Anyone know about camcorders?

[Piglet]

I'd like to buy a camcorder but currently know bog all about them.

Clearly I'm going to use it at home to make porn (thought I'd get that one out of the way early ) I'd also like to use it at race circuits and for Le Mans etc. as well as normal family stuff.

I've been looking at a couple of Sony's:

this one at £228 www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007NLHB6/qid=1134593053/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/203-7636617-6008742

and this one at £449 www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007NLH9S/qid=1134593228/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/203-7636617-6008742

As we're pretty skint at the moment (I know I can't be that skint or I wouldn't be buying toys - but a girls gott a have some toys!) so if I could get away with buying the £228 one then I'd be quite happy. BUT if I'm going to regret it and wish I'd bought the better one I'd rather stump up for that one to start with.

Can anyone help me out with some advice about these models or other suggestions?

Thanks

Piglet

[grass widow]

Bought a Sony handy cam last year, neither of those models, but its very good. Straight from the camera to the dvd player.

A friend got one at the same time, her model is the next one up from mine, but they basically do the same stuff.

Good quality on play back too.

[Parrot of Doom]

If you're going to use one on/in a car, you want a manual exposure option.

[dave_s13]

For general porn and stuff that 228 one will be spot on. I've made lots of porn with the Sony DCR-HC18 (the one below that) and it's spot on!

Useless for any kind of watersports stuff though, only splash proof


Seriously, unless your really really nerdy about it that HC19e will do everything you'll ever need and a bit more. Just need a firewire card and Ulead Video studio and you can easy make your own movies and bang em on DVD.

[dave_s13]

Pretty sure that HC19 has manual exposure, the HC18 does.

Thats to get a crisp image of fast moving stuff BTW

[Piglet]

Thanks for the responses, the HC19 does have manual exposure. The direct to DVD models are more than I want to pay and if I've understood correctly if I'm likely to edit most of what I shoot then the tape versions are just as good as I can route everything through the PC?

I'm getting quite tempted by the HC19 - at least at that price it's not too bad if I get bored of it after 3 months!

[alexkp]

Hi,

I know a lot about camcorders as I buy around 30 or 40 per annum through work. I buy anything from prosumer to broadcast.

The best on the market right now in your price bracket is this:

www.purelygadgets.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=780&gclid=CKWM_a-M_YECFTVIEgodhV16bg

Without a shadow of a doubt. It is a 3CCD camera (charge coupled device). They are the first consumer camcorders to have this broadcast type spec. It is a long way superior to anything currently on the market by Sony, JVC or Canon. I have purchsed over 30 of them over the past year and they are absolutely outstanding.

Hope that helps.

[tybalt]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Glad you said that - I just bought one of those, from that very website, after doing a bit of research.

[john75]

Saw one in woolworths £49.99 could not quite believe the price.

[Piglet]

tybalt said:

anonymous said: [redacted] Glad you said that - I just bought one of those, from that very website, after doing a bit of research.

Stupid question - presumably this one has a lcd screen? It looks quite a lot bigger than the Sony (although the weight is similar) - is that just the picture or is it bigger?

[bmgm3]

Slight thread hijack here, but while talking camcorders, what's the cheapest I'm going to get where I can use a bullit cam with ?

[alexkp]

Piglet said:

tybalt said: anonymous said: [redacted] Glad you said that - I just bought one of those, from that very website, after doing a bit of research. Stupid question - presumably this one has a lcd screen? It looks quite a lot bigger than the Sony (although the weight is similar) - is that just the picture or is it bigger?

Yes - it does have a colour LCD screen - along with a very nice control system. It is also very small - fits very neatly into the palm.

Fabulous picture quality in a different league to single CCD camcorders (ie pretty much every domestic camcorder on the market).

[alexkp]

bmgm3 said:

Slight thread hijack here, but while talking camcorders, what's the cheapest I'm going to get where I can use a bullit cam with ?

Can you explain what you mean by this?

[Piglet]

alexkp said:

Piglet said: tybalt said: anonymous said: [redacted] Glad you said that - I just bought one of those, from that very website, after doing a bit of research. Stupid question - presumably this one has a lcd screen? It looks quite a lot bigger than the Sony (although the weight is similar) - is that just the picture or is it bigger? Yes - it does have a colour LCD screen - along with a very nice control system. It is also very small - fits very neatly into the palm. Fabulous picture quality in a different league to single CCD camcorders (ie pretty much every domestic camcorder on the market).

Cheers Alex, I'm becoming very convinced - the bundle they do with the spare battery and tapes looks pretty good value. Will I also need a firewire cable for data transfer - the feedback with the Sony's was that the USB transfer was slow.

[alexkp]

Yes - buy a firewire cable (check your PC has a firewire port - if not fit a card).

Seriously, buy one of these - you will not regret it.

[Piglet]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I might when the credit card bill comes in!!

Stupid question #2 - what does a firewire port look like?! (sorry...)

[bmgm3]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well, I was thinking that if you had a bullit cam, you would need an AV in ? I know nothing about them and that's showing I think ....

[alexkp]

Piglet said:

anonymous said: [redacted] I might when the credit card bill comes in!! Stupid question #2 - what does a firewire port look like?! (sorry...)

It looks like a rectangle with a rounded end.

[dave_s13]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I think he's on to something?

The Sony's good (and cheaper) but this one looks a lot better

[happy snapper]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Which type? Powered or unpowered? Fire wire sockets come in two flavours Large 6 pin about a 1 cm by 3-4 mm these have power built in like USB2, small 4 pin about 5 mm by 3-4 mm (IEEE 1394) or will the camera work with both?


>> Edited by happy snapper on Thursday 15th December 06:57