Re: Which videorecorder to buy

Glad to read of progress with that injury!

I bought a Sony Mini DV format digital camcorder(DCR-HC22 I think)
recently mainly for taking skating video. It's been OK for the
purpose and easy to use, the quality obtainable from digital
camcorders is way ahead of the old analogue ones. Mini DV tapes as
now commonly used are small and store about an hour's video.

I came to video with some background using pro still kit, and have
learned that in comparison these things are a bit limiting in two
areas. The zoom controls on standard "consumer" models are electric
pushbuttons - a pain to use when following something as mobile as a
skater. It's a bit of a challenging subject to film well I think. The
more expensive models towards the pro end of the camera ranges have
proper lenses, with manual zoom levers plus manual focus, and would be
a *great* deal easier to use. However they get a lot more expensive
at this level, say 1K GBP plus, don't know how pro you want to go.
These cameras also give better colour. The basic consumer level
cameras are essentially autofocus, and this can sometimes be a little
"dumb" when following a moving skater, you'll get occasional focus
issues. I think you can get good results with a basic digital camera
such as mine, but there will be occasional out of control moments with
zoom and focus...

Editing. You *need* to be able to cut out all the rubbish to make
tolerably watchable DVD's. You can edit in camera using the inbuilt
screen, but this is small and controls are fiddly. Much better to use
a PC if you have a decent one, up to doing video work. The digital
cameras are ideal in that respect, they interface easily with a
computer, either by USB or firewire. Get one that does firewire, most
do, it's better. You'll get some basic video editing software with
the camera, or you can splash out on something better. Adobe Premiere
Elements is good, and doesn't break the bank. Needs a decent PC
though, with a DVD recording drive if you want to use this medium.

Some cameras have the DVD recorder inbuilt - don't know if you could
do any editing at all having recorded to that format, doesn't sound
ideal to me.

Hope this helps, there seems to be lots of cameras to choose from!

Steve


On Fri, 14 Oct 2005 09:06:48 -0400, LK <fountainmdomeb5@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>I'm in USA and want to buy a video recorder for temp recording of
>sessions and to make permanent -- until the tech changes so much--
>recordings of skating club performances. (It is nice to have 2 views
>of a performance if one is being professionally recorded.)
>
>I don't know what features except that I want to put the club
>performances on DVD for posterity and relatively easy to use. My
>adult son will be the "cinematographer" because my daughter and I will
>be skating in the show. --Provided the adult group can convince the
>skating director we won't shame the club.
>
>I have made quite a comeback considering I only skated one hour a week
>over the summer. Three hours a week has seen much improvement. And
>the other adults are doing much better, too. I still haven't caught
>with them since I lost so much to my Springtime injury, but I don't
>begrudge them the progress.
>
>
>LK

.