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what camcorders do you guys own?
- Thread starter abel
- Start date
tom c19739
Leading Member
I've had a Sony TRV99 for more than a year. It's my third Sony over a 15-year period, and it's great. It's not a digital, but I bet most people would have difficulty picking out the digital pic if shown side-by-side with the 99. Don't know if they are even available anymore, but you couldn't go wrong with the later Sony models in the $1000 price range.
TLC
Tom May
Senior Member
I too have been looking, and have a couple of favorites (Canon GL-1, Canon
XL-1 and Sony VX-2000). One suggestion I would make; If you are going to be
editing any of your video on your computer, you will probably want to purchase a
Digital Video (DV) or MiniDV camera with an IEEE 1394 (iLink on Sony, or
firewire) interface. Your computer will need a IEEE 1394 interface as well and
there are many PCI cards available for under $100.00 to add this capability.
Good hunting!
Tom
P
Paul Griffiths
Guest
I've got the Sony digital -510 ("equivalent" model today is the -720 (color view finder and size of LCD.)) Certainly not the smallest nor lightest but I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Takes 8mm tapes which are readily available everywhere for a reasonable price (a 2 hr 8mm tape yields 1 hr digital recording on the Sony.) I've also purchased the 8 hr Sony battery and have plenty of juice for videos at a lacrosse game and band concert later that same night. Also purchased the IR receiver that I can leave plugged into the TV and don't have to worry about connecting wires to the -510 to watch videos on the TV.
Now if I can just get out of analysis paralysis on a digital still camera, I'd be all set.
Happy shooting.
Paul in NoVA
Now if I can just get out of analysis paralysis on a digital still camera, I'd be all set.
Happy shooting.
Paul in NoVA
Hi abel,
A little over a year ago I bought a JVC Mini DV digital camcorder. I bought this because my oldest son plays football in high school and my youngest is figure skater and family and friends appreciated moving pictures rather than stills. This camara is outstanding in video and sound quality and has served me well. As a long time film photographer, I was dissapointed in the quality of the stills upon enlargement. As the camera really wasn't designed to produce high quality stills, I ended up buying a Sony still camera. I am very happy with the JVC and would not give it up, but If I had known about the lack of still quality, I might have done more research. Video digicams have come a long way over the last year and perhaps there is one out there that will do both with acceptable results, but I would insist on seeing it myself and not taking any salesperson's word for it. Hope this experience helps you in your decision.
Yours,
Larry
A little over a year ago I bought a JVC Mini DV digital camcorder. I bought this because my oldest son plays football in high school and my youngest is figure skater and family and friends appreciated moving pictures rather than stills. This camara is outstanding in video and sound quality and has served me well. As a long time film photographer, I was dissapointed in the quality of the stills upon enlargement. As the camera really wasn't designed to produce high quality stills, I ended up buying a Sony still camera. I am very happy with the JVC and would not give it up, but If I had known about the lack of still quality, I might have done more research. Video digicams have come a long way over the last year and perhaps there is one out there that will do both with acceptable results, but I would insist on seeing it myself and not taking any salesperson's word for it. Hope this experience helps you in your decision.
Yours,
Larry
Curt Lindner
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I just bought a Sony TRV520 Digital8, which replaced my 6 year old TR500 Hi8(first to use InfoLithium!). I hated to give up that camera, since it is about as small as the MiniDV, and make great pictures. However, it was needing some significant tape mechanism repairs, and I preferred to sink the money into something "digital".
I haven't had much time to play with it yet, but it seems to be a great camera, and I've already purchased a Firewire drive enclosure and a 45GB hard drive to go in it! At 2GB per 10 minutes of footage, I'll need it!
-Curt
I haven't had much time to play with it yet, but it seems to be a great camera, and I've already purchased a Firewire drive enclosure and a 45GB hard drive to go in it! At 2GB per 10 minutes of footage, I'll need it!
-Curt
I've currently got the Sony DCR-TRV9. Previously I had a Sony TR101 Hi8, then a DCR-TRV7 for a short period.
I love the TRV9 except for its low light performance and no manual white balance. The color washes out in low light, not to mention the additional noise introduced, but I've learned to use the night program setting which limits the gain applied to the CCD thereby keeping the color deeper and the noise lower. I like its size. It's not too big, although they make smaller models. The big battery gives me hours of recording time. Over 4 hours with the LCD on, even more with it off. Also, it has a rather large zoom, 16x and the focus is one of the faster that I've seen.
It works great for DV editing. The only thing I found lacking is the analog to DV passthrough feature which Sony introduced in their 2000 models. Without this feature, you have to first record and analog source to DV tape and then play it back while capturing it to your hard drive. This puts a lot of extra wear on the mechanism if you will be using it to convert analog source to DV.
TED
I love the TRV9 except for its low light performance and no manual white balance. The color washes out in low light, not to mention the additional noise introduced, but I've learned to use the night program setting which limits the gain applied to the CCD thereby keeping the color deeper and the noise lower. I like its size. It's not too big, although they make smaller models. The big battery gives me hours of recording time. Over 4 hours with the LCD on, even more with it off. Also, it has a rather large zoom, 16x and the focus is one of the faster that I've seen.
It works great for DV editing. The only thing I found lacking is the analog to DV passthrough feature which Sony introduced in their 2000 models. Without this feature, you have to first record and analog source to DV tape and then play it back while capturing it to your hard drive. This puts a lot of extra wear on the mechanism if you will be using it to convert analog source to DV.
TED
I have the DCR-PC100 and I love it. See:
http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/home/digitalvideo/minidvcamcorders/dcr-pc100.shtml
The 520 lines of resolution produce fantastic video that exceeds S-VHS and I stream it to my computer via the 1394 port. The 1 megapixel still capability and Memory Stick are convenient but not enough pixels! I recently purchased a 505V for stills. The two cameras complement each other nicely as the controls and menus are similar. The ability to use a memory stick in either camera is another plus.
Bob
http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer/ss5/home/digitalvideo/minidvcamcorders/dcr-pc100.shtml
The 520 lines of resolution produce fantastic video that exceeds S-VHS and I stream it to my computer via the 1394 port. The 1 megapixel still capability and Memory Stick are convenient but not enough pixels! I recently purchased a 505V for stills. The two cameras complement each other nicely as the controls and menus are similar. The ability to use a memory stick in either camera is another plus.
Bob
thanks for all of the replies...
after looking at what is available at a local store i am almost certain that i will be going with a Sony TRV20. i considered the small hand held JVC's but i think the sony will best suite me since i already have a S70 still camera. I took a memory stick to my local store and tried out the still feature of the camera. i share the same feelings as most that have posted here, stills are not very good at all.
again thanks for all of the input. more is also appreciated....
abel.
after looking at what is available at a local store i am almost certain that i will be going with a Sony TRV20. i considered the small hand held JVC's but i think the sony will best suite me since i already have a S70 still camera. I took a memory stick to my local store and tried out the still feature of the camera. i share the same feelings as most that have posted here, stills are not very good at all.
again thanks for all of the input. more is also appreciated....
abel.
E
Eddie
Guest
abel
sorry all of you Sony Cam owners, even though I own a 505v and acd1000, I decided to buy the JVC GRDVL9800u. It's an incredable camcorder. Great video and great digital photos. Progresive scan, mega pixel and all. I like the "dual" mode that allows me to take a dig ohoto while shooting video without stopping the video.I know this is a Sony forum, but take a look at the JVC before you buy the Sony.
Eddie K
Curt Lindner
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I've not seen too much brand fanaticism here as with other technologies, but maybe I'm not looking very hard!
I'm certainly not married to Sony, but went with the S70 because of the great review here, among the fact that it had the best price/performance ratio of similar cameras. I went with a Digital8 camcorder as a replacement for my old Hi8 since it can play, and convert to digital on the fly, my existing collection of tapes. I think only Hitachi makes Digital8 equipment other than Sony, and Hitachi has only been selling for a short time.
Beyond myself, the biggest fanaticism here seems to be the 505V, and that is understandable. I don't see another camera like it for less than $1000.
-Curt
F
Frank G.
Guest
I made the mistake of buying a Sony Digital 8 TRV820. The 25 power zoom is nice to have but the GROSS highly compressed 640X480 still photo's really blow. Also, it has such a problem with purple fringing in sunlite days. Which is most of the time your outdoors shooting. So I took it back and havnt yet found an acceptable replacement. No-one yet makes a camcorder that takes quality still pictures. But maybe in 2001, I hope.
T
Ted Bae
Guest
trv900e is about the best camera for outdoor work. i shoot alot of high speed golf swings that i analyze later for my students. excellent image quality and striking color. the best i've seen without going into vx2000 or canon xl1 range. indoors, not bad.
one complaint: stills really bite, although why take stills with a camcorder when you get much higher quality with a $200 camera.
one complaint: stills really bite, although why take stills with a camcorder when you get much higher quality with a $200 camera.
I bought mine at:
http://www.thecameraclub.com/cgi-local/shop/web_store.cgi
and have been very satisfied. I see they have it listed for $1434.99. Mine arrived two days after I ordered it and I have had no problems with it. I would say shop for price at the better rated web sites.
I haven't noticed the motor noise in my recordings even though the microphone is located in the top of the housing just above the lens. It's a wonderful camcorder.
Bob
http://www.thecameraclub.com/cgi-local/shop/web_store.cgi
and have been very satisfied. I see they have it listed for $1434.99. Mine arrived two days after I ordered it and I have had no problems with it. I would say shop for price at the better rated web sites.
I haven't noticed the motor noise in my recordings even though the microphone is located in the top of the housing just above the lens. It's a wonderful camcorder.
Bob
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