the keyboard where it is darker and blurrier. Basically - the video quality isn't good enough for my purposes.

I think the video from the Sony TRV140 looks pretty good. But - if it can be improved on - then great.

I was hoping to stay under $500 for a flash device - and be compatible with VMS. The intent was to capture quality imaging for web based video streaming.

Thanks in advance for further suggestions.
IW

musicvid10 wrote on 5/29/2010, 1:53 PM
Yeah. The combination of low light and mediocre glass really shows up on that clip. I don't think you could have picked a much "better" worst-case scenario for testing . . .

Under $500, your new camcorder options aren't that great. A used HV30 that has been well cared for is worth looking at. They record HDV to tape so you are still looking at realtime capture over firewire.

You can find several decent models in the $700-900 range, most of them record AVCHD to flash media or hard drive, which is harder to edit in Vegas, so there is always a tradeoff. I'll leave it to others to share their specific favorites with you.

Maybe something like the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS at $599 street price is going to be right for you. It's a crossover model. The guys over on the pro forum think it's an incredible piece of equipment for the price.
weaver wrote on 5/30/2010, 2:39 AM
I really appreciate your input.
Yes - as far as the HV30 - I would be back to tape again.
I'll take a look at the SX1.
thx
IW