Newbie buying a Camcorder

viper69 · 8th March 2007

Hi all

I am a newbie seeking advice to buy a Camcorder from the coming IT show @ suntec.

I know nothing about Camcorder, my budget is below $1,300 and my purpose for buying one is as follows:

1) Keeping memories of my coming wedding
2) Keeping memories of my honeymoon
3) Keeping memories of my newborn cute nephew.
4) keeping memories of my household monthly gathering.

In summary, just for fun, not using it for professional reason.

Criterias very simple:

1) Budget less than S$1,300
2) Must also can take still pictures
3) Can be downloaded easily into the computer.

Question:

1) Whats the diff with using tapes or DVD? Tapes can also be converted and downloaded into the computer, then burned into DVDs right? If so, then whats the diff.

Many thanks for any help.

tommon · 9th March 2007

HDD cameras are still better than DVD. DV is still cheaper than HDV. Try the KVC with 30Gb HDD small and compact.

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?produ...000&pathId=119

or http://www.jvc-asia.com/sg/products/...ediacamera.asp

lwm · 9th March 2007

Originally Posted by tommon

HDD cameras are still better than DVD.

How is HDD better than DVD? In what areas? They both recorded in MPEG-2, right?

tommon · 9th March 2007

DVD plays in encored MPEG2. Thus once the data is burned into DVD format, it's no longer in the normal MPEG2 format. Have you try opening a DVD in the PC. It gives you some funny files that you cannot play or you have pix but no sound or vice versa. While HDD just gives pure MPEG2 that you could download into PC via USB or Firewire. For 1.3k JVC have a good deal at the IT Show @ Suntec.

viper69 · 10th March 2007

I am contemplating to get a Canon MD 140 or MD 160. Any comments?

tommon · 10th March 2007

Not sure, Canon's not very good at consumer camcorders. Samsung is good.

shojibake · 10th March 2007

You might want to try harddrive solutions because transfer rates to PC is faster. DVD players with firewire/usb out should allow you to transfer to PC as well. You won't actually need to pop in the DVD into the computer to do a transfer. And compared to tape based formats, DVD camera transfers are a lot faster. The upside of using a DVD camcorder is that you should be able to play it on a normal DVD player, but you might have to finalise the disc to do that, so you don't need to go into the hassle of authoring a DVD just to show the videos to relatives and all that.

8th March 2007	#1
viper69 New Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2	Newbie buying a Camcorder Hi all I am a newbie seeking advice to buy a Camcorder from the coming IT show @ suntec. I know nothing about Camcorder, my budget is below $1,300 and my purpose for buying one is as follows: 1) Keeping memories of my coming wedding 2) Keeping memories of my honeymoon 3) Keeping memories of my newborn cute nephew. 4) keeping memories of my household monthly gathering. In summary, just for fun, not using it for professional reason. Criterias very simple: 1) Budget less than S$1,300 2) Must also can take still pictures 3) Can be downloaded easily into the computer. Question: 1) Whats the diff with using tapes or DVD? Tapes can also be converted and downloaded into the computer, then burned into DVDs right? If so, then whats the diff. Many thanks for any help.

9th March 2007	#2
tommon Deregistered Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Currently, Singapore but hope Posts: 729	Re: Newbie buying a Camcorder HDD cameras are still better than DVD. DV is still cheaper than HDV. Try the KVC with 30Gb HDD small and compact. http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?produ...000&pathId=119 or http://www.jvc-asia.com/sg/products/...ediacamera.asp Last edited by tommon; 9th March 2007 at 12:44 AM.

9th March 2007	#4
tommon Deregistered Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Currently, Singapore but hope Posts: 729	Re: Newbie buying a Camcorder DVD plays in encored MPEG2. Thus once the data is burned into DVD format, it's no longer in the normal MPEG2 format. Have you try opening a DVD in the PC. It gives you some funny files that you cannot play or you have pix but no sound or vice versa. While HDD just gives pure MPEG2 that you could download into PC via USB or Firewire. For 1.3k JVC have a good deal at the IT Show @ Suntec.

10th March 2007	#5
viper69 New Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2	Re: Newbie buying a Camcorder I am contemplating to get a Canon MD 140 or MD 160. Any comments?

10th March 2007	#6
tommon Deregistered Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Currently, Singapore but hope Posts: 729	Re: Newbie buying a Camcorder Not sure, Canon's not very good at consumer camcorders. Samsung is good.

10th March 2007	#7
shojibake Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 385	Re: Newbie buying a Camcorder You might want to try harddrive solutions because transfer rates to PC is faster. DVD players with firewire/usb out should allow you to transfer to PC as well. You won't actually need to pop in the DVD into the computer to do a transfer. And compared to tape based formats, DVD camera transfers are a lot faster. The upside of using a DVD camcorder is that you should be able to play it on a normal DVD player, but you might have to finalise the disc to do that, so you don't need to go into the hassle of authoring a DVD just to show the videos to relatives and all that.