Looking To Buy a Quality Video Camera for Sledding??

[306mafia]

personally i wouldn't do any thing but HighDef. you can still have HD record onto a miniDV but the sonyHD hard drive cameras are so much better. there nice and small also very affordable, and you dont have to buy tapes. if you go HD your going to want a fast computer to edit.

 

[WYrider]

Just don't waist your time on the cheep cameras. Both a friend and I got new video camers last year under the $400 mark and they didn't last long at all before they started to fritz. Combination of bouncing around in a backpack and cold weather I guess. Just my .02

 

[Duke]

personally i wouldn't do any thing but HighDef. you can still have HD record onto a miniDV but the sonyHD hard drive cameras are so much better. there nice and small also very affordable, and you dont have to buy tapes. if you go HD your going to want a fast computer to edit.

I read some reviews on it, they say they are a very durable camera? A buddy bought one last year, I really liked it, it took great film. I am as amateur as it gets, but want a great camera for taping the dumb things we do. Do they have a solid state hard drive ?

 

[Wade]

Some people pointed out that the Harddrive cameras don't do well in the cold.

And, some have pointed out that you want a viewfinder, when filming on bright days.

So, I'm considering this new Panasonic.

Panasonic-HDC-SD100

Viewfinder, 1080/24p, flash memory. I don't know, sounds pretty good to me. Buddy has a Sony HDR-CX7, it does a great job.

Wade

 

[shreddog]

I have a Canon XH-A1 HD camera for sale. I think its the same one as Veedy uses. takes amazing video. $2500 cdn

 

[gunnerthesnowman]

I read some reviews on it, they say they are a very durable camera? A buddy bought one last year, I really liked it, it took great film. I am as amateur as it gets, but want a great camera for taping the dumb things we do. Do they have a solid state hard drive ?

Ha , i liked the nice clear shot of the sky you took.
Gunner

 

[bigbull]

We have one basic issue in filming snowmobiles, SNOW. Snow happens to be white, white is the hardest color to focus on or have your white balance in the right place without pure unfiltered sunshine. Truly, how often do you have the camera out in those conditions? So here is the must haves for cameras in our situation.

1. Storage that best suits your type of editing. Basic programs through a standard home computer we will assume. Simple firewire hookup with the camera
itself doing the sending of the data to your computer. So make sure it is fluid to your editor. Sony has issues with working with other name products. Beware of this. Hard drives lose battery fast in the cold. DVD recording limits your editing options some and uses a lot of battery to record or playback. Memory cards are OK as well as Mini DV at minimums.

2. Lenses: Forget digital zoom, it means nothing, never use it. Get a good quality lens system, Panasonic, Canon, or similar with a Zeiss quality lens system and use a UV filter. They are cheap on ebay and are worth their weight in gold. Some cameras have doublers available aftermarket for doubling the natural zoom, good idea for hillclimbing.

3. Chips: Get a three chip camera with or without HD at minimum. Cant properly process all the color spectrums that a day on the snow gives you without it.

4. Audio: Need to keep it simple here cause we have limited space to pack chit. So try and find a camera where the mic actually protrudes out from the camera body. Most all that have this option also allow for wind muffs. You can PM for some help in this department. Ever listen to audio on a cool video shot and here all that dam whistling the whole time? Could be a small 10mph breeze causing that.

5. HD: Too much info to cover here really. Jlowe would do the best definition of your options here anyhow because he is familiar with the formatting of this technology the most. And yes, there is more than one type and variation.

6. One last suggestion, get a camera with a manual focus option. You wont be left constantly searching for your subject on the hill with this option in more inclement weather. Digital autofocusing will bounce back and forth trying to focus on your subject and never really hold it if there is a little or a lot of snow falling or some fog or overcast skies.

So in all respects, shop carefully, use others bad purchases as learning curve you can avoid and use the KISS principle and lees things will go wrong when you are out in the elements banging an expensive piece of electronics around in your pack.

Hope this helps.
BB

 

[Duke]

We have one basic issue in filming snowmobiles, SNOW. Snow happens to be white, white is the hardest color to focus on or have your white balance in the right place without pure unfiltered sunshine. Truly, how often do you have the camera out in those conditions? So here is the must haves for cameras in our situation.

1. Storage that best suits your type of editing. Basic programs through a standard home computer we will assume. Simple firewire hookup with the camera
itself doing the sending of the data to your computer. So make sure it is fluid to your editor. Sony has issues with working with other name products. Beware of this. Hard drives lose battery fast in the cold. DVD recording limits your editing options some and uses a lot of battery to record or playback. Memory cards are OK as well as Mini DV at minimums.

2. Lenses: Forget digital zoom, it means nothing, never use it. Get a good quality lens system, Panasonic, Canon, or similar with a Zeiss quality lens system and use a UV filter. They are cheap on ebay and are worth their weight in gold. Some cameras have doublers available aftermarket for doubling the natural zoom, good idea for hillclimbing.

3. Chips: Get a three chip camera with or without HD at minimum. Cant properly process all the color spectrums that a day on the snow gives you without it.

4. Audio: Need to keep it simple here cause we have limited space to pack chit. So try and find a camera where the mic actually protrudes out from the camera body. Most all that have this option also allow for wind muffs. You can PM for some help in this department. Ever listen to audio on a cool video shot and here all that dam whistling the whole time? Could be a small 10mph breeze causing that.

5. HD: Too much info to cover here really. Jlowe would do the best definition of your options here anyhow because he is familiar with the formatting of this technology the most. And yes, there is more than one type and variation.

6. One last suggestion, get a camera with a manual focus option. You wont be left constantly searching for your subject on the hill with this option in more inclement weather. Digital autofocusing will bounce back and forth trying to focus on your subject and never really hold it if there is a little or a lot of snow falling or some fog or overcast skies.

So in all respects, shop carefully, use others bad purchases as learning curve you can avoid and use the KISS principle and lees things will go wrong when you are out in the elements banging an expensive piece of electronics around in your pack.

Hope this helps.
BB

Thx BB, I think am going to keep it simple, stay away from a hard drive and go with a Canon. Any editing tips for dummy's for harddrive and tape ? thx

 

[shreddog]

just make sure if you go hard drive style your cam doesn't record audio and video as 1 "muxed track". VERY HARD TO EDIT WITH.
Most traditional cameras (HD included) record 1 track for audio and 1 track for video. a lot of these new hd hard drive units will screw you over when it's time to edit video. muxed video is not accepted by most editing softwares.
def do some research on cameras with muxed tracks. I would stick with a unit that records onto mini dv cassettes or go full boar and get the pansonic that jlowe uses. the pana vx200 is amazing but you pay for it at the checkout line.
It;s my dream camera

 

[runsfromdacops]

lets keep this thread going lots of god info in here and i am in the market for one as well

-alex

 

[firecatguy]

anyone here use this cam or have any idea how it works???

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Cano...sem/rpsm/oid/206686/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do



thanks

 

[Duke]

Canon

Great feedback, thanks everyone. Lets say I buy the Canon HV30, what about accessories and options, any ideas there.

 

[Duke]

Ha , i liked the nice clear shot of the sky you took.
Gunner

I can imagine, haha, there's probably a few nods, holy fawks, and maybe a dive roll or two in there too. lol

 

[SNOW JW]

My Mom just got the Sony HDR SR11

Seems ok but there are just so many options out there right now.

1. So for us average joe blow guys do we need Mini DV or a Hard Drive???

2. What brands and units in HD are good in the $650 to $1200 range???

 

[bigbull]

BTW, I forgot to mention that I have a full blown setup for sale too. It is a CANON GL2 with wind muffs and lots of cool goodies. Check out that model online and PM me if you are interested. Not many hours on it and NEVER used for an editor.
BB

 

[bigbull]

TAPE: Can be a little longer to edit and it is obviously important to keep clean, dry and perfect as possible. Has a shelf life for quality. More dropped frames while recording in most cases. But easy to change memory when full No data dump necessary.

Hard drive: Wow, I guess I shouldnt tell you about how many I have owned which didn't even survive in my office? Too risky for me. I would take a chip card (memory stick) over the hard drive personally, especially for this application.
BB

 

[Duke]

TAPE: Can be a little longer to edit and it is obviously important to keep clean, dry and perfect as possible. Has a shelf life for quality. More dropped frames while recording in most cases. But easy to change memory when full No data dump necessary.

Hard drive: Wow, I guess I shouldnt tell you about how many I have owned which didn't even survive in my office? Too risky for me. I would take a chip card (memory stick) over the hard drive personally, especially for this application.
BB

Thx BB, been a helpful thread.

 

[Veedy]

Great info and participation by everyone ! good positive vibe in here too. I shoot with a Canon XH-A1 and a Canon HV-30 camera. The HV-30 is a great camera, has sweet video in good light for a single chip CMOS. Very functionable with manual controls and focus. Light small and not power hungry. The audio is decent, but is much better with the optional shotgun mic from Canon ( DM-50 ) which has 3 selections of shotgun and 2 stereo modes. All the patterns are useful too. You can monitor audio via headphones and external stereo jack. Mini-DV is still the industry standard for reliability and it's the cheapest way to record HD ( HDV ) video. Solid state is better for cramming more bandwidth but you can chew up memory very fast ( almost 1 gb per 1 min ) and the cards are pricey. I have heard more than one time of the cards going corrupt after a shoot and the videographer losing a days shoot. That would be terrible. You may drop the odd frame on MiniDV, but at least the video is still there and recoverable. The HV-20 or 30 is a small camera that would impress anyone put in the right hands. The XH-A1 is bulky but gives a slight edge to it's smaller cousin. Also Audio is unmatched with XLR inputs you can mount a mic such as the Siennhieser ME66 to gain unrivaled audio.
If your looking for a compact camera that gives great quality there are a ton on the market, do some research, but take some advice here : for sledding purposes, stay clear of HDD cameras, and disc cameras. HDD cams are too fragile for the elements, and disc cameras are just too much of a PITA to edit from. The AVCHD codec is making it's way into the compact market, especially the HDD and solid state cameras. Glitchy to work with , but decent for the consumer crowd. As much of a motor head I am, the techy gadget geek comes out every time.
I'm with Dave, the HVX200 is my dream camera, but maybe when the HVX300 comes out and they give the sensors more resoluton, improve the LCD monitor, a new viewfinder, upgrade the firmware, balance that sucker ( front heavy ) allow HDV codec to be recorded on the tape drive, along with 720p and fix the i-frame !! ( at least there is no rolling shutter like the Sony ) also allow variable frame rates to be recorded on the tape drive. Also change the P2 to SxS, lol. ( works better on Mac laptops for archival purposes ) Ditch the 12x lens for at least a 15x ( learn from Canon with their flourite 20x L series ) ... maybe even interchangable lenses and 1/2" chips, maybe PL mount ? i'm not asking for much am I ???

Check out www.camcorderinfo.com for your consumer camera choices ! happy shopping !!

 

[Duke]

Great info and participation by everyone ! good positive vibe in here too. I shoot with a Canon XH-A1 and a Canon HV-30 camera. The HV-30 is a great camera, has sweet video in good light for a single chip CMOS. Very functionable with manual controls and focus. Light small and not power hungry. The audio is decent, but is much better with the optional shotgun mic from Canon ( DM-50 ) which has 3 selections of shotgun and 2 stereo modes. All the patterns are useful too. You can monitor audio via headphones and external stereo jack. Mini-DV is still the industry standard for reliability and it's the cheapest way to record HD ( HDV ) video. Solid state is better for cramming more bandwidth but you can chew up memory very fast ( almost 1 gb per 1 min ) and the cards are pricey. I have heard more than one time of the cards going corrupt after a shoot and the videographer losing a days shoot. That would be terrible. You may drop the odd frame on MiniDV, but at least the video is still there and recoverable. The HV-20 or 30 is a small camera that would impress anyone put in the right hands. The XH-A1 is bulky but gives a slight edge to it's smaller cousin. Also Audio is unmatched with XLR inputs you can mount a mic such as the Siennhieser ME66 to gain unrivaled audio.
If your looking for a compact camera that gives great quality there are a ton on the market, do some research, but take some advice here : for sledding purposes, stay clear of HDD cameras, and disc cameras. HDD cams are too fragile for the elements, and disc cameras are just too much of a PITA to edit from. The AVCHD codec is making it's way into the compact market, especially the HDD and solid state cameras. Glitchy to work with , but decent for the consumer crowd. As much of a motor head I am, the techy gadget geek comes out every time.
I'm with Dave, the HVX200 is my dream camera, but maybe when the HVX300 comes out and they give the sensors more resoluton, improve the LCD monitor, a new viewfinder, upgrade the firmware, balance that sucker ( front heavy ) allow HDV codec to be recorded on the tape drive, along with 720p and fix the i-frame !! ( at least there is no rolling shutter like the Sony ) also allow variable frame rates to be recorded on the tape drive. Also change the P2 to SxS, lol. ( works better on Mac laptops for archival purposes ) Ditch the 12x lens for at least a 15x ( learn from Canon with their flourite 20x L series ) ... maybe even interchangable lenses and 1/2" chips, maybe PL mount ? i'm not asking for much am I ???

Check out www.camcorderinfo.com for your consumer camera choices ! happy shopping !!

Wow, thats exactly what I was thinking. hahahahaha

Sounds like I should go with the HV 30, thx Veedy.

 

[type_a_positive]

Huh, I don`t get it?

Isn`t the camera with the most aftermarket lightweight parts the best choice?