Camcorders forum: Im looking for a good Hard Disc Camcorder.

the pioneer hard disk comcorder is still JVC.
YOU'RE NUT IF YOU DID N'T KNOW THAT.
SONY &Panasonic got to follow THE LEADER JVC on hard disk comcorders.
ps :
i am not work for JVC .

Sony has learned from JVCs mistakes and has improved on them. That DEFINITELY makes Sony a WAY MUCH BETTER CAMCORDER!!! JVC has horrible video (so I have heard). Sony improved on JVC's mishaps and has produced a quality HDD camcorder that is the BEST HDD CAMCORDER AVAILABLE!!!

Even though Sony announced to the world that their AVCHD format is supported, none, not even Sony has plans to support it soon... that said other than having High Definition absoolutely useless at this time, I'm hapyy with the HDR-Sr1 camera that arrived last week, and hope SOMEONE may actually read in those high def files someday.

Too bad Sony has to ie to us all to get us interested before the product is useable.

The file format is m2ts, not m2t as on your tape... currently there is no software that exists that can convert or deal with this format!!! In other words I cannot edit a file that does not actually exists anywhere but on my hard drive.

Another example:

Thjgt ywere befg wthre aftdy wiygvyuf !

This is a language I just made up, but I'm going to tell the world how to translate, and some large corporations commit to learning it, but those large corporations have no timeline or commitment of investment... how many do you think will learn my new language?

I just purchased the sr1 not knowing about the format problem. Have you found a software editing program that works?

Hi all,

I need an advice regarding purchasing a camcorder. I have been following this discussion topic and I found it interesting knowing that there are people out there who are expert in this area apart from the sellers in the shop who main objective is to sell the expensive ones in their stores!!!

I want to purchase a camcorder, not very expensive, i can say for budget user. The main purpose for the camcorder is for travelling and also for functions. I want something that I can give me good picture, video and audio quality.

Please advice.

Thanks.

Thanks for your reply.

When I say budget, I mean I would love to have as much features as possible and good quality, with reasonable price. Yes, I would love to have mic, casing, tripod etc.

I will occasionally edit, depending on the shot taken and yes I am looking for a comcorder that will able me to take still pics. Night and day , indoors and outdoors required. Would be very happy if can get a high definition cam. Good audio is important but can be compromised. I have done lots of research, reading forums and reviews and also been to the shops, but the more I read the more confuse I get.

I found that sony has a lot of good reviews and considering to buy Sony DCR-SR100. But the price here is around 600. But if it is worth spending that much money, I wouldn't mind spending. I would love to get comparatively good camcorder at 300.

Thanks.

Hi boya84...

Thank you for your reply. Really appreciate your views. another question I want to ask is what is the maximum time I can record if I am to buy a DVD Camcorder? Is it 30 minutes?

I have a Sony Mini DVD Camcorder, which is now my back-up as I have purchased the Hard Drive SR-100.
A DVD can be one or two sided. Each side is rated at 30 minutes which is standard. Twenty minutes for HQ and one hour for extended play. Someone mentioned finalizing, earlier. If you use a RW disc, you can unfinalize later and use it again.
If you go for a sony at all, the two main lenses are either Vario Tessar and Vario Sonnar. The Sonnar is a far superior lense system. Hope this helps.

D

The SR-100, like most Hard Drive cameras is 7 hours in High Quality, 14 hours in standard and almost 21 hours in extended LP. The SR40 is cheaper and the video quality is not as good. In my opinion... In Canadian dollars the SR40 is under $800.00 and the SR-100 is around $1100.00. I believe you said you wanted a cheaper camera, but for my usage, the SR-100 has impressed me. You can read more of my opinion if you go to the rating site for the SR-100 and look under the heading of "Finally Happy" in the user opinions.
If you get a Hard Drive Camera, you can directly burn to a DVD without losing quality through analog cables. This gives you 1 hour and 2 minutes on a disc. If you have a longer recording, you could use a DVD recorder to keep it all on one disc.It can be set at 2, 4 and 6 hours.

I have not found a software yet, but expect it soon. I HOPE. I was cosidering returning the camera but from all the reviews I have read, it looks like its here to stay and its going to be a popular format. I am going to Japan in December and hope by the time I return there will be a editing software for it. In the meantime I will just store the raw footage.

First and Foremost I purchased this camera in Florida from Brandsmart USA for 1299.. DO NOT pay more.. Get it at B and H or like.

The format..

1st off you can record and Edit in any editor the SD Mpeg2, 16:9 or 4:3 format.. in Hq its 9M . You can do this from the menu and use the usb cable to dum the files right on your computer..

2nd you can Record in the top HD format and the software that comes with the camera, will in fact save a copy you can edit in mpeg2 sd format.

The camera is super simple, the software that comes with it also easy and simple to use..

For 1299 this is a better choice than the MC505 or other format systems.. Tape Is DEAD.. I have read that the next gen Cameras are going to be 25M and that AVCHD is going to replace HDV. Honestly who wants to record to tape, rewind tape, search tape, feed tape into your system, and all that.. As for the little dvd's I dont like that too much.. HD is super fast and this camera is only 300 bucks more then a SD mc505..

Soon, Very Soon, All the software will be able to edit the AVCHD. Vegas 7 and all the others before you know it.. for now you archive your HD video. If you MUST MUST edit HD Video This WEEK get an open box HDV cam at best buy for 500 - 650 bucks..

I would love to have an FX-7 but its still HDV tape. I dont want to waste money on such an old outdated methoid of work.

This is a good unit for the price.. Dont forget to get the big batteries for it as the standard bat is not good enough..

Thanks
Brett

I've been researching this for a couple of weeks now. My conclusions are based on needs vs. wants vs. affordability.

If you really, absolutely must have an HDD camera right NOW I would go with Sony's SR1. $1200 to $1400. It will take 1080i. AND is has a viewfinder. I like that. BAttery life is important also. Using the larger LCD screen really eats into the battery life.
The SR100 is also a nice choice. About $900 US. It has 5.1 surround sound capabilities etc, but no viewfinder. Also, not HiDef (1080i).

However, I agree with boya84, I don't think the HDD is yet a "proven technology". As you read many of the posts here, as well as elsewhere, and realize the problems of; long term storage, Hard Drive failure, compression, file transfer, battery life, and video editing; you will see that an HDD camera may not be quite right just yet.

I'm NOT saying it's bad. If you are not going to be taking that much video, will be transferring it very soon after taking it, and (hopefully)have or will shortly have the editing software for it, by all means, get the SR1.

However, I personally am waiting another year or so before deciding on an HDD camcorder. If I had to recommend a choice to anyone right now it would be MiniDV. I know, I know, tape is so old fashioned. Yet, it's plentiful, inexpensive and also stores just fine. Even it does degrade over time, I have 10 yr tapes that still look good. Not one of the 23 computers I have in my house has a Hard Drive over 7 yrs old.

Finally, if you DO decide to go HDD, I would recommend you get yourself a good 500GB portable backup drive and whatever connectors you need to transfer the drive if you're going to take a lot of video. There are small transfer connectors out there that don't require a computer.

Thanks to everyone who posted here. I learned some stuff myself and appreciate your taking the time to put in YOUR 2cents.
-Q
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