[raugustyn]

Hi,

I am planning on buying a digital camcorder and would like your opinions on what to get and possibly what to stay away from.

What I would like to get is a good picture on Dila or any digital projector, decent stills, ability to edit video on a PC I do not care about 100 futures this would have and I would never use.

Thanks in advance.

robert



------------------

robert

 

[raugustyn]

brian,

How trv900 compares with trv20?

Thank you.


------------------

robert

 

[Mitch Sink]

Hi,


There are one or two models on the market (possibly Canon) that can shoot true 30 fps progressive. If you want this feature be careful as there is a lot of misinformation. Most of the "progressive" models either combine the fields (XL1) or record the same field twice (Sony VX1000 and VX200).


Also a very nice feature is OPTICAL image stabilization.


Best Wishes,


Mitch

 

[raugustyn]

Mitch,

So which would camcorder would you recomend?



------------------

robert

 

[Jet-X]

Any 3-CCD camera will suffice (I personally like the Sony TRV-900)


Then, I recommend for accessories:


-Optex 16:9 anamorphic lens for shooting 16:9 video

-DataTek Video DV Converter (converts firewire to component video YUV output)


Yields an awesome picture on my D-ILA


-Brian


------------------

*always looking for Hi-Vision laserdiscs*

 

[video joe]

I have several recommendations, but what is your price range??? (Do you already have the computer?)

 

[raugustyn]

Joe,

I would like to stay under $1500 but if I can get 95% of quality at 1000 or less then I would go for that.

Yes I have a good pc, but I would need a firewire card.

Thank you



------------------

robert

 

[Mitch Sink]

Hi Robert,


I have not been in the Market for a camcorder for a long time so I am not sure which one to recommend. My ideal camcorder would have the following features:

1. 3 CCD - better colors. All professional cameras use 3 ccds.


2. Optical Image Stabilization. Image stabilization is great. Some of your

shots will look much better and you will be able to get shots you couldn't

get without this feature (walking backwards for example). Normal

(non optical) image stabilization degrades image quality substantially.

A Panasonic rep told me their image stabilization (not optical) reduced

horizontal resolution from about 500 lines to about 330 lines.


3. The abitity to record a true progressive signal at 30fps.


I am not even sure that there is a unit on the market with all of these features. Some of the Sony and Canon units have optical image stabilization. If the Optura and/or the Optura P1 have 3 CCD's and optical image stabilization and they fit your budget they are probably good choices.


The following is the information I have on progressive camcorders. I think the Sony he is referring to is the VX1000. I am almost positive the VX2000 is the same. This information was sent to me in Audust 2000 by an author who tested these units:


---------- progressive info ----------

The Optura captures and USES all 480-lines. 240 go into field 1 and 240

go into field 2.


That's REAL progressive!


The XL1/GL1 use only 240-lines, but then interpolate, using the green

CCD offset, to get about 360-lines. Sony gets you only 240-lines.


> Are there any other camcorders that you are aware of that use REAL

> progressive?


THE OPTURA, OPTURA PI AND POSSIBLY THE JVC 9800.

---------- end progressive info ----------


BTW: The current issue of The Perfect Vision has an article on Windows XP that stated its plug and play automatically recognized his DVCAM camcorder hooked up via firewire so you might want to run XP on your system to facilitate editing your material.


Best Wishes,


Mitch



[This message has been edited by Mitch Sink (edited 07-01-2001).]