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Author Topic: a camcorder question  (Read 906 times)

Big Jake

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a camcorder question
« on: August 08, 2006, 03:58:20 PM »
Hey Group
 I'm looking to but me a camcorder so I thought I would come in here and ask for some of your advice.

 I'm very much into digital photography (yet another expensive hobbie) but I don't know much about todays camcorders so what would you suggest? I'm hoping to just spend around $300-$400 for a camera that can work inside of a bowling ally where it dosen't have the best lighting.

 I used my daughters a few months ago and it didn't look that good, kinda dark, so therefore I need something that I can just setup and not worry to much about the poor lighting.

 My daughters was just a typical low cost $199.00 camera which for most outdoor stuff was fine. Also, I've noticed that there are DVD-camcorders and now camcorders with built in HDDs so what do you guys/gals suggest?

Thanks
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Macabre

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Re: a camcorder question
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2006, 12:02:22 AM »
Easy, pick up a Mini DV.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7602338&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat91400050050&id=1130982242739

I don't trust anything but Samsung. Everything else really isn't me.
I have something similar to that, and it has everything basic you need for basic recording, and a lot of extra features you can have some fun with.

Great sound as well!
There's my 2 cents..
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Re-Evolution

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Re: a camcorder question
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2006, 04:01:45 AM »
JVC cameras always score at the top or near the top in comparison reviews in your price range.
If you decide to up your budget the best buy out IMHO and in many others is the Panasonic NV-GS150 it is a 3CCD camera which is rare at the price they can be found. A 3 CCD camera use a different CCD for each color (RGB) which greatly increases color contrast and night shot capabilities. They are a couple hundred more than you said you were going to spend.
Here is an example of the expected quality.
http://bowling-info.com/details.php?image_id=97
The video is 720 x 480 which is double the size of native Mini DV and it look pretty good even when view full screen IMHO. To view it full screen right click the video and select from the menu after it loads.
I do have to tweak my capture software to brighten it up a bit to where it looks like on TV but that is due to the white range (K#) of a computer monitor vs a TV.
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shelley

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Re: a camcorder question
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2006, 09:01:10 AM »
I've got a Canon ZR85 (?) and it works pretty well in the bowling alley.  Cost me about $400 when I got it a few years ago, it's a MiniDV camera.

SH