How do I pick a video camera?

Question

Ok... I really know very little about video cameras. I'm not sure what kind to get. I'm looking for something that makes creating dvds easy, great quality and is a good, reliable brand. I don't know where to start!

Does anyone have any advice?

Answer 1

What are you going to do with the camcorder? Find something that will be good in the areas that you use the camera for. Try this one it cheaps and cool and can make DVDs aswell. http://www.theflip.com/support_video.sht...

Answer 2

1) Set a budget.

Low $290-$500

Medium $550-$900

High $950-$1,700

OMG $2,000+

2) If you want to be able to edit the footage someday, MiniDV tape. If you never want to edit, miniDVD.

3) If you want best available quality, MiniDV tape. If you want next best, hard drive based or flash memory. If you don't mind poor quality, DVD based.

4) If you want good low-light behavior, either get a video light and use it, or go for one of the Camcorders in the OMG range.

5) If you want great audio, get the built-in mics (hence, get the camcorder) close to the audio source. If the camcorder does not have manual audio control and it is a LOUD audio source, the audio will clip and sound muddy. If you can't get close to the audio source, then you need an external mic - that means the camcorder needs an external mic jack. Most low and mid camcorders do not have a mic jack. If they do, they don't have manual audio control.

6) The trick is getting the video from the camcorder into your computer. Once you do this, presuming your camcorder has a DVD burner, making DVDs is easy. Since the video is in your computer, edit out the bad video, add some credits and transitions and special effects.

MiniDV tape camcorders connect their DV port (not USB) to the Firewire400 port of the computer with a firewire cable. If your computer does not have a firewire port, they are typically easy to add - and are cheap. Firewire, IEEE1394a, DV and i.Link are all the same thing - and are not USB.

Hard drive and flash memory camcorders transfer using USB or a card reader by copying the data files.

I won't even bother with describing DVD based camcorder transfer.

Another way is to connect the camcorder directly to a DVD recorder. Generally, there is no editing.

7) Once the video is in your computer, use Microsoft MovieMaker (Windows) or Apple iMovieHD (Macintosh) to edit. MovieMaker cannot currently handle AVCHD high definition video - I don't think it can handle HDV, either - so buying a video editor would be appropriate. iMovieHD's most current version can handle some AVCHD and all HDV format video.

8) When the editing project is complete, save the file and use a DVD authoring application. iDVD in Macintosh; WinDVD in Windows. There are many others for Windows, too... this lets you do backgrounds on teh menu selection and scene selection and audio - just like the commercial DVDs (though not quite as sophisticated. Again, easy to use.

9) Reliable brands: Canon, Sony, Panasonic. Personally (in case you have not noticed), I strongly suggest miniDV tape. Best available video quality. Do not re-use the tapes - the tape is the archive - store in a cool dry place.

10) No camcorder comes with a long lasting battery. Expect to buy a rechargeable high capacity battery.

Suggestions:

Low: Canon ZR800, 900, 930

Medium: Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7, HC9

High: Canon GL2

OMG: Canon XHA1, Sony HDR-FX1, FX7

There are several others, but this list should get you started.