[docnaz]

Hi
I know there is another thread for this problem re this machine but have read and do not think this is same. Basically on pb, thick black lines all way across screen. Don't think resolution problem as was fine before and nil changed. Same with diff tape. Possibly intermitt prob that seems more permanent now.
Thanks for any ideas / experience.

[rickyt]

I own the very same camcorder and have never had any problems with it. Could it be a dirty head problem ?? Does the problem stay after shooting fresh footage or it just with pre-recorded stuff ?? . Take a new tape and shoot a few minutes worth of footage and playback .How often do you use the same tape . I never re-use a tape .A new one goes in everytime , so that elimenates any dropouts on the heads .I like my gs11 ,clean crisp colours and nice quality.

[felix2]

Hi rickyt, I was thinking of getting a GS11 to tide me over until some more tape-based HD cameras come along, so I'm glad to hear you like yours! You haven't found it's got any of the problems I've heard about with some of the lower end GS range has it, i.e. sluggish/unreliable autofocus, slightly disappointing resolution (presumably not if you say it's crisp!), bad image stabilisation??? Is it pretty solidly built? It looks nice (and tiny!). Thanks, Giles.

[rickyt]

Yes,mine's a few years old now but still gives a nice picture .It's small and lightweight and captures to Pc like a dream [never has a problem, no dropped frames ever ,YET] using Pinnacle 9. I bought two spare batteries and a portable charger [charges from the car ] and bought a digital camera bag with a belt and take everywhere .I do like the Panasonic models , next one will be the 3CCD model , sometime in the future . I still think I will stick to the miniDV tapes though , there so dependable. I'm going to make some changes in future recording's though , like most cameras the wind noise can spoil outdoor shots ,I bought two external mikes to try out [I haven't had time yet], one just a cheapy tie clip one and the other that takes a button cell .People say this makes all the difference . The other change is to switch off DIS , it's been on all the time since new and when your tracking something like a moving car the pictures are a bit jerky , does'nt do this close up though .Other than that I'm well impressed with this model .

[felix2]

Hi, thanks very much for the reply. Just minutes before you posted, I changed my mind (again!!! - sorry!) and ordered a GS180, the entry level 3CCD. I'm with you on tapes, although the future eventually has got to be HDD / solid state, hasn't it, as the MPEG / Hi-Def editing possibilities improve in leaps and bounds (as they are already starting to) and storage costs keep falling.

Actually the main (only?!) reason for upgrading right now was to get a mic input (as I explained in another waffly thread!). My original Digital8 cam (4 years ago) had a mic input, but when the internal power supply died within a year, they replaced it with the later model, which was when Sony were taking off useful things like mic inputs and focus rings from 'consumer' cams. Hmph! Although the picture quality and IS on the newer one were better, so mustn't grumble... too much! And the GS180's picture should be noticeably (although probably not massively) better.

Do you mind me asking what mics you went for? I'm hoping to find a battery-powered condenser mic and an electret clip-on mic, fairly cheap? Apart from getting to grips with the basics of using a camcorder, I think you're right that an external mic can make the most difference - I'd be interested to hear how you get on.

[rickyt]

The microphones I bought were two Electret Tie-clip ones. One has a button cel battery inside and the other doesn't .One I got from Maplin and the other I got from Poundland [I paid a quid for it , that'll probably be the best one] . There both small enough to clip onto a lapel .Dont know if they'll be any good , but I thought I would give them a try. If they dont ,the next step would be to buy a bigger microphone and fit a sponge wind 'thingy' and mount it close to the camera .I think it's just a matter of experimenting till I get things right.

[felix2]

Originally Posted by rickyt

a sponge wind 'thingy'

Variously called a windshield, spoffle, or dead cat, amongst other things!!!

[rickyt]

Thank you for pointing that out . I shall now no longer be calling them "thingys". However , I do like the sound of a "dead cat" . So ,that's what I'll be calling them from now on .