High Def Camcorder: Worth it?

[DJ Dave]

Afternoon everyone and Happy Easter

I am going on holiday a week today and am mulling over what camcorder to purchase.

I suppose I am buying the camcorder really to film my little boy, that's going to be the main purpose of it and to use it on holidays etc.

I don't know weather to: a) Get a DVD one
b) Get a Mini DV one
c) Get a Hi Def one
d) Get a hardisk one

My budget is £400-£500 but will go up to £800 if people out there think the High Def Camcorders are worth paying up for even though inevitably the price will grind off.

Any advice please gurus?

[DJ Dave]

My computer is an Apple Mac G5 by the way.....I presume camcorders work ok with Macs?

[Gordon Briggs]

Hi Dave,

I have just bought a Sony HC1 Hi-Def camera, I also have a canon XM2. If the HC1 had been out when I bought the Canon then I would have gone with the HC1 as the pictures are superb.

You sound like a young guy so think about the fact that everything you shoot now if you had HD would be there for all time in HD, so when HD/DVD's come along etc then you will have the benifit of those super pictures of the little one to show on your (then) Hi-Def TV.

It won't be long before you hear those words "Dad, can I borrow the car?"...they don't stay young very long.

Cheers,

Gordon.

[laser]

If you have a plasma or LCD TV with a resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher then a high def camcorder will look stunning. ThHe PQ is just amazing.

Even standard definition footage looks better than a normal SD camcorder.

However if you plan to edit footage on a PC you must have a powerful, fast computer.

[redsox_mark]

G5 should be fine for HD editing, and Macs are fine for editing. Actually you can edit HD on any machine which can edit DV, if you use a DV proxy. But a fast PC is clearly easier and gives you more options.

Mark

[senu]

buy an HD ( Hi Def) camcorder if you can afford it.

Edit in SD now and HD later when your PC specs "grow" .At least get the raw clips in todays best possible resolution even if there is currently no delivery format and the absolutely silly format wars arebeing resolved.
I have Hi8 tapes of my 9 year old daughter ( tommorow) . Although of sentimental value, the footage looks very lacklustre compared to even the Digital 8 and Mini DV footage of her kid sister which are that much sharper and more vibrant.
I would not buy an SD camcorder now as even the HD ones seem to do SD better anyway.
Good luck with your purchase:
To be sure , HD editing is PC ( or Mac ) demanding but for simple cut, join, transition and titles you dont need Cray2006!

[DJ Dave]

Thanks for the replies guys, really good advice.

I'm 38 Gordon but thanks anyways

How much is the HC1 guys?

I have got a Pioneer Plasma 436XDE so I guess the pictures/footage will look good?

I wasn't going to go for a HD but you guys are talking me round

I suppose the stills will look good too?

[senu]

I'm 38 Gordon but thanks anyways

Oh.. that young??! You need your ID in the Pub then

How much is the HC1 guys?

Sadly £950 -1499 : Shop with care .Because the hdrc3 is upon us it is being discontinued bt the hdrc3 is cheaper

I have got a Pioneer Plasma 436XDE so I guess the pictures/footage will look good?

They will look good on anything really, your nice plasma included

I wasn't going to go for a HD but you guys are talking me round

Good

I suppose the stills will look good too?

Absolutely, Stills from a few megapixel still digital camera will look better but in the world of camcorders stills from HD camcorder cannot look anything but impressive.
Happy hunting

[MarkE19]

Although generally good advice to get a HD cam I would offer a word of warning - HD cams are not that good in low light conditions!

miniDV are poor compared to the old analogue cams, but HD are not even as good as DV. I would recommend you try to borrow a HD cam to try out recording in the house etc to see if the results are good enough for you, as this seems to be one of the major things your cam will get used for. You may find the results good, perhaps with the use of a video light. But you may find additional lighting a pain and without it the footage is not good enough. Trying the cam in the home is the only way to find out what works for you.

Mark.

[DJ Dave]

£900 ?

I think the wife will behead me if I spend that much !

[Gordon Briggs]

Hello Young Dave,

The low light footage on my HC1 are more that acceptable, but come on, how many times do you want to take pictures in low light anyway. The pics you will get in "ordinary" light more than make up for any low light shortcomings. As Senu, and I am sure anyone with one of these wonder cams will tell you GO HD, you will thank us later.

I paid £980 inc carraige for my HC1 from Purely Gadgets, I have been using it for about four weeks, still can't believe the quality when seen on an HD ready TV.

Raid the kid's piggy bank and buy one.

Cheers and good lick,

Gordon.

[DJ Dave]

"Best Cameras" have the Sony HDR HC3 for £892.99

I presume that the HC3 is as good as the HC1 ?

I wonder how well these HD camcorders will hold their value in terms of price depreciation......

I need it by Thursday as we leave for Tenerife on Friday - I have almost made my mind up, just wanted to make sure the HC3 is not inferior to the HC1.

[DJ Dave]

Just seen the comparison thread below......

Maybe it is worth trying to get a HC1 ?

[Gordon Briggs]

I would say so Dave, in the comparison I saw it placed the HC1 with more pixels and therefore, one would think, better quality picture, also the HC1 has an external mike and headphones sockets, the HC3 doesent, the HC1 is worth the extra.

Hope you have a good holiday.

Cheers,

Gordon.

[bix]

One thing is that Sony kit seems to shoot 1080i only whereas JVC seem to be going down the 720p route.

There are a lot of blogs on google about that being the Sony's major shortcoming.