Which videocamera for on board?

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Has anyone a particular recommendation for a mid priced example that can withstand life aboard, is intuitive and doesn't have so many buttons that it confuses an old duffer such as myself? I've never used one of these things before but have enjoyed the recent upgrade from film to digital SLR so thought i'd give digitial movies a go.

TIA

rob
 
Pete

Thanks for the link, no I hadn't seen it. What's all this talk of the "flip" camera - could you give me a link to it please?

rob
 
Even better s small waterproof video camera that can be used as a ....

kitecam

I want one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLqYkoIH7bU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGupz_9mGc

Glaciers in Alaska, Queen Charlotte Islands, Hot Spring Island

So much to video with a kitecam.


I believe that the first models were crude and the short video had to be sent off to be extracted.

Now the video is up to 60 minutes and is downloaded to a computer via the built in usb socket on the camera.

The camera.... have hinted to my wife.....

http://www.theflip.com/



http://www.theflip.com/
 
Depends what you want it for. A flip will provide fairly low quality video and to be honest I can't see the point other than the price. For similar money you can buy a waterproof oregan scientific helmet cam. Just type helmet camera into amazon, but the results are not tv quality It comes with fittings so you can actually mount it on the boat. Another similar route would be a waterproof digital camera with video capability. I have a waterproof olympus its good to 10m and is shock and crush proof and is fine for short clips and takes photos.

For a more polished result I have a cheap sony handycam which uses dv tapes it is compact and you can pick them up for about £120. However they can be a pain to get the video off onto a PC. I suspect for least hassle and techno ability get a DVD camcorder. They are a bit bulkier but cheaper than a harddrive camcorder. You can however stick the DVD straight out of the camera into your DVD machine and watch it on the tv.

Have browse on a site like pixmania lots of different recording formats and prices from dirt cheap to superexpensive.

I will retreat to my corner as I am told I am talking rubbish /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
An aside question: I see most of these camcorder have a requirement of at least a 2GHz processor, I plan to bring a netbook aboard and it has only a 1.6GHz processor: how would this affect the camera ?

I like a lot this "Flip" one -thanks a lot for the link-, but as it has a fixed inside memory I would rely on being able to upload the movie into the netbook (rather than buying a handful of say SD sticks with other camcorders and then reading them with my home PC) to empty the memory and then shoot again: may the processor speed influence this in any way ? (sorry very dumb questions.. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )


also, can one edit in some way the movie ? I don't mean fancy things, just cut the worse takes: is the flip coming with a sort of very simple software ? I haven't been able to fine the info on their site /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

thanks
 
[ QUOTE ]
Depends what you want it for. A flip will provide fairly low quality video and to be honest I can't see the point other than the price. For similar money you can buy a waterproof oregan scientific helmet cam. Just type helmet camera into amazon, but the results are not tv quality It comes with fittings so you can actually mount it on the boat. Another similar route would be a waterproof digital camera with video capability. I have a waterproof olympus its good to 10m and is shock and crush proof and is fine for short clips and takes photos.

For a more polished result I have a cheap sony handycam which uses dv tapes it is compact and you can pick them up for about £120. However they can be a pain to get the video off onto a PC. I suspect for least hassle and techno ability get a DVD camcorder. They are a bit bulkier but cheaper than a harddrive camcorder. You can however stick the DVD straight out of the camera into your DVD machine and watch it on the tv.

Have browse on a site like pixmania lots of different recording formats and prices from dirt cheap to superexpensive.

I will retreat to my corner as I am told I am talking rubbish /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

With price of DVD recorders for home use being price of players a while back - the tape version of cam corders is not so daft. I have a good camcorder that takes the small tapes. Previously I tried all sorts to get it onto PC and it was jerky, lost resolution etc. But now with my cheap DVD recorder - I can plug in the camcorder and record it in as good quality as the tape. Total price - less than a new digi-vid cam
 
I tend to load it up directly onto my vaio laptop. I suspect the issue is the same as putting it into a dvd recorder. You can only upload at normal playback speeds. A recorder like a FLIP uploads at data speeds as it doesn't need to 'play' the output to another device which then records it back into data.
 
My Sony Camcorder has a tripod mount ready to take a bolt. Pipe clamp from local plumbers / builders merchants ....

railholder.jpg


Suitable threaded stud cut to length wound into threaded boss and a nut to lock it in place. DIY corder fitting on rail.

Simple ... works
 
[ QUOTE ]
I tend to load it up directly onto my vaio laptop. I suspect the issue is the same as putting it into a dvd recorder. You can only upload at normal playback speeds. A recorder like a FLIP uploads at data speeds as it doesn't need to 'play' the output to another device which then records it back into data.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK ... fine. Any digital output should be capable of faster transfer, but analogue as the 8mm / VHS etc. tapes will be real-time - no avoiding that. Even friends who have serious DVD transfer biz - have to usually work in real time.

My idea is that an old existing vid-cam allied with a DVD recorder as I have is cheaper than going out for a new digital camcorder. OK it will not be long before tapes will not be available and then I'm stuck with using old tapes over and over again - till finally I'm forced to put hand in pocket ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I have a Sanyo xacti CA65 (there are newer models).
Its solid state, waterproof and solid. Just push the button to record and dont worry about anything else. Definitely recommended.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I like a lot this "Flip" one -thanks a lot for the link-, but as it has a fixed inside memory I would rely on being able to upload the movie into the netbook (rather than buying a handful of say SD sticks with other camcorders and then reading them with my home PC) to empty the memory and then shoot again: may the processor speed influence this in any way ? (sorry very dumb questions.. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif )

[/ QUOTE ]
SHMBO uses a basic hp laptop. Software is installed on the camera and transferred as soon as she plugged the camera into a USB port. Next thing she gets lots of little images of screen of each shoot. There is an edit button on the Flip to delete a shoot if you need to.

Pete
 
DV tapes will be around for a while. They are still the primary medium for a lot of professional video shot in dv-cam or HD. Digital video recorded on tape can only be uploaded at real time speeds. But that is not much of a limitation for a few tapes - just leave it to get on with it. Professionals use decks to minimise wear on camera heads, but still only working in real time. For a long time, SWMBO used a cheap consumer Sony DV cam as a 'deck' for film shot on professional DV cameras - there is no loss of quality. She only had to move to a pro deck when she switched to HD - still shot on DV tape. Cameras using DV on tape remain a very cost effective way of getting decent quality without having to either, upload at very frequent intervals, or carry huge quantities of SS drives. And data on tape is very safe. The situation is changing, but not overnight.
 
[ QUOTE ]
DV tapes will be around for a while. They are still the primary medium for a lot of professional video shot in dv-cam or HD. Digital video recorded on tape can only be uploaded at real time speeds. But that is not much of a limitation for a few tapes - just leave it to get on with it. Professionals use decks to minimise wear on camera heads, but still only working in real time. For a long time, SWMBO used a cheap consumer Sony DV cam as a 'deck' for film shot on professional DV cameras - there is no loss of quality. She only had to move to a pro deck when she switched to HD - still shot on DV tape. Cameras using DV on tape remain a very cost effective way of getting decent quality without having to either, upload at very frequent intervals, or carry huge quantities of SS drives. And data on tape is very safe. The situation is changing, but not overnight.

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad to hear it ... but have noticed that local S/market used to have a shelf of 8mm Vid tapes ... now it's CD-R's etc. You have to look careful to find the vid tapes.

My Sony after years still has brill battery ... still takes excellent vid .... now I have the DVD stand-alone recorder I don't have the transfer to CD / DVD hassle I had before via PC. I can leave the PC to do proper things now - like upset a few on here !!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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