Best Digital Camcorders

[imbordisux]

Ok, I am completely clueless when it comes to cameras, so please be gentle with me when explaining the difference aspects to me.

 

I am interested in, obviously, recording on-ride footage, and was wondering what some of the best cameras for such a purpose would be; which ones have the best image stabilization and produce the least choppy video? I don't want to bother with one unless I can get "Alvey-esque" crystal-clear footage.

 

Also, what do you recommend as a recording medium? Tape, disc, memory-stick?

 

Lastly, will the "helmet-camera" give that same crystal-clear picture with a crappy camcorder, or does it depend on the quality of the camera?

 

Robb? Elissa? Others?

 

Thanks in advance, everyone.

- Stu

 

[To R&E, I know you've gotten this question before, you might want to pin this to the top of the forum.]

[WillMontu]

I think Robb prefers a Sony camcorder with DV tapes. As for stabilization, he also uses a wide-angle lens (I got one at Best Buy for about $30). They vary in terms of the shape, as some of them will heavily distort the image, while some will only distort it somewhat.

 

For media types, I would go with DV tapes. A standard tape can hold about an hour of video with reasonably good picture quality

Memory cards can only hold a limited amount of video, and if they hold a lot of video, you will lose picture quality

Disks/DVD's - I don't have much experience with them, but considering that they have precision moving parts, I don't think they would hold up too well on rides

 

Also, make sure you have a large hard drive if you want to do editing. A single DV tape takes up around 10 gigabytes of disk space.

[MrMorgan]

I have the cool looking samsung sc-x105L, and would not recommend it to my worst enemy.

 

In other words, don't get a Samsung sc-x105L.

[dougr]

I have the cool looking samsung sc-x105L, and would not recommend it to my worst enemy.

 

In other words, don't get a Samsung sc-x105L.

 

We had a Samsung VCR....I understand

[M_Force_4_ever]

I use a Sony mini DV camera with a wide angle lens and it works very well by me, if you are looking for an "entry level" video cam then I would reccomend the model I have which is the DCR HC-21 (which is a few models below Robb's and costs less)

[ParkTrips]

Hi, Canon fanboy here, time to get people out of Sony mode.

 

Any ZR-xxx is a great value for the money (starting at $300). Models don't vary much except for the added features, and with Canon you know you are getting the best lenses on the market. I used several Canon cameras in high school digital media class (and even Sony cameras with Canon lenses mounted, just because they are that damn good ) and never had any mechanical problems nor anything less than superb performance. Sony, on the other hand... good but not the best, IMHO.

 

End fanboy mode.

 

However a topic like this seems to come up every few weeks, why don't we just pin a sticky?

[DRWP2005]

If you plan on editing your footage after you shoot, I would not get one that burns on Cd's or DVD's. They video when its compressed on the media uses codec's that are camera brand specific, therefore you would probably have to buy extra programs just to upload the video. I would also recommend getting one that uses the mini DV tapes, as mentioned you can get about an hour of footage per tape. As far as brands, I would recommed either a Sony or a Cannon, I'm a big fan of the Cannon GL2 but thats not something you'd take on coasters with you, its a professional camera, they actually use that model to film some TV shows.

[benzo41190]

I use Panasonic and it isnt that great. You cant film at night with out it being blury. Also some of the parts have became wiggly and the video isnt perfect but If you put it in a good format, it looks fine. The Panasonic camera that I have P-GS2 has a image stablilizer but you almost have to be standing still. The lense on the Panasonic model is a bit wider than a Sony camera I have so you get a minor fish eye effect when a wide angle lense is on.

[SFOGdude25]

I have a Samsung SCD27 Mini-DV camcorder. It has really great picture quality. Since I love POV footage, I sort of did a test on my cam. I shook it in the best representaion of a coaster. There was one picture mess up that happened for a fraction of a sec. Would my cam be eligible for a POV?

[Carnage]

^^ Do you have one of the 3CCD Panasonic models?

 

I know in the case of my Pana camcorder the crappy low light performance is due to the 3 CCDs.

[final_chance]

What exactly is a wide angle lense? Sorry, im a newb at this.. kinda.. O, and any suggestions on cheap, good camcorders.. around the price range of 200 to 400?? Cuz im going on a trip soon.. well in the summer, and i want to record my whole trip.. but not every hour though

[Dark Vampire]

I have the Sony Dcr Hc 19 camera and its a very good camera. I am very happy about it.

http://www.dinamicahifi.com/loja/catalog/images/dcr%20-hc19.jpg