First Camcorder - 3 Options

[mutley]

Hi i'm about to pick up my first camcorder as my first child is about to come!


Hi will by an SD camera cause i've not a PC capable of handling AVCHD (AMD X2 4800+ with 4Gb of RAM).

I've narrowed the choice to this 3 cams and would like you to give me some opinions to help me choose one:

JVC Everio GZ-MG680
(120Gb Disk, hdmi out)

Sony SR-210
(60Gb disk)

Canon FS22
(32Gb SSD disk)

Specs wise the JVC seems to be better than the Sony (the canon it's a little different being SSD and much smaller), but sometimes specs aren't everything...

Please Help!

Thanks!

[A n d r e w]

I'd back the Canon.

Do you know what size sensor each of these uses? The larger the sensor the better the performance in low light as a rule.

For clarification, the FS22 records to solid state flash memory, not SSD (solid state drive).

[wildebed]

I don't quite understand the SD only thing. Can't you use a HD Samsung, £299 - it gives you MP4 files - ?
The quality is amazing - of course the better the quality , the more you need a steadicam !

[mutley]

Can my PC edit easily MP4?

Can you recommend cameras that use MP4?

Budget around 400£.

[senu]

Originally Posted by mutley

Can my PC edit easily MP4?

Can you recommend cameras that use MP4?

Budget around 400£.

Why MP4? Unless the suggestion was for the HMX 20 , I not sure quite what wildebed was sugesting
If it was then your PC will struggle as it is Hi def MP4

For clarity: The AVCHD camcorders output h.264 Mpeg4AVC . usually called AVCHD
There are SD h.264 varieties which are not AVCHD ( Such as produced by Samsung MX20) and there are Hi def Mpeg4 not AVCHD .. Such as ou put by some Sanyo Xactis
Dixv , Xvid are also mp4 varieties , ans some digital still camcorders output thier video as mp4
As such MP4 is not a " universal" format
As for your PC I understand your reluctance to go Hi def and why the Samsumg the mp4 suggestion was made, I dont know
The HMX20 does produce " stunning" video but it is AVCHD ( or MP4 by another name)

[mutley]

Well, after some consideration and reading, i went up for none of the above.

I chose the Canon HV-30, wich is tape based HD, and outputs HDV.

Do you think my PC might cope with that or will i need an upgrade?

[senu]

Originally Posted by mutley

Well, after some consideration and reading, i went up for none of the above.

I chose the Canon HV-30, wich is tape based HD, and outputs HDV.

Do you think my PC might cope with that or will i need an upgrade?

Camcorder is actually a great choice
Your PC should be well able to edit HDV

[A n d r e w]

You found an HV30 for £400?

[chrishull3]

Originally Posted by A n d r e w

You found an HV30 for £400?

553£ the best new i can find

[mutley]

I Wish....

But to go HD, without AVCHD, and believing that i made a good purchase, made me fork 600£

Oh well, didn't someone said that budgets are like rules and so are meant to be broken?

[ckeener]

I back on Sony SR-210 as I'm a big fan of Sony camcorders. You can shoot up to 41 hours, the hard drive camcorder is nice because it gives you a big storage space.

[senu]

Originally Posted by ckeener

I back on Sony SR-210 as I'm a big fan of Sony camcorders. You can shoot up to 41 hours, the hard drive camcorder is nice because it gives you a big storage space.

Im not sure that is necessarily a big advantage unless you are on holiday away from home. Its a bit like all you egss n one basket. i would rathr used SD cards or ave a chance of dowloading to say a aptop from time to time
For one thing you are ideally not supposed to use the camcorders HDD as a store.,or the primary video player
As such the norm, is to offload the footage ASAP
Also HDDs can fail, or get currupt and you lose all your footage
Also the long hrs quoted tend to be at the the least video quality