[zorba11]

I need to get a camcorder. The urgency is my dad is dying and I want to do some interviewing/capture some video before he goes (memories, lifestory, etc.). Afterwards I can use it for family (kids, weddings etc.), holidays, also doing internal training videos for my company, presentattions etc.

I am a bit of a techhie (was a computer programmer, now a recruitment company owner currently, but also part time software developer for our own tech), but even so my head is in a spin at the dizzying array of formats and specs involved in camcorders.

Want HD, as we have some HD tv's in the family already.

Ideally 3ccd or 3mos, also.

Liked the look of the new Panasonic kit - 3mos etc, but concerned about 2x things:

AVCHD format not as good quality as HD format (true?)
AVCHD needs whizzy computer to edit s/w
3mos cams storage format is all HDD, and I've heard you can't view that on TV easily ?

Storage: don't want to be fiddling with small capacity storage every 20mins of filming.
Seems like the decision comes down to miniDV vs HDD for storage ?

Budget, £1000 tops. But feel i should be able to get by for half that ?

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by zorba11

I need to get a camcorder. The urgency is my dad is dying and I want to do some interviewing/capture some video before he goes (memories, lifestory, etc.). Afterwards I can use it for family (kids, weddings etc.), holidays, also doing internal training videos for my company, presentattions etc.

I am a bit of a techhie (was a computer programmer, now a recruitment company owner currently, but also part time software developer for our own tech), but even so my head is in a spin at the dizzying array of formats and specs involved in camcorders.

Want HD, as we have some HD tv's in the family already.

Ideally 3ccd or 3mos, also.

Liked the look of the new Panasonic kit - 3mos etc, but concerned about 2x things:

AVCHD format not as good quality as HD format (true?)
AVCHD needs whizzy computer to edit s/w
3mos cams storage format is all HDD, and I've heard you can't view that on TV easily ?

Storage: don't want to be fiddling with small capacity storage every 20mins of filming.
Seems like the decision comes down to miniDV vs HDD for storage ?

Budget, £1000 tops. But feel i should be able to get by for half that ?

AVCHD is an hd format
yes avchd needs a powerful pc
whether 3 cmos or single cmos you can view the footage on tv easily.

the more you pay the better you will get but the sony sr 11/12 or its replacement the xr 500/520v, the canon hg 20/21 are all good cams.

[zorba11]

Originally Posted by chrishull3

AVCHD is an hd format

Sorry 'twas a typo, I meant the choice is between AVCHD and HDV, with HDV looking like the better option, correct ?

Originally Posted by chrishull3

whether 3 cmos or single cmos you can view the footage on tv easily.

ok, that's a relief.
But what about HDD cameras, isn't it difficult to get them to play to TV, and aren't they mostly using AVCHD format?

Any HDD cams that use HDV, and will play to TV, will be strong contenders for me, if such a beast exists...

[zorba11]

Originally Posted by chrishull3

the canon hg 20/21 are all good cams.

the canon hg21 looks good, like the big HDD
but, will it produce AVCHD or HDV format recordings ?

[senu]

Originally Posted by zorba11

the canon hg21 looks good, like the big HDD
but, will it produce AVCHD or HDV format recordings ?

It is an AVCHD camcorder
All camcorders play to TV very easily whether HDV or AVCHD, HDD , Tape or Flash card models
AVCHD plays better on higher spec PCs especially with decent RAM . AVCHD playback is processor intensive

However I have a Quad Core system (Q 9645 )which uses an "older " Nvidia card 9600GT ; The card off loads the the AVCHD work off the PC processor and it is all smooth

[zorba11]

Ok, so what I need is a HDD camcorder, with HDV format
- does anyone know of one ?

[senu]

Originally Posted by zorba11

Ok, so what I need is a HDD camcorder, with HDV format
- does anyone know of one ?

The only HDD camcorders with HDV are JVCs, HD 5 and HD 3 ( HD7 was the first and had poor OIS) and they arent that common
HDV is typically tape only
Why HDV anyway?

Any other Hi def camcorder using HDD will be AVCHD

[chrishull3]

you have decide if you want hdv tape or avchd hd video, there is only 2 consumer hdv cams now, loads of avchd ones but as said you will need a powerful pc to edit the footage.

[zorba11]

Just a quick thanks to all contributors to my post.

As you may recall I mainly wanted a cam so as I could get some footage of my dad whom I love dearly before he dies (as he has weeks/months left).

Well, we had a great time on Saturday watching on TV as Ireland won the Rugby Six Nations Grand Slam for the first time in 61 years (and no doubt my dad's last time), and thanks to the Panasonic TM300 and Velbon tripod that you guys helped me pick out, I got some great footage of the whole family in the build up, during and after the match, including my dad and his brother who has travelled over from California to be with him. A day we will remember for a long time, and now we have the video memories too!

So, with a tear of gratitude and emotion in my eye I say thanks again!