Camcoder for documentary film and video degree

kjb0406 · 02-09-2008, 7:53 PM

Please help we need a camcorder for a film degree course. The one suggested is canon mv20 which is obviously very old! What would be comparable, is firewire a good idea-it is only a starter camcorder so doesnt need to be hd but does need to be mini dv.
Thanks

**senu** · 02-09-2008, 9:47 PM

What is your budget?
the HDv camcorder are also very good (SD) DV camcorders and may be used as such
PS: you can simply post here. cut and paste from elsewhere is not very easy to read..

kjb0406 · 03-09-2008, 6:46 AM

Hi, I realise I am totally confused. Do you know the difference between the different Canon letters ie mv,md,fs. I think i means a stills camera. As it is a starter camcorder we could pay £150 for md205 but would it be missing a vital piece of equipment for film making or editing on the college equipment?
Thanks for the help.

**senu** · 03-09-2008, 7:23 AM

The Md 205 is very fine for your purposes. The MV 20 is at least 10 years old and no matter how " hi tech" it was then . I wouldn buy one now , but if one is around for pennies why not. it doesnt have DV in

The MD 205 like it uses minidv tapes though , now considered old hat ( SD card and HDD are market driven to outmode tape ) but for college use it should be fine. I still have 3-4 tape camcorders and am happy with them

The bug bear of MiniDv is the fact that transfer to PC is real time by fire wire but this means the quality on PC is identical to that on the tape
And ( files are big) but as HDD is cheap this should not matter
Its advantage is that it is mature technology and is easily supported by most software in the last 8 years (maybe more), and Starting quality is best VFM
Tapes are cheap and readily avalible too
The FS is Canons latest range.. SD and HDD Standard def models
MV is older Dv range
MD seems to be the current DV range for consumers
They do make the HV ( consumer HDV) and have some very capable but rather more costly DV/HDV models ( "X")
The "i" generally denotes DV-in capability, where you can record back to tape edited DV footage

redsox_mark · 03-09-2008, 12:25 PM

Low end Canon miniDV models (like the MD205) are very popular with schools/universities as they have decent manual features, an external mic input, and decent quality for a low price.

kjb0406 · 03-09-2008, 6:57 PM

Thanks for your help much appreciated.