What kind of Movie Camera? About This Page:

[LizardCop]

Continuing with the photography threads...

Video camera, what do you have?

Make:
Model:
Digital (yes/no):
Can it take still photos:
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video:
Optical Zoom:
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD):
What do you like about it:
What do you dislike about it:
How long have you had it:
Approximate cost when you bought it:
What would you replace it with:

US...

Make: JVC
Model: GR-D270U
Digital (yes/no): Yes
Can it take still photos: Yes
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: If you take a still in video mode, it writes it to the tape. If you select Still mode, it writes to the SD/MMC Card.
Optical Zoom: 25X
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): DV Tape
What do you like about it: Small, great zoom, easy to use
What do you dislike about it: The Small Tapes. I lost one on our last trip to WDW
How long have you had it: Less than a year
Approximate cost when you bought it: About $500 US
What would you replace it with: Right now, I wouldn't replace it. It does what we want and does it well.

[DopeyGirl]

We have a really old little RCA camcorder that doesn't even work anymore . . . now when we want to take video we use our digital camera (but can only take, like, 10 minute videos per memory stick! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/blushing.gif[/img])

[DVC_Increda_Man]

Just the person I was thinking about...
I have been looking to buy a Video Camera to take to WDW with us. Do you have any video samples taken with your JVC we could see???? and How good is the still pictures???? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/announce.gif[/img]

I think this thread is a good one! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img]

[mestitch]

This is from Andy:

Make: Canon
Model: ZR60
Digital (yes/no): yes
Can it take still photos: no
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video:
Optical Zoom: 18x
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): mini DV
What do you like about it: The big ole battery on the back [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] and the small size
What do you dislike about it: doesn't have a lens cover, light has to be attached
How long have you had it: 3 years this summer (whoa, it's time for a new one)
Approximate cost when you bought it: $500
What would you replace it with: Canon DVD Camcorder (records directly to DVD)

[disneymom9092]

You are really challenging me here Bill [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

Make: JVC
Model: DVM70
Digital (yes/no): yes
Can it take still photos: yes
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: put on stills-SD card (videos on tape)
Optical Zoom: ?? 200X digital zoom (this is 6 years old [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): DV
What do you like about it: Size and 6 years ago it was great!
What do you dislike about it: wish it was a CD or DVD recorder
How long have you had it: 6 years
Approximate cost when you bought it: over $1000 [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
What would you replace it with: We are looking at CD/DVD recorders and hope we can record old tapes on CD/DVD's at some point? We also have an older one which recorded with VHS-C. We hate to lose these precious moments of the kids. Any suggestions???

[Cam22]

We may be the only ones who don't own a movie camera.

[Dave Marx]

Make: Canon
Model: ZR something-or-other (it's been missing since we moved in July)
Digital (yes/no): Yes
Can it take still photos: Yes
If it can take still photos, does it write to another recording media or put the still on the video: Stills to Multimedia/SD Card or tape
Optical Zoom: 20x
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): DV
What do you like about it: Almost everything
What do you dislike about it: Still picture resolution (way too low for publication)
How long have you had it: 4 years
Approximate cost when you bought it: $1000+
What would you replace it with: Good question. Something similar, but more advanced at a lower price (not hard to do, considering when we bought this one). I'd like image stabilization, infrared low-light capabilities, and higher-res. stills. Video to SD Card would also be cool.

We've had fun shooting short video segments with our digital still cameras (especially our Canon Powershot A-95). It's nice to bring just one camera to a family gathering, for example. But for long-duration shooting (documenting attractions, shows, parades, etc.) the easy-to-one-hand-hold form factor of a camcorder coupled with the typically much longer lenses of a camcorder suggest that we'll have at least one more camcorder in our future - at least until digital video and high-resolution digital still cameras "merge" at a more affordable price and with greater storage capacity.

The small tapes don't bother me at all. I spent many years as a recording engineer using DAT recorders for digital audio. I loved the small tapes. Still do - DV tapes are essentially DAT tapes, with just small changes. If I could playback my collection of DATs in my DV recorder, I'd be a very, very happy camper.

[iamgrumpy]

We just bought it:

Panasonic (model number is unknown QVC didn't give one to me)
1000X Mini DV Camcorder 30x Opt Zoom with 2.5" Diag LCD Its digital and so far we like it.

We will try it out on cruise ship!

[LizardCop]

[ QUOTE ]
I have been looking to buy a Video Camera to take to WDW with us. Do you have any video samples taken with your JVC we could see????

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll have to make some short runs and upload them...

[ QUOTE ]
and How good is the still pictures????

[/ QUOTE ]

640 x 480 when in video mode, 1024 x 768 in still mode.

I'll dig out a few I've shot and post a link to them full size...

UPDATE: Here's a link to some 1024 X 768 still shots I took on our last trip. They're taken near sunset, just before they turned on the Osborne Lights, which is the worst time for photographs...

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictur...ail-AlbumInvite

The stills aren't as good as a still camera, the lens itself is really small, but they're better than scanning in a negative (or not having anything at all) [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[A & J's Dad]

Make: Canon
Model: Elura 2MC
Digital (yes/no): Yes
Can it take still photos: Yes
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: SD for still only, Tape if in video mode.
Optical Zoom: 10X
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): MiniDV
What do you like about it: Fast and close AF, Progressive scan mode.
What do you dislike about it: The zoom switch is not very logical. You push it up and forward for wide; down and back for tele.
How long have you had it: 3 years
Approximate cost when you bought it: $100 at an estate sale.
What would you replace it with: Probably something that writes to a memory card. We don't shoot a lot of video.

Craig

[CRCrazy]

Make: Sony
Model: TRV-33
Digital (yes/no): yep!
Can it take still photos: yep! 1 MP resolution, I think.
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: Writes to a memory stick
Optical Zoom: 120x
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): Mini DV tapes
What do you like about it: Small size, easy to use, even I can take good movies with it (ie, good image stabilization!), long battery life.
What do you dislike about it: When you've got the big battery on, it's a little heavy for me.
How long have you had it: 3 years
Approximate cost when you bought it: ?700?
What would you replace it with: Nothing at this time - we don't take a lot of video - and when we do - this does a great job!

[EmpressLizBunny]

Make: sony handy cam
Model: dcr-dvd403
Digital (yes/no): yes
Can it take still photos: yes
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: it puts it on the dvd
Optical Zoom: yes 10x digatal zoom
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): DVD
What do you like about it: it is eazy to use and is prety good in low light conditions
What do you dislike about it: its to big to be my primary camera
How long have you had it: a year
Approximate cost when you bought it: $800
What would you replace it with: nothing

[DVC_Increda_Man]

OK I read all the posts and studied and researched a lot and armed with a $1000.00 budget and a list of 18 camcorder finalists...I bought a Video Camera!
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thewave.gif[/img]


Make: Panasonic
Model: PV-GS35
Digital (yes/no): Yes
Can it take still photos: Yes
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: SD card
Optical Zoom: 30x and 1000x digital
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): Mini DV
What do you like about it:Almost Everything
What do you dislike about it: The time it takes to download to computer even through the Firewire connection!
How long have you had it: 5 days LOL
Approximate cost when you bought it: Suggested retail price $499.95 Bought it on sale for $341.00...Hey I saved enough to buy airfare for 3 to WDW!!!
What would you replace it with: Either a DVD disk or Harddisk drive camera when they get as good as video tape!

[stonewall]

We have several, but the one I use the most is my:
JVC GR-D72
Digtal- uses Mini DVs and can take still photos, retain them on the camera or on the removal disc which I can have printed(fine and standard quality)
It weighs 1.1 pounds and 1.3 WITH tape and battery
The battery charges IN the camera, which is a feature I LOVE!
16:1 power zoom, 1/6 CCD pickup
2.37 color monitor
I can't BELIEVE how far away I can be from my subjects and still get perfect shots. I can take sepia tint, fade in and outs- you know all of the cool tricks! I've had it for a year and still haven't discovered all that it can do yet!
I got a great price on QVC=they have EZ Pay specials all the time. The camera is sooo tiny that it is a dlight to use and the case, etc is smaller than my purse [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
I have owned a Sony, and RCA and 2 JVC's and will stick with JVC!

[Bil]

Make: JVC
Model: GZ-MC500
Digital (yes/no):
Can it take still photos: Yes
If it can take still photos,
does it write to another
recording media or put
the still on the video: Well, it doesn't use video, but writes on same media as the video uses.
Optical Zoom: Yes, 10X
Recording media (8mm, DV, CD, DVD): None of the above. Uses a 4GB Microdrive.
What do you like about it: No tape! Transfer to computer takes seconds. Small, easy to use. 3CCD chip, great for filming Disney's Dark Rides. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
What do you dislike about it: Kind of small for my hand.
How long have you had it: 2 months.
Approximate cost when you bought it: $1100
What would you replace it with: Nothing right now.

Bil