Re: New camcorder suggestions


"Luis Ortega" <lortega@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:m1Lhl.7979$pR5.6793@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
David Ruether wrote:

You are assuming incorrectly, although some controls are somewhat
awkward to use. The picture can be modified slightly for contrast,
brightness-bias, saturation, and sharpness - and the camera can be
operated beyond full auto in program, shutter-priority, or aperture
priority modes. And, the exposure additionally can be locked and
shifted as desired for special needs. What more do you want? The
manual focus is admittedly so-so, but the I-AF autofocus is excellent
and generally quite reliable for most purposes. You can also use a
skin-tone smoothing mode, ""film" response mode, and 24p mode.
Again, what else do you want? ;-) And, it's cheap and small and

I guess what I am referring to is that I have seen some camcorders that offer manual exposure control but still use some sort of
automatic gain control so that as you pan across a scene with different light levels, the picture blooms as it re-adjusts to the
light changes.

I have seen none of these. "Manual" is manual...

For me, manual exposure means that I can pick the shutter speed or the aperture and set it and the camcorder will record exactly
that way.

The Canon HV30, while not easily permitting selection of *both*
aperture and shutter speed at the same time, *does* permit locking
the exposure at a chosen aperture or the shutter speed at a chosen
shutter speed **and** then simultaneously locking the exposure
overall (gain, aperture, and shutter speed) - and you can then apply
any shift in the locked exposure that is desired in partial stop
increments. This is done easily (once one has become used to the
finicky joystick operation), but it cannot be done during taping.

Also, I can set the audio recording levels and the camcorder and record audio as set without any automatic audio gain.

The same control is used to "lock and shift" the audio level to many
available levels, and once this is engaged, the automatic audio gain
control is defeated (which doesn't work all that well, anyway...).

Obviously, manual focus and external mic input is expected,

With these cameras, especially with HD, you will soon appreciate
the better job "I-AF" can do compared with manual focus.

and a manual zoom ring, as opposed to the rocker switch that limits control of the zoom speed, would be very welcome.

I prefer the rocker of the TRV-900 (more range, without running
out of "twist" range). I never used the ring on my VX2000s, preferring
the rocker. The zoom controls of all types on newer camcorders
are motor-driven, not directly connected (until you get into separate
pro lenses). BTW, the HV30 does something neat. Its slowest
of three zoom speeds is unusually slow for a camcorder, and **that
speed can be made the ONLY speed**, so you can "mash" the
(rather poor) zoom control, and it gives the nice smoothly
starting/stopping zoom "crawl" that I prefer. You can also lock in
either of the other two speeds, or leave the zoom variable, if you
want.

Ideally, it would also have analogue AV in/out

AV out, but I don't know of any HD camcorder with an input
other than FireWire (or USB for AVCHD).

as well as dv or hdv in/out.

Firewire out for transferring files, and HDMI for sound+video
out to a TV. There is a mic input, but unfortunately, no Lanc port.

I don't really care much for built-in preset effects in a camcorder since I can do any of that in editing later.

Agreed!!! 8^) (I ignore them.)

I would gladly consider any camcorder that offers that sort of manual control. The TRV900 uses the zoom rocker switch and I have
never liked that feature. My old JVC GRS 707 had the manual zoom ring in addition to everything else mentioned.

See above.

What makes it hard is that the published specs on some camcorders don't state clearly whether the manual exposure controls offer a
full manual or the modified manual controls. Sales persons are next to useless because they will tell you anything that you want
to hear, and often they don't even have a clue. That's why these forums are so important, but once I can narrow the choices down
to a few options then I start hitting the stores and asking to actually handle the camcorders to confirm things for myself.

Also add looking at reviews, although many cover "where the buttons
are" and leave out performance, or worse, include gushing ad hype.
I try to be thorough with my reviews, and include the good and bad.

Are you saying that the Canon hv 20/30 models offer this level of manual controls?

Essentially I'm saying that it offers what a TRV-900 did, but with a
FAR better picture. It is NOT perfect (but then what is...? ;-), and it
is NOT as good as the Panasonic of interest to you, but consider
that one in a different way...;-) What if someone GAVE you the best
portable 35mm wide-screen camera. Then you shoot some great
footage with it. Now what? Can you edit it at all? If you manage to
do so, can you retain much of the original quality? Do you then have
a way to distribute cheaply the product? THAT is what I have been
trying to get at, NOT that I'm recommending the HV30 specifically
for you. I'm recommending that you look at the formats and their
advantages and disadvantages BEFORE choosing the camera. You
may still return to your first choice, but you will be better informed
about the pitfalls of your choice...
--DR


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