I am looking for a digital camcorder. It will be used mainly for filming the kids. I started to do some research over the weekend and the choices are overwhelming. I have an older PC (Dell Dimension 1.7 Ghz) without a DVD burner so I would probably need to buy and install one of those as well. I have a digital camera so digital still quality would probably not be a huge factor in my decision if it adds much cost. I am looking to spend $400-600. I would be willing to increase the amount if there is a model that provides significant quality/ease of use over cheaper models. We don't have a lot of time to sit and edit video, so I am looking for something that is easy to use and looks good rather than something that is feature rich in editing capabilities.
It seems like the mini-DVD models would be the easiest to use, but I am worried about the video quality (especially in low light indoor conditions) and the fact that you can only get 20-30 minutes on each mini-DVD. Plus, how would I copy the mini-DVD to send to friends/family? Mini-DV seems to be the most popular format, but I would have to upgrade my computer. Is it safe to assume Mini-DV will be a good format for the next 5 years or so?
Any advice on camcorders, DVD burners, or DVD burning software would be greatly appreciated.
OT: Camcorders/DVD Recorder
Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady
It's been awhile since I've followed digital video but here goes.
First, you don't need a mini-DVD camcorder if you think that's the only way to import video from the camcorder to the PC. I would think that uses some kind of a RW format, which may or may not be read by your DVD drive (most tray drives should be able to handle mini-DVDs).
Most camcorders have Firewire (IEEE 1394 ports) which is the best way to import digital video. Firewire cards should be $25-50 these days or a lot of motherboards and laptops just have them built-in. Some camcorders may have USB 2.0 ports (forget USB 1.x, too slow).
The other alternative are analog capture cards or some kind of dongle you hook up to a USB port but these require converting the video to analog which you should try to avoid (of course the DVD you make will be converted to analog in the DVD player).
The cheapest way to get into DVD burning is to buy a drive and install it. You should be able to get double-layer burners which support both + and - media (at least in singlelayer or DVD-4 media) for about $50.
The software part, you can probably get some cheap or free software to try it out before investing more money. You may find for instance that the DVDs you send to others may not work in their players.
I think Microsoft gives MovieMaker editing software for free. This site has a good overview of the editing process:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... fault.mspx
But you also need software to burn the DVDs or mastering software. Typically, burners come with some kind of mastering software. Mastering remember will include MPEG2 encoding, which requires power. So if the burner you buy comes with mastering software, see what the system requirements are, because your 1.7 Ghz PC should work but could be real slow. Also see the system requirements for the editing software.
I'm sure Nero does DVD video mastering but like I said, try the software that comes bundled first. A company called Sonic Solutions also makes mastering software. They may have an integrated editing/mastering setup. (and before anyone else chimes in, the iMovie/iDVD combo on the Mac is universally raved as the most intuitive).
I think when I was looking at set-top DVD recorders, Philips advertised that their boxes included Firewire ports so you could hook up a camcorder and import video. I'm sure these standalone DVD recorders have pretty limited editing capabilities though. Plus they cost much more than a $50 PC drive.
I think there are forums devoted to burning software, hardware. These have names like cdrhelp.com or dvdrhelp.com. Something like that. Probably also sites devoted to video editing as well.
First, you don't need a mini-DVD camcorder if you think that's the only way to import video from the camcorder to the PC. I would think that uses some kind of a RW format, which may or may not be read by your DVD drive (most tray drives should be able to handle mini-DVDs).
Most camcorders have Firewire (IEEE 1394 ports) which is the best way to import digital video. Firewire cards should be $25-50 these days or a lot of motherboards and laptops just have them built-in. Some camcorders may have USB 2.0 ports (forget USB 1.x, too slow).
The other alternative are analog capture cards or some kind of dongle you hook up to a USB port but these require converting the video to analog which you should try to avoid (of course the DVD you make will be converted to analog in the DVD player).
The cheapest way to get into DVD burning is to buy a drive and install it. You should be able to get double-layer burners which support both + and - media (at least in singlelayer or DVD-4 media) for about $50.
The software part, you can probably get some cheap or free software to try it out before investing more money. You may find for instance that the DVDs you send to others may not work in their players.
I think Microsoft gives MovieMaker editing software for free. This site has a good overview of the editing process:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/usin ... fault.mspx
But you also need software to burn the DVDs or mastering software. Typically, burners come with some kind of mastering software. Mastering remember will include MPEG2 encoding, which requires power. So if the burner you buy comes with mastering software, see what the system requirements are, because your 1.7 Ghz PC should work but could be real slow. Also see the system requirements for the editing software.
I'm sure Nero does DVD video mastering but like I said, try the software that comes bundled first. A company called Sonic Solutions also makes mastering software. They may have an integrated editing/mastering setup. (and before anyone else chimes in, the iMovie/iDVD combo on the Mac is universally raved as the most intuitive).
I think when I was looking at set-top DVD recorders, Philips advertised that their boxes included Firewire ports so you could hook up a camcorder and import video. I'm sure these standalone DVD recorders have pretty limited editing capabilities though. Plus they cost much more than a $50 PC drive.
I think there are forums devoted to burning software, hardware. These have names like cdrhelp.com or dvdrhelp.com. Something like that. Probably also sites devoted to video editing as well.
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davet010
- DSP-Funk All-Star
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- Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2002 3:00 am
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Re: OT: Camcorders/DVD Recorder
[quote="Leebo33"]It seems like the mini-DVD models would be the easiest to use, but I am worried about the video quality (especially in low light indoor conditions) and the fact that you can only get 20-30 minutes on each mini-DVD. Plus, how would I copy the mini-DVD to send to friends/family? Mini-DV seems to be the most popular format, but I would have to upgrade my computer. Is it safe to assume Mini-DV will be a good format for the next 5 years or so?
quote]
I've just bought one myself (Panasonic GS-75), which cost me about £350, and am very happy with it. I don't think the same model is available in the US, but the GS-65 has gotten very good reviews...try the camcorderinfo.com site for reviews and stuff.
MiniDV tapes are currently the most widely available format - the camcorders with the DVD-recorder on the side have advantages regarding burning etc, but you'll end up using DVD-RWs unless you are very sure of what you are doing. Quality on them is lower at the moment compared to MiniDV camcorders of the same price
In 5 years, you are most likely looking at mini-HD camcorders, I would guess - as the price and stability of these becomes more realistic, that's where the market will go.
As for software etc, if you go miniDV you can either use Microsoft's MovieMaker, or go for a more flashy piece of editing software. I got an old version of Pinnacle Studio 8 to play with, and I use Nero 6.3 to burn with.
I'm currently using a laptop for my PC, which has a similar-ish spec to yours. To help things along, I have a separate Maxtor 250GB HD to store video and music on, and I would definitely recommend Firewire as the way to go - less dropouts than USB2.
Hope this helps a bit.
DT
quote]
I've just bought one myself (Panasonic GS-75), which cost me about £350, and am very happy with it. I don't think the same model is available in the US, but the GS-65 has gotten very good reviews...try the camcorderinfo.com site for reviews and stuff.
MiniDV tapes are currently the most widely available format - the camcorders with the DVD-recorder on the side have advantages regarding burning etc, but you'll end up using DVD-RWs unless you are very sure of what you are doing. Quality on them is lower at the moment compared to MiniDV camcorders of the same price
In 5 years, you are most likely looking at mini-HD camcorders, I would guess - as the price and stability of these becomes more realistic, that's where the market will go.
As for software etc, if you go miniDV you can either use Microsoft's MovieMaker, or go for a more flashy piece of editing software. I got an old version of Pinnacle Studio 8 to play with, and I use Nero 6.3 to burn with.
I'm currently using a laptop for my PC, which has a similar-ish spec to yours. To help things along, I have a separate Maxtor 250GB HD to store video and music on, and I would definitely recommend Firewire as the way to go - less dropouts than USB2.
Hope this helps a bit.
DT
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
Re: OT: Camcorders/DVD Recorder
I was looking to upgrade my Hi8, but now will wait until the HD comes down...davet010 wrote: In 5 years, you are most likely looking at mini-HD camcorders, I would guess - as the price and stability of these becomes more realistic, that's where the market will go.
here is a link to Sony's HD camcorder.....http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/5930
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davet010
- DSP-Funk All-Star
- Posts: 3563
- Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2002 3:00 am
- Location: Manchester, England
Over here they are called DVD+R9's (presumably connected to their 9GB capacity.
Cheapest i can get hold of them is £2.49 for a 1x, or £4.99 for a 2.4x
Most modern DVD-R drives will take them - I've got an NEC 2510, which you can pick up really cheap and plays all disks, including caddyless DVD-RAM.
Cheapest i can get hold of them is £2.49 for a 1x, or £4.99 for a 2.4x
Most modern DVD-R drives will take them - I've got an NEC 2510, which you can pick up really cheap and plays all disks, including caddyless DVD-RAM.
"The players come from all over the world, the money from deep underneath the Persian Gulf, but, as another, older City poster campaign put it, this is their city. They may now exist in the global spotlight, but they intend to keep it that way."
DVD+DL is it. When i got my DVD+DL burner around xmas they came in a 3 pack for $30. Those same 3 packs are now $20 (this is at Fry's, Best Buy has only dropped them to $25, i'm quickly becoming disgusted with BB). YOu can get just about any type of burnable media online for cheap prices and in any amount you want. Meritline.com has pretty good selection and prices.wco81 wrote:I'm sure all the big chains have them.
It's called Double-Layer recordable media.
DVD DL. Probably DVD+ DL.
"Be tolerant of those who describe a sporting moment as their best ever. We do not lack imagination, nor have we had sad and barren lives; it is just that real life is paler, duller, and contains less potential for unexpected delirium." -Nick Hornby
I bought the Panasonic GS65 last night online.
I'm still not sure what I will do to burn DVDs. My computer is 4 years old now so I hate to put money into Windows XP, more RAM, a bigger harddrive, a firewire card, and a DVD burner. I may just watch from the Camcorder for a year or so and then buy a new notebook computer within the next couple years.
I'm still not sure what I will do to burn DVDs. My computer is 4 years old now so I hate to put money into Windows XP, more RAM, a bigger harddrive, a firewire card, and a DVD burner. I may just watch from the Camcorder for a year or so and then buy a new notebook computer within the next couple years.
Within the next couple of years, there should be Blu-Ray or HD-DVD drives in computers. Longhorn should be out, which may impose new security models.
Then again, the way some people are talking about Longhorn, it may be worth considering getting the latest hardware before Longhorn comes out, requiring motherboards with security chips.
Then again, the way some people are talking about Longhorn, it may be worth considering getting the latest hardware before Longhorn comes out, requiring motherboards with security chips.