Recommend A Camcorder Please :D !

[kamsinghnagra]

Hey guys,

Probably my first ever post on this forum. I am looking for a camcorder to record someone giving presentations and here are some of the requirements:

- Needs to be able to record HD quality footage
- Should be MAC and Windows compatible (but not essential)
- It should be good in all light conditions
- Be hard-drive based i.e. NO tapes/disks etc
- Have USB and/or firewire connections (both would be good, but not essential)
- Be compatible with a wireless microphone of some sort, something along the lines of http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-ECM-HW1.../dp/B000EGUQVI and around the same price or cheaper

Currently I have been looking through the sony range and having got any further beyond that, especially given the criteria and functions it needs to have.

Any suggestion?

Thanks in advance, any help is much appreciated :D,
Kam

[redsox_mark]

I don't know of any HDD camcorders with Firewire, they use USB.

That Sony mic will only work with Sony camcorders with the AIS shoe. And those camcorders will only take an AIS mic.

Canon HG10 and Sony SR7 have a 3.5mm mic in socket, so they can take most mics. The Sony can also take ones using the AIS connector.

[kamsinghnagra]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the prompt response.

Is there any difference between the SR7 and the following:

Compact High Definition HDD (40GB) Handycam, HDR-SR5

(apart from the Hard Drive space and apart from the zoom, which I probably won't make full use of) - its just thats it is somewhat cheaper?

Thanks again,
Kam

[redsox_mark]

There are other differences, the SR7

- Has optical image stabilisation
- A slightly larger sensor
- Has mic and headphone jacks
- Has a viewfinder

[kamsinghnagra]

Hi Mark,

Looks like the best option for me. Any idea on prices for this machine? A tad awkward question, but would you know of any place that would give discounts for buying in bulk?

Thanks,
Kam

[senu]

There is no camcorder good in all light conditions, for recording someone giving presentations the lighting will need to be good
and
HDD camcorders dont need firewire but some JVC models have them

You might want to give the Canon HG 10 a second look , Unlike the SR7 it doesn't record in SD in addition though and may not be compatible with the wireless mic you linked
Ill still come back to your intended use
Why Hi def?...
In the pecking order of good low light camcorders, the Hi def HDD models arent near the top.
If anything it is the better tape Standard def ones which are
Im not suggesting you give up on the SR7
Just be prepared to use it in good lighting,
and
Be prepared to convert AVCHD from Hi def HDD to Standard Def DVD unless you intend to play your footage back on the PC
or
Unedited via the Camcorder itself

[kamsinghnagra]

Hi Senu,

Sorry to come across sounding stupid, but im not clued up on the whole language regarding formats etc. I just thought would be better to have HD, so as to an extent be future-proof.

The actually use is to put content online, so the videos will never really be played in Hi-def. So you think standard definition cameras would do me fine? and save me a bundle?

Any that you recommend that tick all the initial boxes i.e. have microphone input for bluetooth mics, record onto hard drive and can use USB to transfer etc etc.

Thanks,
Kam

[senu]

Mark ( Redsox) it the man for models current and recent past. I follow trends but not nearly as well
Suffice to say that you can Buy the SR7 and record to it in SD mode .This is because it is also a well specified SD camcorder and if it can take the wireless mike you want it may tick all the boxes, Record HD ( which is lovely TBH) when you want
But for online use ..HD doesnt matter although good starting material is a must as it will be compressed even further which will reduce the quality.

I think one of Sonys higher end SD HDD ( SR 190/290) camcorders will do well otherwise a well sorted Tape model may be worth looking at despite the firewire ( not USB) transfer in real time

[redsox_mark]

If the target video isn't going to be HD then a SD camcorder would do fine, the problem is mic inputs are rare, and on HDD models rarer still. The SR190 has the AIS shoe, so it will take a mic that way, or can be converted to take other mics using this
http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...=sony_vmc-k100