[Moderator]

I have $800 to spend and I'm doing it this week. Despite the inferior CCD, I'm inclined to get the ZR25mc because its so small that I'll actually take it places, and I'll save some $ to boot.

Does anyone think that's a bad idea?

[stumper]

Originally posted by Moderator:
<STRONG>I have $800 to spend and I'm doing it this week. Despite the inferior CCD, I'm inclined to get the ZR25mc because its so small that I'll actually take it places, and I'll save some $ to boot.

Does anyone think that's a bad idea?</STRONG>

Well, there's no substitute for 3 CCDs. But then again, there's no substitute for the large sum of money you save by choosing a single CCD camera. Thats a budget decision, and a lot of it comes down to how much filing you plan to do and of what type. If you plan on shooting the kids/family - typicla home movie stuff, then a sginel CCD will suffice. If you actually are semi-serious, and plan on putting together some productions (possibly studio quality) the the extra money is well spent.

That said, I would caution you on the ZR25mc. I had one and returned it. The low light performance was just too disappointing. I am NOT refereing to the built in low light mode; that exists for shooting in near-dark conditions and reduces the shutter speed to the point where the video is almost unusable anyway. I'm referring to conditions that you may encounter in your home, under what I would call average lighting. The only room where the footage was decent was the kitchen, where I have large flourecents installed. Everywhere else, the footage was very grainy unless the sun happened to be pouring into the room at that specific time.

Outdoor/sunlight performance was very good. If you plan on using the camera for this type of filming (sporting events, etc) then you may not have problems. Ergonnomically, the ZR is a great design and it is super easy to use. But, I can't take my kid outside every time she does something cute :-)

I ended up with the Sony DCR-TRV17. You can find it for just over $800 on the net, and I found that my local Sears was willing to match my best internet price (shocking but true; you have to ask, and sometimes talk to a manager). Its not as slick ergonomically as the ZR, but it has more features. It does perform better in lower-light situations, and it has a hot shoe to attach a video light or zoom mic (so does the ZR 30, but then you're at the same price point as the Sony).

both are small enough that you can take them anywhere, anytime. The Sony a little less so, because the ZR is so tiny. But neither one would be a hassle. I'd recommend carrying each in a padded case anyway; I'm not a big fan of cramming expensive electronics into my pocket. But then, I'm a klutz, so...

Defintely so a little more homework if you have the time. I'm not the only one who had problems with the ZR. It doesn't suck, but it has some shortcommings that you need to be aware of.

Eric.

PS: 100% compatible with iMovie.

[Jansar]

Personally, I prefer a Sony camera that uses Memory Sticks to store its files. It's very easy to transfer them to your computer (via USB on the keyboard), and the Memory Sticks also hold a sh*tload of pictures.

I own a DCR-P1, which should be around $800 right now (or less). IT's extremely small, and takes high-quality 3.3 megapixel stills. Try it out sometime.

[Moderator]

. It does perform better in lower-light situations, and it has a hot shoe to attach a video light or zoom mic (so does the ZR 30, but then you're at the same price point as the Sony).


1. Are you saying that the ZR25 can't accomodate a light?

2. I'll definately get a one chip camera..but is the 460,000 pixel zr much worse than a megapixel sony, in real life.

[ 01-17-2002: Message edited by: Moderator ]

[davidgrahammd]

Does the TRV-17 have pass thru capability so I can play old 8mm tapes through it and import them into iMovie. I understand some Sony's do. I just don't know if this one does.

Thanks
QUOTE]Originally posted by stumper:
[
I ended up with the Sony DCR-TRV17. You can find it for just over $800 on the net, and I found that my local Sears was willing to match my best internet price (shocking but true; you have to ask, and sometimes talk to a manager). Its not as slick ergonomically as the ZR, but it has more features. It does perform better in lower-light situations, and it has a hot shoe to attach a video light or zoom mic (so does the ZR 30, but then you're at the same price point as the Sony).

b
PS: 100% compatible with iMovie.[/QB][/QUOTE]

[jules]

Originally posted by Moderator:
<STRONG>I have $800 to spend and I'm doing it this week. Despite the inferior CCD, I'm inclined to get the ZR25mc because its so small that I'll actually take it places, and I'll save some $ to boot.

Does anyone think that's a bad idea?</STRONG>

I was just about to get the same model of Canon...can we get some more opinions on whether this is a good choice? Now I'm having doubts...

[NeoMac]

After extensive research, several weeks ago, I also decided the Sony DCR-TRV17 was the 'optimal' camcorder for consumers (particularly, if you have old 8mm tapes).

It does have analog-to-digital passthrough (conversion), so you can digitize old 8mm tapes to the hard drive and edit them in iMovie. This feature alone is worth several hundred bucks, because that is how much you would need to spend on a digital converter box.

My purchase is delayed for the time being, but if I had to buy right now, the DCR-TRV17 would be my only choice.

Digital camera? Get a Canon S110 Digital Elph. I have one and it's a great.

[jules]

Yea, I agree with you about the elph S110....great camera.

What if you don't need analog to digital conversion (I have no use for that), would you still say the ZR25 is a poor choice?.....

[mattmarshall]

how about the cheaper sony's--say, in the 600 dollar (or less!) range?


and what is with sony's numbering system with these trv's?
isn't it all out of order?

[NeoMac]

Originally posted by jules:
<STRONG>What if you don't need analog to digital conversion (I have no use for that), would you still say the ZR25 is a poor choice?.....</STRONG>

All my research indicated that the ZR-25 (the whole ZR series actually) shoots very poorly indoors. To me, that would make it a poor choice.

According to what I researched, the Sony's seem to have the best feature set and quality reviews. The DCR-TRV series uses Digital8 and start at under $500. But unlike MiniDV, these are bulkier cameras. I used one yesterday (a friend's) and really, they're not that big.

IMO, learning to shoot quality footage is much more important than how fancy a camera you get. Trust me, my uncle has a $1500 camcorder and you spend 30 minutes watching him shoot his shoe, floor and ceiling, with blurs of family - the occasional 500x zoom on someone's nostrel - and then you go puke because of motion sickness.

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: NeoMac ]

[mattmarshall]

Originally posted by NeoMac:
<STRONG> The DCR-TRV series uses Digital8 and start at under $500.
[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: NeoMac ]</STRONG>

which ones can be had for under 500? are they any good?

[zigzag]

Originally posted by NeoMac:
<STRONG>It does have analog-to-digital passthrough (conversion), so you can digitize old 8mm tapes to the hard drive and edit them in iMovie. This feature alone is worth several hundred bucks, because that is how much you would need to spend on a digital converter box.</STRONG>

You don't have to spend hundreds extra on a converter. You can just record the 8mm or VHS to the miniDV camcorder tape via the analog input, then download that tape to your Mac. It's one more step than with the Sonys, which have on-the-fly conversion, but it's no big deal and doesn't require an extra converter. I do it on my Canon all the time.

[Moderator]

Some one mentioned above that the ZR30 has a hot shoe for a video light or mic.

Does anyone know if the ZR25 can accomadate a light..if the problem with the ZR series is poor indoor quality..surely there must be a small video light that could remedy that. No?