Topic: video cameras?

[newtdecay]

I'm looking to invest in a new camera for the purpose of taping live shows. I have been taping Audio shows for 4 years, and during that time have filmed one show. I currently have a gigantic camera, and I am looking to not only downsize, but to upgrade as well.

I do not know a damned thing about cameras, except PLAY, RECORD & how to attach the thing to my television, so I turn to you for help.

I have a budget of up to $300 (I will be purchasing online, not in a store). & I am looking for something that will be more discrete & lightweight & will come out great in the end (after I transfer to DVD).

I was searching eBay initially & there are the variations I do not understand the difference of - what should I look for in a camera & why?

DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERAS:

4.0 MINI DV Digital Video Camera

Will that do? How many megapixels do I want & why?

I don't want anything to extravengant - just something that will do the job - a decent job.

thanks for your help (for those that do help)!


xoxox.
newtdecay.
http://db.etree.org/newtdecay

[treehugger]

I'm looking to invest in a new camera for the purpose of taping live shows. I have been taping Audio shows for 4 years, and during that time have filmed one show. I currently have a gigantic camera, and I am looking to not only downsize, but to upgrade as well.

I do not know a damned thing about cameras, except PLAY, RECORD & how to attach the thing to my television, so I turn to you for help.

I have a budget of up to $300 (I will be purchasing online, not in a store). & I am looking for something that will be more discrete & lightweight & will come out great in the end (after I transfer to DVD).

I was searching eBay initially & there are the variations I do not understand the difference of - what should I look for in a camera & why?

DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERAS:

4.0 MINI DV Digital Video Camera

Will that do? How many megapixels do I want & why?

I don't want anything to extravengant - just something that will do the job - a decent job.

thanks for your help (for those that do help)!


xoxox.
newtdecay.
http://db.etree.org/newtdecay

you wont be able to get a decent dvd out of that camera.   at under $300 you should get something that records to mini dv tapes, has at least a 20x optical zoom.  i've had great results shooting shows with this one:

http://lowpricedigital.com/item.asp?item_Id=123451&partner=g123&keyword=sony_dcr_hc26

just paint it black, make something tinted to cover the lcd screen and you're set...and it's cheap enough that you can buy yourself a extended life battery, which you will also need. 

[guitard]

make something tinted to cover the lcd screen

Go by a shop that does car window tinting and get some scraps from them.  That stuff works great.

Learn how to work the exposure on your cam - it's really important to getting a good shot.

[treehugger]

make something tinted to cover the lcd screen

Go by a shop that does car window tinting and get some scraps from them.  That stuff works great.

Learn how to work the exposure on your cam - it's really important to getting a good shot.

yeah, i picked up a piece of window tint at home depot. cut 3 pieces to fit, layered them, and taped them to the top of the viewfinder with a  piece of electrical tape.  works perfect.

[greatape]

That SD card on ebay won't cut it.

You definitely want to use miniDV tape.  A $300 budget is going to make it really tough.  There are going to be tradeoffs.  Some of the JVCs are said to have decent low-light performance in that price range.  Another little thing to keep in mind is to look for a top loading tape.  If it's on the bottom you'll need to take it off the tripod to chage tape.

This site is a great resource:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/d/Reviews&level_b=Camcorder&level_c=MiniDV.htm

[beefstew]

For under $300 the best cam u can buy IMO would be the Canon ZR-500
i own one myself, great low-light performance, mic in, and very easy to use

some people down it b/c it doesnt have a headphone out, but all you have to do is take your AV out>RCA cables and add a RCA>1/8" adapter and your all set

[greatape]

For under $300 the best cam u can buy IMO would be the Canon ZR-500
i own one myself, great low-light performance, mic in, and very easy to use

some people down it b/c it doesnt have a headphone out, but all you have to do is take your AV out>RCA cables and add a RCA>1/8" adapter and your all set

That looks like a pretty decent camera and it's only around $230 on Amazon.   I used a borrowed Canon Elura 100, which is very similar to this one, to record a recent show and got decent results.


Here's a video I shot with a Canon Elura 100:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KRYVi7_zm8
Coalition Of The Willing (2006-11-11) Skerik and Bobby Previte Jam

compared to

Video I shot with a $2,000 Panasonic AG-DVC30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at2mpAXPvCI
Buckethead (2006-04-01) Foxy Lady > Machine Gun > Star Spangled Banner > Patch Cord Dance

[guitard]

yeah, i picked up a piece of window tint at home depot. cut 3 pieces to fit, layered them, and taped them to the top of the viewfinder with a  piece of electrical tape.  works perfect.

I only use one layer - never tried using more.  I'm sure with three layers, the light signature is practically nil.  Of course, the downside to using this stuff is that you can't adjust the exposure.  I do a lot of filming with a Panasonic PV-GS120 3CCD model that doesn't have manual exposure, so I don't worry about it.  Every now and then the lighting is such that there'll be a little over-exposure, but that's pretty rare.

[fanofthemule]

i've got two panasonic pv-gs300's and a panasonic pv-gs150 and would recommend either of them.

[Sabkisscrue]

Go ebay and find a lightly used excellent or mint condition megapixel digital8 camcorder.
Preferably the trv740. Should find one for under $400
Then look on ebay for either external mics sony ecm717 or ecm719
Preferably the ecm717