Video Camera Help

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snubbyfan

snubbyfan

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I need a video camera.
I was originally thinkin' of a GoPro but it doesn't have a zoom or a monitor. So that's out.
Another one I've been lookin' at's the JVC Everio GZ-R10. It's waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof. But the sound quality and picture quality's not all that good. Plus it's kinda out of my price range.

Does it really need to be weatherproof?
It's gonna be a bit of this and a bit of that. Some drivin', going "ooh aah" at scenic overlooks. some hiking and biking, leatherworkin' and a trip or two to the gun range.
Grillin', drinkin' beer and cigar smoking in our back yard. Stuff like that.

I'm lookin' for something in the under $300 range that's easy to use for the beginner.
 
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If you are looking to do short videos, most of the small digital cameras have movie capabilities. I shot some videos recently of shooting a .45 acp into a milk jug of ice using three cameras, a Canon DSLR, a Canon small powershot, and a Go Pro. Actually the little powershot had the best video. I can control the Go Pro with my Iphone and see what it is recording. Pain in the butt to edit the video before uploading to Youtube.
 
I've got an ancient digital camera that has very little memory but works fine for me. Just gotta keep the card clean.

I've pretty much decided on the Samsung HMX-F90 720p video camera 52x Optical Zoom.
Does anyone have experience with this?
 
snubbyfan said:
I've got an ancient digital camera that has very little memory but works fine for me. Just gotta keep the card clean.

I've pretty much decided on the Samsung HMX-F90 720p video camera 52x Optical Zoom.
Does anyone have experience with this?
Click to expand...

Looks like the Samsung is a nice camera for your purpose.I would definitely ask the salesperson if they know how long a video can be recorded and how much storage space is built into the camera.

Don't know if you already have one but a tripod would serve you well in your recordings.The one I bought at BestBuy was around $30 and can extend to almost 6'.

Can't wait to see the new and improved videos on YouTube. :)
 
coltle6920 said:
Looks like the Samsung is a nice camera for your purpose.I would definitely ask the salesperson if they know how long a video can be recorded and how much storage space is built into the camera.

Don't know if you already have one but a tripod would serve you well in your recordings.The one I bought at BestBuy was around $30 and can extend to almost 6'.

Can't wait to see the new and improved videos on YouTube. :)
Click to expand...
Out here the salesperson's the internet. You gotta do all your own research then find someplace to order it from.
I found it at Walmart online and the Samsung doesn't have any built in memory. You gotta get a memory card. However there's a package available with the video camera, a 32Gig memory card, carry bag, extra battery, camera light, travel tripod and lens cleaning kit for about $250.
I'm hoping I'll be able to afford it by next month.
I have a proper tripod, somewhere.
 
My understanding is that the Canon Vixia HF R500 ($189) is the discontinued version of the R50 ($229) and has no WiFi. Other than that they are identical. I'm actually considering picking up the R50

http://www.costco.com/Canon-Vixia-HF-R500-HD-Camcorder-Bundle.product.100117084.html

http://www.costco.com/Canon-Vixia-HF-R50-HD-Camcorder-Bundle.product.100130236.html

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consu...&selectedModels=34454,34455&entry=prodSuggest

I'd look here for accessories

Search result for tripod - Monoprice.com
 
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I edited my post and add the comparison from thee Canon site. Looks like internal memory is different between the two as well. As I noted, I'm considering the R50 myself.

Now you got ME going!!! Found the R50 at BHPhoto and it includes the Canon CT-V1 Wireless Pan Cradle for $250!
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1023204-REG/canon_8gb_vixia_hf_r50.html

Given free shipping and no tax, the price difference is wash with Costco. The only thing I like about Costco is I can return it if I don't like it!!!

snubbyfan said:
Looks like a great deal. Worth lookin' into.
Click to expand...
 
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smokindog said:
I edited my post and add the comparison from thee Canon site. Looks like internal memory is different between the two as well. As I noted, I'm considering the R50 myself.

Now you got ME going!!! Found the R50 at BHPhoto and it includes the Canon CT-V1 Wireless Pan Cradle for $250!
Canon 8GB VIXIA HF R50 Full HD Camcorder 9175B001 B&H Photo

Given free shipping and no tax, the price difference is wash with Costco. The only thing I like about Costco is I can return it if I don't like it!!!
Click to expand...
And my research continues....
 
If you want a little more info on that Samsung go to BestBuy's webpage and search for the camera.There's a lot of Q&A on it.
 
Picked up the R50 today. Just "invested" an hour playing around. This write up took me longer than the "play time"!!!!

I'm NOT a video camera expert but I am tech savy and do have a wealth of photography background! I've also been a fan of Canon photographic equipment since the early 70's (original F1 still in use :)) My last video camera was a late 80's 8mm tape Sony.

Without using the instructions or included instructional video, I was able to configure the R50 and connect it to my WiFi network. I took a few short AVCHD and MP4 movies and JPG photos. The touch screen is small but adequate and I've seen far more complex menu systems.

Using the built in media player on my Vizio M-Series TV, I was able to connect to the camera's media server and view the pictures, see the listings for the MP4 recordings but not play them, and not even see the AVCHD recording.

On my PS3 using the built in clients, I could do all the above but I could also play the MP4 recordings. However they were very choppy in playback. Don't understand this one because the PS3 processor should have plenty of gas. Will need to play more here (see PC next).

On a PC running Windows Media Player, I could do all above AND play the AVCHD movies. PLUS, the playback was smooth.

ALL devices are connected wirelessly.

This is probably common among all these "camcorders" but I had to manually start the media server before connecting the playback devices. Not much of a nuisance. I guess at this price point I don't expect the on-board camera processor to be capable of multi-tasking!

Other modes I need to test out are transfer of media files to my media server (wireless), use of iPhone as remote control and playback device (ad-hoc networking), use as a streaming camera (IP cam), and then good old video quality.

The images/movies I did this evening were low light. Think 25W bulb in 20x20 room with TV on. They were grainy and had the yellowish "candle lit" appearance.

The camera has mini HDMI out and a rare feature at this price point, an external MIC input.

This is a very tiny device and the 8Gb built in coupled with the ability to use 32Gb SD cards provides a wealth of storage. You can also designate the default storage location per media type. For instance pictures to the internal and movies to the card. So far it's won a home if for nothing else than a pocket sized all in one point and shoot when pictures just aren't enough!
 
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Weatherproof isn't essential...

But very good picture and sound quality would be good because by the time you get something on youtube, it might not look and sound so good, or maybe even awful. Format output is also important as to how much data can be held at higher resolution and how does it transfer to common internet use formats. My son and I made videos (he did skateboarding) and the better our equipment and software got, the better the videos got.

A good editing software is recommended. They make some good basic ones for around $100 or so dollars but if I were serious I'd spend more money to get capability.

I think an external microphone would be good in some situations. Like when you have the camera set up at a distance, especially outdoors, while you are talking. Or you can use the software to dub in dialogue.

I'll try to bring this stuff back to mind. No reason to do a bad job with the technology available these days.

I just looked into Sony camcorders and it's pretty amazing what you can get for a few hundred $$
 
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