Which Digital Camcorder?

Camman

Well, I am at ends with myself, I am desperatly trying to decide between two Digital Camcorders, both have features I want which are not included on the other, here's the rundown, listing just the key features I'm looking at.


Sony TRV-350 Digital8 Camcorder

290k pixels effective resolution
20x optical zoom (700x digizoom, but I dont use it cause its garbage)
Stereo Mic Inputs
Digital8 Video Format
Full Audio Video Input/Output via iLink/Svideo/RCA
White balance is automatic (blech)
Manual Focus Control

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=69X1MFKBv5b1NxKMsNb_Ox2PrYPus3QPHV4=?CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_Digital8HandycamCamcorders&Dept=dcc&TemplateName=item%2fsy_item_b&ProductSKU=DCRTRV350


the contender

Sony HC-20
340k pixels effective resolution
10x optical zoom (120x digital, same statement as above) BUT this lens is considerably better, it's a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens
Stereo Mic Input
Video Output VIA svideo/multi AV but no inputs except iLink (firewire)
miniDV format
White Balance: Auto/Outdoor/Indoor/One Push
Manual Focus Control

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=69X1MFKBv5b1NxKMsNb_Ox2PrYPus3QPHV4=?CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_MiniDVHandycamCamcorders&Dept=dcc&TemplateName=item%2fsy_item_b&ProductSKU=DCRHC20



now, I'm really swayed for the second one because of the choice lens that is on the camera, but, i'm having trouble picking it 100% because I've been shooting on a Sony TRV-250 since last April so I have a bunch of Digital8 (8mm) tapes full of stuff..... HELP ME DECIDE, is there any other stuff you guys think I should be looking at?

primesuspect

Go with the better lens. Since the end format is digital anyway, who cares what medium it's stored on? At some point it will be stored on a hard drive anyway, so bleh on the tapes. Go with the MiniDV and the good lens.

edcentric

Go with #2. I got a TRV because we take it on trips and I can pick up 8mm taped anywhere. Mine is an old 5XX model so I have a better lens.
Optics are what really count.

CB

It does matter what tape it goes on, but go with the MiniDV anyway. We only use MiniDV here at the TV station. It's igh enough quality, and it's very inexpencive compared to other formats. About the only thing cheaper is VHS (and you already know not to use that for anything I hope). We use DVCpro for anything that needs to be very high quality. We would never use 8mm... Never.

So, I agree with Prime. Go for the MiniDV cam. Although, I would only ever buy my DV cameras from Cannon.

Camman

thanks for the suggestions guys! Altho, in response to the above post, as prime said Digital8/MiniDV in terms of quality is pretty much the same, as in this article I read in "Videomaker magazine" (new subscription tee hee) Digital Bits are Digital Bits, the Digital8 def looks a lot better than Video8/Hi8 8mm formats, altho I have yet to use MiniDV so I can't compare. I need something thats going to be pretty good quality as we are filming what we hope to be a festival-quality mini-film this spring to be submitted in the fall and has to have FireWire obviously so I can edit then print back to the tape with Premiere so I can transfer the edited version (supposedly loss-less, if never compressed during editing) onto a 1/2" VHS for submission (yea, I know you said dont use VHS for anything but almost all festivals require a 1/2" vhs submission, some of the other ones I've seen require a copy in "Beta format" but I dont even know what that is, I are professional video stuffs newb, I assume they're not talking about the wicked old-school pre VHS beta tapes...

primesuspect

no, they ARE indeed talking about that wicked old school pre VHS beta tapes - they've always been the superior format.

Camman

If they are the superior format how did it come to be that VHS is the dominant format of video tapes when Beta came first?

CB

Timing. Only timing.

celcho

marketting. sony just lost the battle. beta was used professionally, though, rather than VHS up until digital, which is DVC Pro.

if you're trying to make a good quality video, don't you want to get one of the really nice 3 CCD big glass cameras? like the sony and canon ones? they're expensive, but the quality is quite a bit higher, which will be noticeable since this isn't going to be a compressed internet file but a uncompressed tv resolution tape.

Camman

I would like to get a 3CCD camera (Canon XL1s=my dream camera or a GL2 would work too ) but as I am a freshmen in college with a part time job I can barely afford a decent single CCD camera

<img src="http://www.tropicalmedia.com/canxl1.jpg"&gt;


ahhh yes, what a thing of digital video beauty

celcho

yeah, i love that camera. the gl2 would be fun, too, since it's a smaller camera.

Camman

someday, someday....

CB

Yep, we use the XL1 for the big job, but they are a bit pricey. Doesn't your school have some kind of television station or course? You could get experience and access to equipent through them...

Camman

Well I am in an Information Technology program at my school , and I'm not sure if they even have programs for professional video and that type of stuff, unfortunately. So I don't think theres any equipment to borrow. Ive actually contemplated going to a school for professional video and filmmaking and such after I finish my IT program, but, I'm not sure, probably by that point I'll want to find a full time job, and I've heard that finding opportunities in that type of field is a lot more difficult.

CB

In filmmaking, it is very dificult. You have to be really good, really lucky, and a really good brown-noser... Just working behind the scenes in television though, is fairly easy to get started in.