[richardlucas]

Hi, my wife and I are looking to purchase our first camcorder so we need some advice.

Currently we take pictures and videos on our fuji finepix digital camera and store them on a Pc. To look at the images we take, we use an Xbox 360 connected to the pc and stream them via a wired network (using home plugs) and window media center.The video clips are converted using windows media encoder into WMV files for the 360 to play them. We are pleased with this way of doing it because it avoids having to burn discs and its great to view on a 42" plasma from the sofa!!

We have a budget of around £500 to spend. I have been looking at maybe getting a High Def camera but am unsure. I have watched a couple of WMVHD films via the Xbox 360 so is there a camera that shoots in this format or do i need software to convert to that format. My pc is high spec so converting wont be a problem

We don't really want a camera with loads of features that we probably wont use, we just need it to do the basics well, is easy to use and if possible small and compact.

Thanks in advance....

[senu]

Just get any of the current Sony, Panasonic or Canon Hi def models
These Use either HDD and Flash memory ( The Sony or Panasonic) or HDD only Canon HG 10
They all record in AVCHD which is hard to play and impossible to edit on modestly specced PCs
Also Software is an emerging for this format, none was available 9 months ago. Quite a few are available now
There is no camcorder which records to WMV, so you will have to get software which converts to wmv-hd. Unless you use the Mac youll have to do this anyway as the software doesnt output AVCHD after editing

I have recommended this format as Ive seen WMV HD on xbox360 and others on PS3 and given that you are coming from a similar route of just transferring files to PC , not capturing them via firewire
It is however possible to get a tape (HDV ) model, and still convert its m2t ( Mpeg2 1080i with a transport stream "header") files to wmv in software (especially if you have wmv 9 encoder on your system ( freely downloadable from microsoft anyway) as you seem to
They have argualble better quality for less outlay but youll have to put up with real time transfer via firewire .They are however easier to play, edit and have better starting quality and better software support, ATM

[richardlucas]

So if I buy the Sony HDR-SR5(£490 from pixmania) I can play back recordings by

1. connecting it straight to my TV via hdmi
2. downloading it to my PC and converting it to a format I can stream via xbox360.

My prefered option would be No.2. What software would I need to perform the conversion?...AVCHD to WMVHD or any other format the 360 will play
Will Windows Media Encoder do this or is there better software out there?

[senu]

Originally Posted by richardlucas

So if I buy the Sony HDR-SR5(£490 from pixmania) I can play back recordings by

1. connecting it straight to my TV via hdmi

Yes

2. downloading it to my PC and converting it to a format I can stream via xbox360.

Yes
Or you could burn a Data DVD with WMV-HD files on it, Im not sure if this will play back without the HD DVD add on though ( for £100) but with that you can also playback "mini HD DVDs" ( 20 mins on a normal DVD media) with appropriate software ( if you want to) and HD DVD discs.. They look fantastic

My prefered option would be No.2. What software would I need to perform the conversion?...AVCHD to WMVHD or any other format the 360 will play
Will Windows Media Encoder do this or is there better software out there?

Any Software which takes AVCHD as input should. If WMV as an output is greyed then you simply need to have the encoder on your system.
I dont however think the Standalone Encoder itself will actually take AVCHD as an input and it isnt really editing software anyway
If you check out the xbox360 forums, there is a wealth of info there See HERE
AFAIK AVCHD is supported by
Sony Vegas Movie Studio 8 Platinum
UleadVideo Studio 11plus/ 11.5 ( and Movie Factory 6/plus)
Pinnacle Studio 11 Plus
Adobe Premiere Elements 4
Roxio Media Suite 10/11 ( although I havent used it : Ive tried all the others)
Imovie 08 ( for the Mac)
At the present time