Video camera for recording training sessions

[projectile]

Hi

I'm looking for a video camera for recording training sessions at work.

The idea is the camera will be fixed to tripod, and some how we need to access the footage quite easily for editing. The footage must by decent quality, as the edited footage will then be burnt onto DVD for user playback. We were thinking of editing the footage in PC, to remove unnecessary scenes etc.

It would be great to have a camcorder with hard drive and network card, so the recorded footage could be dumped onto a local PC for editing. But don't think such a device exists.

please advise what devices are available on the market that would be suitable for this application.

BTW I haven't got a huge budget!

thanks

[redsox_mark]

There are camcorders with HDDs of course... they don't have network cards but you can copy to a PC with a USB cable.

You can also copy from tape based camcorders to a PC (with a Firewire cable). I.e. with any digital camcorder you can copy to a PC, edit, and create a DVD.

What is the rough size of your budget?

For training sessions an external mic input could be useful.

[senu]

One of the "disadvantages" of tape based camcorders is the need for real time transfer of the tape material to PC.
The many other advantages IMHO far outweigh this real time wait.. but the other advantage of HDD camcorders is perhaps the fact that you can record for longer then 1 hr continously
With Tape based camcorders it may be possible to record directly to the PCs HDD via Firewire
To reiterate, a Mic in ( so you can use a decent external microphone) and perhaps good lowlight ability ( for shooting indoors) would be desirable.
If you do wish for an HDD model, aim to get one whose output is good as mpeg ( the format they record in) does suffer a little PQ drop if extensively edited in many Editors
Also if you are aiming at DVD ( standard) as your target. I would avoid the High Def HDD models ( AVCHD) as they offer you less of an advantage than the tape based models ( HDV or SD ) or the better SD HDD models
Just How much are you able to spend?

[projectile]

Thanks guys for the replies.

In honesty, my boss wants me to spend £300 on a camcorder, but in reality I think we need to spend couple hundred more on a decent spec video camera to tick the boxes.

I think the HDD models appear to be the option; just have to run a extendable usb cable to local PC. should work.

My concern is the quality of mpeg files from these devices...will they be decent quality when playback in DVD, after editing?

What camcorder models would be recommended based on budget


Forgot to mention the recorder will solely be used for recording indoors. On a separate topic, I have to find a descret external mic, as it will be a perminent feature in the boardroom.


Regards...

[senu]

£300 for a camcorder with good low light ability, and good quality and HDD based may really be stretching it. I agree with you You would need a a bit more. that would also widen your choice of models ( and format)
Im not sure if you can record to the PC directly via USB , as you can with firewire on a tape based model
Also pound for pound, at the Budget/ mid range you will get much better quality ( and features ) from a tape based model. At the £500- 600 range the PQ differences are a lot less
Will they be good quality on a DVD..?
That would depend on initial quality and how much( or little) re rendering that occurs during the Editing process
Even If recorded as tape or high end camcorders the video format on DVD will still end up as mpeg2 .

[redsox_mark]

You can get good quality from HDD cams... but at a given price point (and especially with a £300 budget) you'll get better quality from a DV tape cam.

Panasonic GS230 is a good model, under budget, with a mic input. Note mic inputs are hard to find (and even more so in HDD cams for some reason).

As for mics there are different types. If you have a sole presenter then a lavalier (tie clip) mic may be best. To pickup different people talking in the room, a shotgun mic (which can be mounted on the camcorder) may be best.

[projectile]

Sorry, I meant to say the extendable usb cable would be used for dumping the mpeg file over to PC once recording was completed, not real time.

I guess the tape versions are not suitable, as training sessions may last up two hours long!


On the face of things, and considering my budget, what would be your recommendation?



Thanks, Projectile

Originally Posted by senu

£300 for a camcorder with good low light ability, and good quality and HDD based may really be stretching it. I agree with you You would need a a bit more. that would also widen your choice of models ( and format)
Im not sure if you can record to the PC directly via USB , as you can with firewire on a tape based model
Also pound for pound, at the Budget/ mid range you will get much better quality ( and features ) from a tape based model. At the £500- 600 range the PQ differences are a lot less
Will they be good quality on a DVD..?
That would depend on initial quality and how much( or little) re rendering that occurs during the Editing process
Even If recorded as tape or high end camcorders the video format on DVD will still end up as mpeg2 .

[projectile]

That appears to be decent spec camcorder at a decent price.

Cannot find recording time on this, any ideas?

Regards

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

You can get good quality from HDD cams... but at a given price point (and especially with a £300 budget) you'll get better quality from a DV tape cam.

Panasonic GS230 is a good model, under budget, with a mic input. Note mic inputs are hard to find (and even more so in HDD cams for some reason).

As for mics there are different types. If you have a sole presenter then a lavalier (tie clip) mic may be best. To pickup different people talking in the room, a shotgun mic (which can be mounted on the camcorder) may be best.

[senu]

The Sony Sr190 sounds impressive but it has no mic-in.

The JVC MG 575 does but Im not very hot on JVCs Everio models despite thier glowing paper Specs
A review HERE

[redsox_mark]

GS230 is a tape based camcorder, so generally 60 mins; you can get 80 min tapes. You can get longer time shooting in long play but not advised.
You can change tapes quickly; maybe build a break into the training session?

[projectile]

Thanks guys for the info.