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Need to buy new video camera

Discussion in 'Digital camcorders' started by jackthe, Aug 9, 2007.

  1. jackthe

    jackthe Member

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    After 16 years of service our old jvc vhs-c camcorder has bit the dust. We are looking to buy a new one in the $300-400 range. Ive read that mini-dv is the best quality in my price range but Im wanting to stay away from tapes now. I like the idea of the miniDVD but some people say its impossible to transfer your minidvd to the computer and then copy to a full size dvd.
    Others say its as easy as DVDDecyrpter read iso, write iso, done.
    Is the quality of the miniDVD really that bad? Will I loose even more quality by trying to copy to full size dvd?
    Im leaning towards the miniDVD for the fact that the re-write dvd disc can be used over and over. (thats if I can figure out how to copy to full size dvd)
    Any ideas or suggestions about recorders in my price range would be much appreciated. What should I look out for, stay away from etc...
    thx
     
  2. PFloyd

    PFloyd Regular member

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    Go with MiniDV. Better video quality and excellent format to edit and transfer to dvd.
     
  3. GrandpaBW

    GrandpaBW Active member

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    MiniDV tape is far and away, still the best way to go for quality of the picture. MiniDVD's and hard drives don't have the same quality.

    I purchased a Sony DCR-HC96 in January. It uses the MiniDV tapes, and I am very happy with the product that I get from this camcorder.

    I video in widescreen.
     
  4. jackthe

    jackthe Member

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    ok 2 votes that say minidv is the way to go. How are you goes going about getting the minidv(tape) onto a dvd.
     
  5. PFloyd

    PFloyd Regular member

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    Windv to capture, nero to burn to dvd.
     
  6. karonpmcg

    karonpmcg Member

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    Download to your PC - burn to a DVD (fire wire best but can be done through USB.
     
  7. GrandpaBW

    GrandpaBW Active member

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    Most definitely download via firewire. Roxio, Nero, Windv, and many other programs will capture from your camcorder.
     
  8. jackthe

    jackthe Member

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    I doubt I have a firewire port on my computer but I could probably add the card. Any suggestions on witch camera to buy for around $350. Anybody have the canon zr850?
     
  9. GrandpaBW

    GrandpaBW Active member

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    I have read about a number of problems with both Canon and JVC, in other forums, as of late.

    I would stick with Sony or Panasonic right now. There may be something in the $350 price range, but I don't know how good they are. Do a google for reviews on camcorders.
     
  10. PFloyd

    PFloyd Regular member

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    I have both the Canon Elura 100 and the ZR800. Both take excellent videos. Havent had any problems yet.
     
  11. GrandpaBW

    GrandpaBW Active member

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    If you shoot widescreen, don't capture as mpeg2. It will drop the 16:9 flags, but I am not sure if that happens always or just with Vista.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2007
  12. jackthe

    jackthe Member

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    PFloyd-
    Is it really that simple. could you expand on settings with Windv and I guess just convert avi to dvd with nero?
     
  13. LOCOENG

    LOCOENG Moderator Staff Member

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    I bought my wife a JVC HDD camcorder for xmas simply for the ease of use and no extra tapes or discs to carry around. When I finally got around to capturing the video I was pleasantly suprised that "My Computer" recognized the HDD and I was able to open the files directly from the camcorders HDD with DVD Flick or ConvertXtoDVD to create my new DVD compliant files which burned flawlessly with Imgburn. I know the quality isn't the best, but for ease of use I don't think it gets any better.
     
  14. GrandpaBW

    GrandpaBW Active member

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    The quality on HDD video cameras is good, so for yours and your wife's ease of use, you made the right choice.

    When I say that MiniDV tape is still the best, I don't mean to imply that the others are not good. They are.
     
  15. LOCOENG

    LOCOENG Moderator Staff Member

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    I know that the miniDV are superior Bruce, but the quality of the HDD were good enough for me and the simplicity was the deciding factor. I also did my research before my purchase so I knew what I was getting format wise...no need to backpedal buddy.
     
  16. GrandpaBW

    GrandpaBW Active member

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    Not a backpedal. Enjoy doing the video work. I just wish they had the good stuff when my kids were growing up. I use my video camera to video as much as I can of the grandkids, and my wife does too.

    Life is good.
     
  17. Sorayna

    Sorayna Guest

    :)ok...I will enjoy..and everyone will enjoy it..I'm sure...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 1, 2007

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