Looking for Camcorder-Need Help

[jry1209]

I can read all the reviews I can find, but I figured someone in the Apex community might be able to shed some light for me.

I'm looking to buy a camcorder and I'm not sure which format to go with. Here's what I'm wanting to accomplish:

1. I want to shoot a lot of baseball games (not pro, local).
2. I want to be able to edit video on my computer in some fashion to create custom videos that I can output back to VHS tape or CD.
3. I'm looking to spend no more than $1200.

You guys have any suggestions on which format and what cameras I should look into?

[irwin]

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1207536768 <<< that one ;)

[Nanotech9]

$1200? Hahahaha, haha. Sorry. (Haha.)

um... well, you might try for Firewire capable DV-Mini camera. Sony makes a few, but you'll be hard pressed to get the camera for under $1200, not even figuring in the Firewire edit card, and the harddrives and raid cards you need to properly edit on the computer w/o dropping frames.

Good luck d00d! (Heehe) Ahem. sorry. :P

[Apex]

I bought this one for my parents, the Canon Elura 2 MC:

http://www.canondv.com/elura2/index.html


It's actually really nice. It's a Firewire Mini-DV with a progressive scan CCD (something you need for fast action). It comes with all the tools and things you may need for editing on the pc. It's about 2" x 4" x 3.5". Yeah, absolutely TINY. It weighs under 14 ounces too. It's small and light enough to hold up for a full hour or use on a lightweight tripod (probably a good idea. If you're shooting a game or as a profession, you're going to want extra batteries, tapes, etc). The MC comes with an 8mb multimedia card for still pictures. 16 bit PCM digital sound. Low light (7.5lux) shooting.

It has a very good lens as well, which is definitely important. It's something you can't tell in the specs.

BTW, if you want to get it, it's just a hair under $1200 online.

If you want to buy from Amazon (where it's $1399.99):

Elura 2 MC at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000507JH/gotapex)

I can sell you $1386 (almost covering your entire purchase) worth of Amazon gift certificates for $1100. That'll save you a bit of money.

[NiceMann]

Originally posted by Apex
I can sell you $1386 (almost covering your entire purchase) worth of Amazon gift certificates for $1100. That'll save you a bit of money.

Humm echo GCs huh Apex. 77 * 18 = 1386 :D

Oh don't forget you can use discounts that come up with the GCs too. :)

~NiceMann

[Nanotech9]

Good choice Apex... Just one little problem. Unless jry1209 is using a G3 or G4 with the integrated Firewire ports, he'll have to pick up a Firewire card, and possibly some software (unless the card comes with some editing software).

Right now my brother is using an XL-1, DV500, Premiere 5.1, and After Effects 4 to do his editing. Of cousre, he spends MANY hours editing wedding videos to perfection. Obviously a Ball game isn't going to be that critical, but some type of software, and a good computer with some really good ATA66 or Raided HD's is gonna be necessary. BTW, running DV into the computer takes up LOTS of space. I don't remember the exact number, but I want to say it's something like 13GB per hour of video.

(BTW, I don't recommend the XL-1 to anyone, unless you hace the extra $$ to get the true manual-focus lense. The Included lense has a focus problem and it fades in and out of focus - no matter if the camera is in a fixed location shooting a fixed object, or if your zooming in and out. It's REALLY annoying. I've heard the GL-1 has the same problems.)

[coleslaw]

My roommate has the Elura 2 also, and it works great. It's super small! I was so surprised at it's compactness! The battery charger station is bigger than the camera itself. Yes, you will need to buy a firewire card, but it's a good investment. Most cards come with digital video editing software. Also, Premeire 6.0 is out, and I heard it's excellent.

[Apex]

It's not too bad. Sony's, Dells, Gateways, and a few others have firewire. If you don't have one of those, a firewire card starts at about $20.

The Elura 2 MC does come with editing software, and movie/effects software.

Your brother's XL-1 is absolutely excellent. For the money, I don't believe there is currently anything better for prosumer shooting.

[K2]

Get sony's digital 8 camcorders.. they are great, i have one myself :)

[hapoo]

Originally posted by K2
Get sony's digital 8 camcorders.. they are great, i have one myself :)

Digital 8 is a dead format!!
Dont take me wrong, its good quality, but everyones moving to MiniDv so your tapes are going to be pretty useless. For the life of me i can't understand why sony tries to make their own standards on every damn product they make! (Betamax, MD, D8 etc)

FYI, I also have a sony D8 camcorder.

[Apex]

Also, the Sony's lens isn't as good as the Canon's, when comparing same type units. What I mean is this:

The Canon XL1 is better than the Sony DCR-VX2000
The Canon Elura2MC is better than the Sony DCR-PC110

However, the DCR-VX2000 (being a prosumer class HUGE camcorder) takes better video than the Elura2MC (mini class).

[helius]

Out of curiosity, how does one compare the lenses on two different cameras?

[Apex]

Read reviews from people who use em far more than I. :)

[helius]

I'm still rather curious about how they do it though... :)