New camera - Insurance claim

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

I am claiming on my Panny NV-DS77B that I have had for about 10 years. I was one of the first Mini DV camcorders and cost me £1600 from Dixons, it was the smallest with a 3.5" screen and has served me well. I am claiming it on the house insurance and it fell off a table as I have accidental damage and it is also specified on the policy as a value of £700.
The insurance company offered me a replacement but it is only worth £250 and only has a 2.5" screen rather than 3.5" which they don't really do now. I am hoping to get a HD one of them for around £700 instead.

I am in my rights to hold out for a better one? Advice please.

[redsox_mark]

Often the offer will be unfair, and you can argue.
In this case though their offer sounds about right. What model did they offer? A Panasonic GS230 would be a fair replacement I think. The DS77 has a single 1/3" sensor; the GS230 has 3 1/6" CCDs... on balance these are more or less equal. Both have mic inputs. As you say larger LCDs just don't exist these days. I'm not sure how you would argue that they should replace it with a High Def model.

Most policies pay out the cost to replace with a similar model today; the price you specify on the policy doesn't make a difference.

[matthewcarlrose]

You are certinly within your rights to complain if it isnt specficiation wise the same as your old one. However if there isnt anything close anymore you might be up the creek.

Your best be would be to test the water, you are already down a camera - you only have your noclaims bonus to loose! Good luck!!

Matt

[sbowler]

Cant see them offering to replace yours with one of a higher spec!!! . Like for like and all that.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

I rang them this morning and they are colecting the camera to work out the specs. He offered me a better camera Panasonic VDR-D310 but I don't like the DVD ones. He alos talked to his supplier and they said they don't do 3.5" ones any more.
I am holding out because the new camera he offered me is only around £250 and I have £50 excess, plus my premium is going to go up so it is not worth getting a crappy one.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

Result

The insurance company has rung up as the picked up the camera on Friday for evalutaion and it isn't worth repairing. I gave him some model numbers to look up and they have come up with either Sony HRD-SR5E for free or pay £51 and get the Canon HG10. Which one is best?

I also gave him sony sr7e and panny hdc-sd5 but he said they were discontinued.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

If I go for the HG10 will my PC be able to edit it, it is core 2 duo 6300 1.87ghz with 1GB RAM and running vista (I will buy another 1 GB).

Also my TV is HDMI, will I need a mini HDMI convertor or something.

Any other advice for going to the world of HD.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

Is it worth seeing how much a sr8e Would be? Any others to consider?

Got to ring him in the morning.

Been reading about the AVCHD and I have got a PS3 to play it through so I can just burn to DVD and play it through that? Also you just copy straight to PC or on to disc to keep as a master?

[redsox_mark]

Well done, good result.

The HG10 is comperable with the SR7/SR8 (size off HDD is only difference between SR7 and SR8); HG10 is probably a bit better.
SR5 lacks some features like mic input and optical image stabilisation.
I'd go for the HG10.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

Well done, good result.

The HG10 is comperable with the SR7/SR8 (size off HDD is only difference between SR7 and SR8); HG10 is probably a bit better.
SR5 lacks some features like mic input and optical image stabilisation.
I'd go for the HG10.

I asked about the SR8 but it was £283 extra (+ the £50 excess) so I have gone for the HG10 and it will be here tomorrow, so it cost me £101 in the end including excess.

Any tips for going HD?

[redsox_mark]

I assume you haven’t been shooting in widescreen, so you’ll need to get used to that. You can still use the “rule of thirds” to frame your shot.

With HD cams, autofocus can be slower (especially in low light). If you find AF struggles you may want to use manual in those situations.

Try and avoid fast pans (which are best to avoid anyway); due to the higher compression you may get artifacts.

Though the HG10 seems pretty good at handling the above “issues”.

Make sure you have editing software which supports AVCHD; and have something that can play it (like a PS3).

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

This camera has the instant autofocus which looks pretty good at keeping focus.
I haven't shot in widescreen but am quite experience in taking photos and filming so should be able to cope OK.
I try not to pan fast and have read about the issues regarding AVCHD.
You do get editing software with it and I may try sony vegas if this is any good.
I have got a PS3 to play the movies on.

Thanks.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

Anywhere to get a battery for it?

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

It came this morning, just charging it and will have a play soon.

[Jazz Monkey Jr]

Been having a play, 25p isn't much cop as the reviews said. What do you need 25p for?
It seemed to slow down a bit when zoomed in on my girl and she was turning her head it slowed down a lot on 60i. Is this normal?
Apart from that seems a good piece of kit and looks good at 1080i.