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Author Topic: Digital Camcorder(s)  (Read 4904 times)

Offline daryl66

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« on: August 21, 2008, 01:59:23 PM »
Well the old analog camcorder gave up the ghost. tears.gif   Its one and only use was recording Dr. Patient meetings my better half attends for lawyers and insurance companies, so I guess we are going to have to get into the digital world now. why-me.gif

Of course going digital will require the learning curve of moving to CD/DVD's and deep sixing the vhs mentality . Plus it will allow us to engage in Ichat et:al since we are still using G4 and first build G5 Macs with no Isight.

The local Shopco is having a sale on this one(nice and cheap)In the spec's it states "Wondoze"compatibility with no mention of Mac. Does this  make it a "deal breaker"? Is it a matter of a driver?? wallbash.gif

I am really just looking for an inexpensive unit to satisify the professional requirement,  The Ichat etc is just frosting until we HAVE to bite the bullet for newer MAC's. Groaner.gif

Your input is appreciated

Daryl toothgrin.gif
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Offline Jack W

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« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2008, 03:46:05 PM »
The 4X Digital Zoom is worthless. All it does is pixilate the images.

The camera may also be the same????

Also, the internal storage is SD/MMC cards. Won't hold a whole lot of video.

I have a Canon PowerShot S2-IS camera that can take stills @ 8MP and movies @640x480 @ 30 fps and Stereo.
It also can record stereo sound files at excellent quality.

The new Canon IS cameras are even better, and cost around $400.
They can run circles around this camera. 10X analog Zoom
+ 4x Digital Zoom on top of that, which I don't use for the reason stated above.
Stereo sound

With a 2GB SD card, they can store around 15 minutes of video.
2GB SD cards (high speed) go for around $20 now - quite cheap! (SanDisk Ultra II)

How much they asking for this camera?

Canon's have an excellent reputation for quality.

There are also other cameras that compete with Canon S5 IS such as Sony and Olympus.
I just happen to like the Canons.

- Jack
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Offline daryl66

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« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2008, 04:18:49 PM »
QUOTE(Jack W @ Aug 21 2008, 03:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Also, the internal storage is SD/MMC cards. Won't hold a whole lot of video.



How much they asking for this camera?

I guess the old saying holds true. "you get what you pay for".  "$79.00" Hurt.gif

The fact that you can only get 15 or so minutes of video from 2gb makes this another strike.  blink.gif  Some of these meetings go for 2 hours or more.  Guess I better start looking for a "tape" machine. More homework

Thanks Jack notworthy.gif

Daryl
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Offline sandbox

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« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2008, 06:33:04 PM »
there are plenty of cheap ones out there, rhpconsult has a different one I believe.

I found this with two hour limits for $79 bucks
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-EZ205-Camcorder-...d/dp/B0016XMY4K
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Offline Jack W

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« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2008, 08:24:52 PM »
sandbox,

quality???
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Offline daryl66

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« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2008, 08:55:53 PM »
QUOTE(Jack W @ Aug 21 2008, 08:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
sandbox,

quality???



WOW: After about 3 hours of "surfing" and reading there begins to be light at the end of the tunnel.   I had no idea that there was a "flip" camcorder with a plastic lens, or that the audio could/could not be accessed with an external mic,(required) or optical zoom traversed from zip to 40-50x.(Desirable but to what level?)  Storage media  small flash to long tapes(2 hours min).Light enhancement (yes I think) Guess I shouldn't have been too surprised given all the advances that have been made with the digital still cameras and Macs.  At this point the decisions will be based on actual requirements and price. TBD.  I know now where to begin.   Many thanks

Daryl thumbup.gif
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Offline sandbox

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« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2008, 01:45:53 AM »
QUOTE(Jack W @ Aug 21 2008, 09:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
sandbox,

quality???


I hope you didn't see a quality rating in my post, I just found one that suited his 2 hour need and cheap price. I couldn't speak to the quality issue unless I had it in my saddlebag. wink.gif

Yes daryl they are quite complicated, that's why so many folks go with a brand they can trust. Jack likes cannons as do many folks around here, and they're probably right! wink.gif
« Last Edit: August 22, 2008, 01:46:20 AM by sandbox »
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Offline Paddy

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« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2008, 08:10:23 AM »
Daryl, what sort of quality are you after? "Flip" video cameras will yield You Tube-like quality and do not operate well indoors - ie: they need lots of light. Assuming that these doctor-patient meetings take place indoors, they're not a good option. I think you'll find the same situation for many, if not all, cheapo video cameras. Having done a whole lot of research on video cams when my son was hankering for one a while back, I came to the conclusion that there were no cheap AND good options out there, unfortunately.

So, if you need anything more than a few minutes of video and need to be able to actually see and hear what is on that video, you need a proper video camera.

This one gets good reviews at Amazon - $306.

Canon DC330

It records on DVDs, btw, which is handy.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2008, 08:11:12 AM by Paddy »
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Offline Jack W

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« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2008, 10:45:24 AM »
Daryl,

Another question: Do you really need video?

If your major requirement is for sound recording,
The Cannon S5 IS camera will record a whole lot of stereo sound on a 2GB SD card.

Also takes a lot less power recording sound vs. video.
You could set in on the table kind of aimed at the participants.
With a video camera, you might have to jockey it around during the sessions.

Just a thought.

- Jack
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Offline daryl66

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« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2008, 11:22:00 AM »
QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 22 2008, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I came to the conclusion that there were no cheap AND good options out there, unfortunately.

So, if you need anything more than a few minutes of video and need to be able to actually see and hear what is on that video, you need a proper video camera.

This one gets good reviews at Amazon - $306.

Canon DC330

It records on DVDs, btw, which is handy.


I have came to the same conclusions re the requirements. The flip/plastic lens jobbers are definitely not an option.  Records on DVD?????  now that sounds interestng.  I will check it out.   thanks

Daryl happy.gif
 
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Offline daryl66

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« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2008, 11:32:34 AM »
QUOTE(Jack W @ Aug 22 2008, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Daryl,

Another question: Do you really need video?


Jack

In the vast majority of the cases the answer is no.  She does the recording(s) on a nice little cassette  tape recorder with an external mic.  HOWEVER once in a while either an insurance company or an Attorney will request/require her to make a video. Most of the time these meetings are in a small "conference" room type setting with bad light and  terrible acoustics. So we will probably end up with a mid-range $200-350 unit.

Daryl
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Offline jcarter

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« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2008, 12:34:56 PM »
We got the Sanyo Xacti, its nice and also waterproof.  But we dont use it much, as we dont do much video stuff.
Then I just got the Olympus 1030SW, and use it evry single day!  Waterproof too, smashproof, but dont tell the grandkids that.
Jane
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