NEW : Sony HDR-TG3/TG1 - New Smallest 1080i camcorder Pt 2

[senu]

New thread to Take up from where this left
NEW : Sony HDR-TG3/TG1 - New Smallest 1080i camcorder

[simer]

Hi

This is the first time I've asked a question in this forum so apologies if I have posted to the wrong place.

I have just ordered my wife one of these TG3E camcorders for Christmas. After a lot of research I narrowed it down to this one and the Panasonic one. I plumped for this one as the £60 cashback deal brings it down to pretty much the price of the Panasonic one (that I could find) and it looks a lot prettier (to me). I only have an HD ready TV, but I couldn't see the point in purchasing an SD camera when the whole world is in the process of upgrading to HD. I tell you all this in the hope that someone will verify my decision making process as basically sound.

Anyway, the question I have is to do with connecting up to the TV. My TV has no HDMI input, just DVI. I recently purchased a Sony DAV-IS10 (DVD/ Home theatre system) and the HDMI output will not work with my TV's DVI input as it is not HDCP. Can anyone tell me if this is the case with the TG3E? I can't find any mention of it in the manual. Also, how does one connect using component? It seems to have just a single connector on the camera/ station. Is there a convertor cable? I does mention in the manual that this connector will support SD only.

Please excuse me if these are stupid questions; I've never owned a camcorder before.

[glesgaguyav]

Originally Posted by simer

Hi

This is the first time I've asked a question in this forum so apologies if I have posted to the wrong place.

I have just ordered my wife one of these TG3E camcorders for Christmas. After a lot of research I narrowed it down to this one and the Panasonic one. I plumped for this one as the £60 cashback deal brings it down to pretty much the price of the Panasonic one (that I could find) and it looks a lot prettier (to me). I only have an HD ready TV, but I couldn't see the point in purchasing an SD camera when the whole world is in the process of upgrading to HD. I tell you all this in the hope that someone will verify my decision making process as basically sound.

Anyway, the question I have is to do with connecting up to the TV. My TV has no HDMI input, just DVI. I recently purchased a Sony DAV-IS10 (DVD/ Home theatre system) and the HDMI output will not work with my TV's DVI input as it is not HDCP. Can anyone tell me if this is the case with the TG3E? I can't find any mention of it in the manual. Also, how does one connect using component? It seems to have just a single connector on the camera/ station. Is there a convertor cable? I does mention in the manual that this connector will support SD only.

Please excuse me if these are stupid questions; I've never owned a camcorder before.

Can't give any info regarding the DAV-IS10 when used with the TG3 but the cam will output 1080i/576i or 576i only (selectable) via component and through the cams station, the component cable is supplied with the cam, but no HDMI cable.
It should be possible to get a component to DVI if required

[simer]

Thanks for your reply. I wasn't talking about getting the camcorder to work with the DVD player. I was trying to work out whether I can use an HDMI to DVI converter cable to connect to my TV player (which the DVD player won't as the TV's DVI input is not HDCP) . Will this camcorder work with a PC monitor for instance?

The manual does say that images sent from the A/V connecting cable are output with SD quality. Is this the component cable, because I can't see any other connector?

Thanks again!

[glesgaguyav]

The HD output on the cam is a mini connector,not the standard size, if you buy a female HDMI to DVI, you would need to buy a mini HDMI to standard HDMI which Sony don't supply with the cam then there should be no reason why it shouldn't work on a TV or monitor.

[simer]

Brilliant! Thanks for the feedback. Having looked through this post I have managed to find the answer to my other question. The cables that come the camcorder seem to have Sony's connector at one end and the standard ones at the other.

Thanks again!

[pauljames]

Hi,

Two questions.

1) How do people find the zoom on this thing, I read one review (can't remember where) that said it was fiddly to do when holding the camcorder - is that true?

2) How low does the light have to be for it to qualify as "low light". Are we talking indoors at night with one 40w bulb or any indoors at night?

I quite fancy a camcorder - but as most of the shots will be indoors then I would quite like one that is reasonable in this area.

Cheers,
Paul

[davebrown88]

Originally Posted by pauljames

Hi,

Two questions.

1) How do people find the zoom on this thing, I read one review (can't remember where) that said it was fiddly to do when holding the camcorder - is that true?

2) How low does the light have to be for it to qualify as "low light". Are we talking indoors at night with one 40w bulb or any indoors at night?

I quite fancy a camcorder - but as most of the shots will be indoors then I would quite like one that is reasonable in this area.

Sorry I am no good at guessing the light of rooms, I would just use twilight mode or change ya light bulbs in ya house lol

Cheers,
Paul

1. Zoom is great mate and i find it realy easy. so no problems there.

2. I would say low light on this thing is quite poor. i have used a option called twilight thou which does work well and gets rid of the grain. I would say in doors with half decent light you will be fine.

I personally love this camcorder and its well worth the money.

I think most cameras in this price range are not so good in low light. change ya bulbs from 40w to 60w and you will be fine lol

[davebrown88]

has any one recorded in Twilight in low light and then edited the video with certain software to brighten it up ?

If so what were the after results like ?

[headinclouds]

Hi pauljames, the zoom works fine however for better control over stop/start and two speed zoom try the remote (by thin cable ) control accessory RM-VD13 £28.91 from Amazon. Its a pity they dont have a remote to help with play-back,editing and other actions rather than the touch screen feature , good that it is, but awkward for big hands!
Regards headinclouds.

[extremelydodgy]

Hi.

Quick Q regarding the TG3E. I bought one quite recently in anticipation of being able to use it as a carry-all for stills and video, and am finding the '4MP' stills to be quite horrendous. I was kind of hoping for something near the DSC-V1 of yonks back that I've still hung onto, but I mean, compared to even an N95 it looks a tad... no, extremely dodgy


How should it be? Should it actually be quite pants? Could someone else for example agree to shoot something common the same as me, crop it and post it actual size?


Thanks.

[inertia]

I've found that nabbing frames from the video to be better quality than the photo mode!!!

[muscleflex]

is that right that if you bought the camera from amazon, you can return it even tho it's been opened? and they'll give you a full refund? i can't find anything on their website that says otherwise.

[extremelydodgy]

Originally Posted by inertia

I've found that nabbing frames from the video to be better quality than the photo mode!!!

It's especially bad in indoor, artificial light - everything looks very artifactidy.

[muscleflex]

where is the cheapest place to get this cam now?
is it dixons with their xmas5 discount?