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The best DV solution for home use
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Hello,
I am just overwhelmed by acronyms. Please someone give me a straight answer as to which is the best digital camcorder to use with my TI for home use, and why? Why Mini DV or Digital8? Does it really matter?
About the only thing I know is that Firewire would be the way to go. Some help, eh?
Thanks everyone. People like me should be banned from posting, but again no question is too stupid to be asked, right?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, UT USA
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Originally posted by dooflop:
<STRONG>Hello,
I am just overwhelmed by acronyms. Please someone give me a straight answer as to which is the best digital camcorder to use with my TI for home use, and why? Why Mini DV or Digital8? Does it really matter?
About the only thing I know is that Firewire would be the way to go. Some help, eh?
Thanks everyone. People like me should be banned from posting, but again no question is too stupid to be asked, right?
</STRONG>
Okay, here's a little info for you. You're looking for a camcorder, it's going to be digital, because otherwise you'll be spending too much extra to connect some sort of analog camera. Without an expensive DV Bridge (a complex adaptor basically) you're only realistic route is to use Firewire. There really isn't anything else.
Almost every Mini DV cam you see around will have a firewire port to connect to your Ti. MiniDV in my experience is of higher quality than Digital 8. And Digital 8 isn't nearly as popular as miniDV either.
In terms of brands, I would recommend Canon. They have a Superior lense and they simply make the best cameras out there. Sony pulls a close second. The King of Consumer DV cameras is the Canon XL-1. It runs around $3500 new right now. The next step down at about $2000 (sometimes less. Shop around) is the GL-1. It's got beautiful quality as well, but is a little less versital. I'm unfortunately not as familiar with the Sonys but they're worth a look.
The question (as always) is: "What are you trying to do?"
•Make Home Movies to show Friends and Family?
•Get started in independant Cinema?
• etc etc..
I probably haven't helped a lot, My advice.. Check the iMovies camera compatibility list. It should help you out in terms of compatibility. The list can be found here.
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2008 iMac 3.06 Ghz, 2GB Memory, GeForce 8800, 500GB HD, SuperDrive
8gb iPhone on Tmobile
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Near Antietam Creek
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For more info, try 2-pop's message boards. This site deals with many topics regarding DV, from hobbyist to professional.
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I am stupidest when I try to be funny.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: May 1999
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So ok, Dooflop, I think what we need to know here is what you are actually going to use this camera for? I'm guessing it has something to do with bacon grease, hamsters, 8 inch spikes and battery operated appliances...
The reason we need to know this is purely voyeuristic, ie. we want to know the web site you will be posting it to.
At any rate, miniDV is the way to go. It is now, it is the near future, and it has a much better rendering of fleshtones.
out
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
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For just basic home movies, I have a Canon ZR10 that I like a lot. It's a miniDV camera that's small, easy to use, and has analog in/out ports for transferring to or from a VCR. And it works well with iMovie. It's discontinued, but the ZR20 is similar for $650.
Or, the ZR25 MC ($800) adds memory card slot for stills, and a progressive scan mode for sharper stills and sharper Web video.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Aug 2000
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I second all of the above. Spend the $$ for miniDV and Firewire or you'll regret it later. Canon and Sony set the standards, although Panasonic has been making some good machines as well. Sony has some advantages (direct analog-to-harddrive conversion), but I prefer the ergonomics and build of the Canons. For amateur use, the ZR series is great, as is the Elura2, which I believe is the smallest on the market. Get at least one extra high-capacity battery - you'll need it.
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Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Thanks all for such great advices.
So we're clear that miniDV and FireWire is the way to go. What other specs are essential to quality home digital video experience?
What else is a must? I guess batery life and compact size are common sense, but what about technical data, what makes the cameras you are recommending good cameras?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Salt Lake City, UT USA
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Originally posted by dooflop:
<STRONG>Thanks all for such great advices.
So we're clear that miniDV and FireWire is the way to go. What other specs are essential to quality home digital video experience?
What else is a must? I guess batery life and compact size are common sense, but what about technical data, what makes the cameras you are recommending good cameras?</STRONG>
Be sure to get a camera with 3 CCDs. It's pretty common, but if you get anything less, you'll get lousy quality.. (well, less quality..)
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2008 iMac 3.06 Ghz, 2GB Memory, GeForce 8800, 500GB HD, SuperDrive
8gb iPhone on Tmobile
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