teach32696
Apache Junction, Arizona
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I am looking to purchase a new HD Camcorder and am wondering if there is anyone that has an HD and what kind it is, do you like it, what don't you like, etc. Any suggestions on getting one that records to disk as opposed to a card. Any info is greatly appreciated.
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NorCal Dan
Marysville, CA.
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I recently purchased a Flip mino HD and love it. Will record 2 hours of HD video.
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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I just bought a JVC Everio GZ-HM200 on sale for $399 which was a $200 discount.
It isn't as small as a Flip but you can easily hold it in the palm of your hand and has many more features and settings than a Flip.
It is Full HD (1920x1080) 1080/60P. It records directly to SD flash memory cards, has TWO card slots which it can automatically swap to the second card if needed.
We are very pleased with this choice, camera works well in low lightas well as full sun. Top notch video, has 20x OPTICAL zoom along with extra digital zoom.
JVC will be bringing out some new models so right now you may not be able to find a lot of selection in old models.
I don't like hard drive or optical drive camcorders, the mechanical part is an issue. Think about it, if the hard drive crashes and you had footage that was never backed up it will be lost forever with no hope to get it back. Even if you sent the camera out for servicing, they will not attempt to retrieve any video from the hard drive. I have read many horror stories about this happening.
Optical drives like DVD just are too limiting and not to mention wastefull and expensive. They use small DVD Rs which do not hold much video. Optical drives also suffer from wear and tear, the laser lenses don't take kindly to miss use.
I would recommend looking at any camcorder that uses REMOVABLE flash memory cards. This is the way of the future, no mechanical things to go wrong. You can remove the card and insert a new card. The cards can be backed up using a card reader to your HD then burnt to DVD or Blue Ray.
Don't get me wrong, flash memory cards can go bad but the nice thing is you can replace a bad card and not be out of a camcorder like you would if you had a hard drive or optical type. Main thing though is to back it up on a regular basis.
Good place to look is CRUTCHFIELD
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Admin
Channel Islands Harbor, Ca.
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Moved from Tech Issues to Technology Corner
Please do not multiple post
Thanks
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MuddyPaws1
A State
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Joined: 02/06/2010
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You can easily replace the internal hard drive of most camcorders. You can buy replacements or upgrades on ebay.
I have had far more SD and CF cards go bad over the years than hard drives.
I have the Cannon HG10 and love it. Large hard drive, several resolutions to choose from depending on what you are going to do with the footage. Digital still camera is excellent, even with the large zoom. Has a very good built in flash for it too and records pictures onto a separate mini-SD card.
I don't like that it doesn't have night vision, and the LED light on it is weak...as are most of them.
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librarian
New Vienna, Ohio
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Joined: 08/27/2007
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I am also currently considering a new camcorder purchase. I will be upgrading from a JVC camera that uses Mini DV tape. I've had it for quite a while and it has served me well. I am leaning toward the solid state (chip/card) type of camera. There are a number of Canon vixia models I am considering as well as several Sony units. I find it useful to read both professional reviews and user comments that are available on a number of web sites where camcorders can be purchased. If you plan to edit your video on a computer, make sure you look at what types of file formats the camcorder you select is recording in. Not all editing software will edit all HD video. In addition, HD video involves a lot more data than SD. Editing HD will mean higher demands on your computer's RAM, CPU and drive space/speed. For editing, I think the Sony's might have an advantage, but I haven't decided yet. I teach a video production class at a local college. All of the camcorders we currently use are Sony Mini DV and they have held up very well under the abuse they sometimes see. If we do buy new cameras, I think we may well move to fully solid state units. File transfers for editing will be easier if the cameras write video into files that are transferable without capture.
Best online prices seem often to be on Amazon or Tiger Direct (which is an Amazon advertiser).
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Muddypaws writes "I have had far more SD and CF cards go bad over the years than hard drives"
I keep hearing this, but honestly, I have never had ANY "bad" flash memory cards. I actually have my first digital camera which is an Agfa 1MP which uses Smart Media chips. I have a Fuji Fine Pix which also uses the same Smart Media. In addition I have a newer Agfa 6MP camera that uses SD chips, a Sandisk V-mate Video recorder that uses SDHC cards, A Zoom Proaudio handheld four track/stereo audio recorder uses SD cards. Every single one of those chips gets well used are still good to this day.
Most folks who complain about blowing out flash memory more often than not don't heed the warnings about proper handling. Never ever pull the chips while it is writing or reading data. Never ever pull the cards when the power is on or while Windows is accessing from a card reader. You must always tell Windows to remove the card. Failure to follow proper procedures is the major reason for these cards to quit working.
I see people even just yanking their thumb drives out rather than telling Windows to remove it, then complaining that the drive lost data or no longer works, go figure.
When it isn't a card reader or device always put it into the proper storage case, not in your back pocket.
Other handling peeves I have is people tend to handle the cards any which way, placing your fingers accross the data pads will eventually degrade and damage those pads.
Even though some camcorder hard drives can be replaced, you STILL lose the data if it isn't backed up. It also is not a 5 second changeout, will require the use of small fine jewlers tools, those hard drives in small form factor are rather expensive. Then think about this, what happens when a hard drive camcorder is dropped while the power is on? Pretty good chance that drive will be toast and all the video with it.
With Flash memory that is not a problem.
Hard drive camcorders are physically larger, heavier and consume much more battery than flash recorders.
I really don't understand folks affection to hard drive camcorders. With my JVC it can use both slots which handles TWO 32gig SD cards. That is plenty enough to store many hrs of video even at Full HD quality setting.
On top of that no need to tie up the camcorder to backup the files, just toss into a card reader and copy off. Quick, efficient and I NEVER run out of storage space on my camcorder since I can swap cards on the fly. Try that with a hard drive camcorder.
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creeper
Deep South
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Joined: 12/22/2003
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MuddyPaws1 wrote:
I have had far more SD and CF cards go bad over the years than hard drives.
How many would that be? You must have the worst luck. I have never had a CF, SD, etc. ever go bad.
Hard drives yet...
I would never what to open up a camcorder to replace a HD while on vacation. With a SD card you just throw in another. They care cheap enough to carry a few.
For the OP Sanyo Xacti 1000 for years now. Very compact and easy to carry.
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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While the newer technology is nice and I can't really argue about the flash memory as I have always had good luck with it, we have been extremely happy with our Sony Mini DVD camcorder... Not HD but you wouldn't know it by looking at it... Mini DVD's record directly in MP2 format so there is no conversion loss if your editing and rerendering because the MP2 file doesn't rerender...
As far as media is concerned, we use -RW dvd's which are of course rewritable... After downloading my dvd's to my editing system, the mini dvd's are reformatted and ready to go again... Just my preference and it works very well for us...
Les
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librarian
New Vienna, Ohio
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LAdams wrote:While the newer technology is nice and I can't really argue about the flash memory as I have always had good luck with it, we have been extremely happy with our Sony Mini DVD camcorder... Not HD but you wouldn't know it by looking at it... Mini DVD's record directly in MP2 format so there is no conversion loss if your editing and rerendering because the MP2 file doesn't rerender...
As far as media is concerned, we use -RW dvd's which are of course rewritable... After downloading my dvd's to my editing system, the mini dvd's are reformatted and ready to go again... Just my preference and it works very well for us...
Les
I never thought I would notice the difference between SD and HD and I didn't until I started making videos for my grandson's peewee football team (undefeated in 6 seasons of regular play by the way). When I transferred those videos to dvd and we projected them on the team's video projector, I saw that screen door look for the first time. These were dvds made at the highest quality level available in Adobe Premier CS2. That's what has caused me to think about an HD capable camera. I have yet to drop the hammer, but I may do so sometime this summer.
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