Digital Video Cams
April-29th-2003, 08:39 AM
#1
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Digital Video Cams
Anyone have any opinions on which Digital Vid cam to buy? I don't want to spend more than $600. Here are a few that I'm interested in:
Canon ZR65MC MiniDV: 20x optical zoom, also takes still photos, 680k pixels (is that good??), 2.5"LCD, low lite shooting
http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=33&scat=36
Panasonic PVDV402: 10x optical zoom, still pics, can use as webcam for your PC, 3.5" LCD, infared for low-lite situations
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...098398&loc=821
Panasonic PV-DV203: Pretty much the same as above
http://www.buy.com/retail/electronic...119423&loc=111
All i really care about is a decent optical zoom, and firewire connection. Some sort of low-lite infared would be cool too.
Canon ZR65MC MiniDV: 20x optical zoom, also takes still photos, 680k pixels (is that good??), 2.5"LCD, low lite shooting
http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=...cat=33&scat=36
Panasonic PVDV402: 10x optical zoom, still pics, can use as webcam for your PC, 3.5" LCD, infared for low-lite situations
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...098398&loc=821
Panasonic PV-DV203: Pretty much the same as above
http://www.buy.com/retail/electronic...119423&loc=111
All i really care about is a decent optical zoom, and firewire connection. Some sort of low-lite infared would be cool too.
April-29th-2003, 10:25 AM
#2
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I know little to nothing when it comes to digital video cameras, but last week I was checking them out in Best Buy.... The only brand name that caught my eye as having the best features for the cheapest price was JVC. Might want to check them out.
April-29th-2003, 07:33 PM
#3
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One slight thing to keep in mind,
DV cameras that take "still" photos don't exactly produce high quality pictures. Everyone I know tells me how cool their DV cams are because of this, I just look at them and laugh. To me, it's just a selling point.
DV cameras that take "still" photos don't exactly produce high quality pictures. Everyone I know tells me how cool their DV cams are because of this, I just look at them and laugh. To me, it's just a selling point.
April-30th-2003, 12:16 AM
#4
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i got a Canon ZR-30 a couple of years ago
pro's: came with firewire card + card reader (was a promotion)
con's: lux sucks - don't even think about recording close to sunset; wish it had more optical zoom
like Negatize says: don't rely on the DV camera to take good still pictures.
don't know if the new canon's have done anything about the poor night-shot.
pro's: came with firewire card + card reader (was a promotion)
con's: lux sucks - don't even think about recording close to sunset; wish it had more optical zoom
like Negatize says: don't rely on the DV camera to take good still pictures.
don't know if the new canon's have done anything about the poor night-shot.
April-30th-2003, 08:22 AM
#5
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Originally posted by NegatiZE
One slight thing to keep in mind,
DV cameras that take "still" photos don't exactly produce high quality pictures. Everyone I know tells me how cool their DV cams are because of this, I just look at them and laugh. To me, it's just a selling point.
One slight thing to keep in mind,
DV cameras that take "still" photos don't exactly produce high quality pictures. Everyone I know tells me how cool their DV cams are because of this, I just look at them and laugh. To me, it's just a selling point.
The reviews I've read of the Canon so far have been very good, and I've found it for around $440 online... We may have a winner
April-30th-2003, 03:41 PM
#6
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Digital video camera , that take pictures(still) are a compromise and the photo's don't tend to come out as good as they would in a full digital camera.... I would rather get a top notch Camera that does still shots(primary) and short movies or available memory movies. The picture Quality will be much better, and the movies will be decent quality.
check out www.dpreview.com they have camera reviews and photo galleries for most cameras
Bruce
check out www.dpreview.com they have camera reviews and photo galleries for most cameras
Bruce
May-1st-2003, 08:12 AM
#7
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Originally posted by Bruce95fmla
Digital video camera , that take pictures(still) are a compromise and the photo's don't tend to come out as good as they would in a full digital camera.... I would rather get a top notch Camera that does still shots(primary) and short movies or available memory movies. The picture Quality will be much better, and the movies will be decent quality.
check out www.dpreview.com they have camera reviews and photo galleries for most cameras
Bruce
Digital video camera , that take pictures(still) are a compromise and the photo's don't tend to come out as good as they would in a full digital camera.... I would rather get a top notch Camera that does still shots(primary) and short movies or available memory movies. The picture Quality will be much better, and the movies will be decent quality.
check out www.dpreview.com they have camera reviews and photo galleries for most cameras
Bruce
I've seen some 'movies' taken by digital cams, 320x240 at like 25fps is NOT what I'm looking for! I just think that the still taking ability is a cool feature that I wouldn't mind having in a VIDEO CAMERA.
Stop trying to sell me a new dig cam bruce!!!!
May-1st-2003, 04:19 PM
#8
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I was reading some reviews on cnet.com today, and a lot of people didn't like the canon because of the low-light picture quality, and also there is some sort of background noise on the tape. Looks like I'll be going for the sony tvr22, out of 21 reviews, not one person didn't reccomend it... too bad it's like a good $100 more 
Oh well
Oh well
May-2nd-2003, 09:27 AM
#9
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I have the Panasonic PV-DC252. I _THINK_ the PV-DV203 is the replacement for it.
I would highly suggest the Panasonics. The reason I chose this over all the rest; For the price, this was the smallest, and it was the ONLY one that had any kind of logical ergonomics to it.
It was the only one that I saw that you could run through the menu with your right hand. All the others seemed to have the menuing controls built for the left hand, so you had to use both hands to do anything.
The other nice feature was the built in SD/MMC slot. That way I don't have to do the hour and a half download just to get to my stills.
I would highly suggest the Panasonics. The reason I chose this over all the rest; For the price, this was the smallest, and it was the ONLY one that had any kind of logical ergonomics to it.
It was the only one that I saw that you could run through the menu with your right hand. All the others seemed to have the menuing controls built for the left hand, so you had to use both hands to do anything.
The other nice feature was the built in SD/MMC slot. That way I don't have to do the hour and a half download just to get to my stills.
May-2nd-2003, 10:41 AM
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Originally posted by Arkos
I have the Panasonic PV-DC252. I _THINK_ the PV-DV203 is the replacement for it.
I would highly suggest the Panasonics. The reason I chose this over all the rest; For the price, this was the smallest, and it was the ONLY one that had any kind of logical ergonomics to it.
It was the only one that I saw that you could run through the menu with your right hand. All the others seemed to have the menuing controls built for the left hand, so you had to use both hands to do anything.
The other nice feature was the built in SD/MMC slot. That way I don't have to do the hour and a half download just to get to my stills.
I have the Panasonic PV-DC252. I _THINK_ the PV-DV203 is the replacement for it.
I would highly suggest the Panasonics. The reason I chose this over all the rest; For the price, this was the smallest, and it was the ONLY one that had any kind of logical ergonomics to it.
It was the only one that I saw that you could run through the menu with your right hand. All the others seemed to have the menuing controls built for the left hand, so you had to use both hands to do anything.
The other nice feature was the built in SD/MMC slot. That way I don't have to do the hour and a half download just to get to my stills.
May-2nd-2003, 12:51 PM
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Yea, I tried it out at Circuit City, I thought it was fine. I'd really like to go for something other than sony, but every review I read has something bad to say about all the other cameras wheter it be their poor low-light performance (which is important to me), or what have you. The only drawback of the sony's is they don't seem to be as good of a value initially (Less features, higher price), but the value is that everything works exactly how it should... which is a value in itself.
May-17th-2003, 01:15 PM
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Well, sorry to bring back this old thread, but I ordered my Video Cam today.
I ended up getting a Sony TRV19. Same basic features as the TRV22, but doesn't have a color viewfinder, no memory stick slot for dig. photos, but I decided I don't care about that anymore... And that's about it. The nightshot on the TRV22 is a little better, but I dunno how much I'll be able to use mine. Cost about $500. Should get it early next week. Look for lots of stupid videos from me, coming soon! Now I just need a place to host them... Ahhh well, details, details
I ended up getting a Sony TRV19. Same basic features as the TRV22, but doesn't have a color viewfinder, no memory stick slot for dig. photos, but I decided I don't care about that anymore... And that's about it. The nightshot on the TRV22 is a little better, but I dunno how much I'll be able to use mine. Cost about $500. Should get it early next week. Look for lots of stupid videos from me, coming soon!
Now I just need a place to host them... Ahhh well, details, details
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