video camera for the boat - which one?

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BlueSkyNick

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Ive decided its about time I invested in a video camera, seeing as I gave up on Super-8 cine about 25 years ago (Note to self - have films transferred to DVD).

I would like something simple and compact, to use on board for an upcoming passage from Spain to UK and then after.

Been on to the interweb but there are more compare.camera sites than there are products on the market.

The key critieria seem to be pixels, optical zoom, battery life, weight, .... erm....

Any tips?
 
Well, back end of last year, I wanted a vid camera for the boat and the Grandson, or was it he other way round?
I bought a used video outfit off a private buyer on ebay. Its a Samsung VP-W70U low to mid range model, 3 years old, came with all cables, charger, carrycase and 3 new blank tapes.
Get this: 56 quid.
I thought the same as you, but my parsimony extended to have a unit I wouldn't be too upset if I threw away after a year or two due to salt corrosion, plus, like you, I didn't really appreciate/understand all the modern features. So this one is easing me in nicely.

I only want to capture memories, and have no intention of producing professional grade stuff. How do I know this? Because I watched the Hi8 that I took in 1990 of my 1 year old son only at Christmas, with Mum, SWMBO and (now)17 year old. The technique wobbly, the pic quality so-so, but wonderful memories.

Horses for courses naturally, but I am finding the new cam more than adequate, and SWMBO can operate it too, as it has a large button marked EASY.
I have some (to me) great footage on the boat, especially ploughing up the Orwell with a rake of Forumites on board.
I guess I would like a digital with direct data transfer to PC, but the S-VHS input works OK for me.
 
I think if you can go digital it does make transferring the material without loss of quality much easier and its simpler to edit and share on DVD's.

It is very important to get a 12volt battery charger for the camera.

It is very important to get a bigger battery - longer hours of usage.

I have one digital camera I purchased in Miami 6 years ago - semi pro quality and has had bits replaced now and then but is still working after living in a boat around the world for 6 years....
 
This is just a personal opinion, but we took a digital video camera with us on our 6 month liveaboard jaunt expecting tons of TV to watch afterwards. The truth? Hardly ever used it. Takes up too much time and attention when sailing, too clumsy to keep on your person and too slow to fire up.

However, what was very heavily used was a good quality digital still camera with a movie mode. Most often you want to take a quick still shot and a small camera these days fits easily into pockets etc and is to hand when you need it. There were occasions when a short video was appropriate and we were more inclined to use the still camera in movie mode. You don't get professional quality video but we have far more 15-60 second .mov snapshots we can tie together and get memories from than we ever got from the video camera and without the fag of sorting through tapes. You can keep them in your digital photo albums and (within reason) email them to people too.

If you do get a video camera for boat use, I would suggest getting the smallest one you can to fit in a pocket, preferably with solid state memory (if available) or direct to dvd, and make sure it can also take still pictures of at least 2Mp. Long telephoto lenses are useless on a boat that's moving, one of the (rare) models with a good wideangle for dramatic boaty shots and interiors would be much more useful.

Looking back on our trip now, though, it's the still photo's that are most evocative, not the videos.

just imho
 
Thanks chaps - following Full Circle's suggestion I've just been bidding on ebay for a SOny - last year's model - but didnt get carried away like some of the others in the last 2 minutes - fun to watch!

Kioni, we already have a camera as you suggest, well two actually because I left the first one at home when we went to Spain in October so bought another bottom of the range in Dixons at Gatwick.

Micheal - thanks for the battery tips, too.
 
If possible get one with a socket for an external mic. I got a (new) Canon mini-dv 890 for under £200 last year and the picture quality is good. However the mic was very prone to wind noise and even picks up the noise of the tape transport. An external lapel mic (£20) solves both problems but many budget camcorders don't have a socket. Search back for more advice on this. Mini tripod also useful.

I also use a digital still camera - few cameras give good quality for both still and video even if it is convenient to have both in one device. Ricoh R5 (£200) is worth a look - 28-200mm lens and v. compact. Also Fuji 6500 or 9600 (£250-£300) - 28-300mm zoom, much cheaper than equivalent DSLR.
 
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