What videocam should I buy?

Cutter

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Havent had one for years but need something I can use at work for generating teaching clips as well as for more general use.
What should I be looking for ?
I know it'll be price dependant but dont know which features are really worth the extra. Guess I'm looking £5-600.
What about waterproof bags for taking it on boat.
Suggestions from the kirk welcome.
Thanks
 
Just checked my order confirmation see below.... they have also had a price increase! ?

From Amazon...
Delivery estimate: 9 Jun 2011 - 25 Jun 2011

1 "Sanyo Xacti CA100 Outdoor/Waterproof Dual Camera (14MP, Full HD recordin
g,
12x Double range Zoom, Waterproof to 3m) - Yellow"
Electronics; £219.00
Usually dispatched within 1 to 2 months
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
 
Panasonic are reliable and have good results.

Sony have given me good service over the years.

sample from a £300 panasonic ( HD. SD card here )

Get one that uses SD card recording - lighter, more rugged.

Make sure that there is a proven path from camera to PC. Panasonics software tools work but aren't exactly stellar. Have a function to load direct to youtube.

HD format minimum.

Might be worth looking at Panasonics HDC SD 600 for around £600
 
I love the go pro very good camera! But after seeing Dylan's video i miss the zoom and the quilty is very good if you view in 1080p on youtube.

Although I love the go pro's strength and abilty to take abuse i do prefer lthe xcacti screen and zoom. The quailty is about the same but the go pro has a wide angle lens which you'll either love or hate.

I might invest in a xacti, then i have got a camera for mounting at crazy angles and underwater shots (go pro) then an handheld (xacti).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XfUOJrA3aw

So you can compare, i only filmed in 720p as 1080p fills my SD card time for a clear out :D

It doesn't fill the youtube screen properly i need to convert it to widescreen.

(After uploading this i actually think the Xacti is better quailty or it might just be Dylan's filming skills!
 
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wow...

I love the go pro very good camera! But after seeing Dylan's video i miss the zoom and the quilty is very good if you view in 1080p on youtube.

Although I love the go pro's strength and abilty to take abuse i do prefer lthe xcacti screen and zoom. The quailty is about the same but the go pro has a wide angle lens which you'll either love or hate.

I might invest in a xacti, then i have got a camera for mounting at crazy angles and underwater shots (go pro) then an handheld (xacti).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XfUOJrA3aw

So you can compare, i only filmed in 720p as 1080p fills my SD card time for a clear out :D

It doesn't fill the youtube screen properly i need to convert it to widescreen.

(After uploading this i actually think the Xacti is better quailty or it might just be Dylan's filming skills!

that lens does some pretty crazy things

I also think tha to be able zoom gives ou the power to frame a shot

and camera work is all about getting something that looks either good or interesting in the shot

Dylan
 
well done Russel

+1 for the Sanyo Xacti CA100. Check my YouTube channel out. All I do it turn it on an point. Nothing to it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/YachtZephyr

Mine is a yellow one for whatever difference that makes.

I really enjoyed that

what I liked was the way that the people are so relaxed

ou can hear it in their voices

good stuff

so...buuy an xacti - the other thing is that it is so easy to manage

do you have a tripod

try buying a maplins cheapo - bungee it to a boat hook

all round it was also doing a pretty good job of the sound

again I think it scores over the Go Pro

blimey sanyo should be paying me for this

Dylan
 
Gorilla pod. Don't buy the smallest one though.


Hi, many rhanks....
I wonder if you could be more specific... as a complete novice at this - which one would be best to have strapped to rigging etc for the size of the Xacti?... and if I want it out on a pole will almost anyhting do as a pole as long as the Gorilla pod held tight?
ta
S.
 
Hi, many rhanks....
I wonder if you could be more specific... as a complete novice at this - which one would be best to have strapped to rigging etc for the size of the Xacti?... and if I want it out on a pole will almost anyhting do as a pole as long as the Gorilla pod held tight?
ta
S.

I used the SLR gorilla pod with mine
 
The smallest model ( original ) is just not secure enough when wrapped around a 1 inch guardrail.

You need a GP2 or SLR at least.

Also a length of line with a snap clip on, tie it to the camera hand or wrist strap and clip to something on the boat. It's a all too easy to fumble when mounting / demounting the camera and like dropped toast falling face down you know that the camera will head for the water!

As for the pole, I'd get a ball head and mount it securely onto a boat hook
 
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