Video Camera

[AlcoRS11Nut]

I am thinking of getting a new video camera, (my old one is a 12 year old hand-me-down), and I would really like to go digital, but I don't know what format to use. I also would like to be able to change the lens on the camera, for different effects (wide angel, telephoto, etc.) and add different filters. What do you people use? What would be my best bet to by ( I'm still a beginner, and do not know a whole lot about cameras) Thanks for all of your help.

[adrianspeeder]

How much do you want to... wait, how much do you got to spend?

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

I use a Panasonic full size S-VHS Camcorder.
BNSFrailfan.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

When you mentioned buying a new camcorder you asked about format. Did you mean digital video disk, digital mini disk, or digital tape? I use an
8 mm hi-8 analog camcorder, and I am in no mood to replace it until it gives up the ghost.

I don't know of any camcorders that have interchangeable lenses. Most of them, regardless of format, have zoom lenses which which can be adjusted for wide angle to telephoto photography, and filters are available.

One of the problems in buying any new electronic gear is the rapid advance in technology that can make last year's technology obsolete in a hurry. So your best bet would be to buy a digital camcorder with a video disk type of format because it is newer, and perhaps it won't be obsolete as soon.

[Anonymous]

With the technology advancing so fast today, I wouldn't even think about getting a camera that wasn't Mini-DV. With a digital video camera you're able to load it directly into your computer and start editing or just plug it in straight to your television and watch. Internal DVD R/RW recorders for the computer have also dropped drastically in price and you can find a good Sony DVD 8x burner for $150 so that you can record your favorite train shots to DVD. Hopefully DVD will be around for awhile.

I have researched Canon Mini-DV and have found to like their cameras the best, although I'm sure Sony is also good. I suppose having a Canon 35mm SLR has made me some what biased towards their optics. Many of them have digital photo capabilities too, allowing you to take 1024x768 pictures and recording them to an SD memory card.Canon's ZR series camcorders offer the most features and a larger optical zoom range for a price that is less than some of their higher-end models. Depending on where you shop, I've found the price range to be $350-$600. But definately go digital.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=102

[Puckdropper]

We have a digital video camera, and it connects to the computer via USB. It sure makes putting videos in to the computer easier.

If you think you might want to do that, make sure you get one that allows you to connect other devices through the camera. You'll find something you want to record on computer that's on VHS and you can't put on camera...

[AlcoRS11Nut]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

How much do you want to... wait, how much do you got to spend?

Adrianspeeder

Under $1000. You watch Red/Green?

[AlcoRS11Nut]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RudyRockvilleMD

When you mentioned buying a new camcorder you asked about format. Did you mean digital video disk, digital mini disk, or digital tape?

Yeah, that's is what I was talking about, I counldn't think of the formats at the time.

[Overmod]

My 2 cents worth:

I would go to MiniDV tape, and use a DVD burner in an attached computer for archiving footage once it is recorded. The disk-based camcorders all seem to be either way too expensive or limited by comparison.

I would also strongly consider getting as high a resolution as possible, with one of the models that can 'double' as a still camera. This might allow one 'box' to serve for all shooting requirements, which can be very valuable in some trackside situations.

The camera I use is a 3-CCD version, which I strongly recommend if you can afford it. Even the older 'prosumer' camcorders like this will produce high-quality images, and can often be found on the used-equipment market for a very reasonable price.

As another issue: There is a higher-quality DV format called DVCAM (which runs the tape 1/3 faster, so a '60-minute' tape only holds 40 minutes. For high-end work, you might want to get a camera that can shoot in this mode -- but the earlier models (like my Sony PD-100A) don't have compatibility with regular DV. Later models do, and that might be something to look for when buying.

[AlcoRS11Nut]

I was looking at the Canon Website and (to me) it looks like none of the video cameras have tripods for them? Could this be possable or would I just use a tripod for a normal still camera?

[Anonymous]

They all work with tripods as far as I know, can't imagine why they wouldn't, just the standard thread like that for a photo tripod.

[Overmod]

Normal tripods, monopods, etc. will all work nicely on just about any of these cameras. IIRC this is a fairly standard 1/4" NC thread, so you could 'roll your own' mount with an appropriate hexnut or Nylock and a wad of JB Weld or PC-7 if you needed.

I would recommend, though, that you use a tripod specifically designed for video use, with what's sometimes called a 'fluid head'. This is particularly useful for 'pan' (derived from 'panorama') shots, where very smooth but well-controlled motion is essential, but the camera must remain steady when not being moved.

You might also consider one of the alternative methods of handling a camera -- there are consumer-grade equivalents of a Steadicam which are quite useful in rail applications, and a device which resembles an automobile steering wheel (I forget the developer's name, but he had a rather good Web site a year or two ago that described his system, and indicated he was intending to commercialize it.) I find these much more useful, and in many cases quite a bit SAFER, than a long three-leg tripod that has to be fiddled with and carefully adjusted for level in a manner that doesn't tilt the camera during pans...