Hello all, I just joined up here

[tcdrushgeddy]

....I hate to start with my hands outs, but, I am looking at getting started with a camcorder. I have recently been pretty active shooting stills with my Canon digital equipment (300D, 5D + several lenses) .. you can look here to see some of my stuff for reference: http://www.pbase.com/tcdrushgeddy/galleries

Of course, I am looking at the Panny's, sony's, and Canon's and I love HD but I understand there are limitations with the different formats (mini DV, HDD etc)
and also low light capabilities, and I have spent some time looking around at current models on cnet and all the usual suspect sites.. and here too of course.

My first application would be for posting a few youtube videos (guitar playing and stuff like that) and maybe shooting some footage at family events and nephews soccer and football games perhaps.... I will not be another indie film star or quentin tarantino type anytime soon but I could appreciate some good equipment to grow into and might also use for shooting a local band or two on occasion. My budget is pretty much open, although I could buy the HVX200, that would be foolish at this point. I am just looking for some ideas on a good
starting point. I am just starting out but I want to be able to produce nice eye candy (if I get the juices flowing!) right out of the box (given that I can get the technical part down).

Sorry to be so longwinded... but I didn't want to just ask, what camcorder should I buy? I see the Panny AG100BX seems to be very popular but no HD, that might (and probably should) represent as much as I would spend, but I am sure I ought to start with something less expensive....Thanks, Tom

[William_Robinette]

Welcome.

Very open ended question there, and I will put in my simple $0.02.

A Canon HV20 is small, simple, unobtrusive, and capable of creating very nice HD footage. It's cheap too, which leaves more money or accessories.

The Canon A1 is being viewed as the new DVX in some circles, and it too provides stunning image quality but with manual controls for you to grow into.

Either one would be a great choice. Then again the HVX does have that Panasonic mojo...

[tcdrushgeddy]

Thanks for the quick reply BennisHahn, do you think it is limiting to have a compressed HD file or need to convert from HD to SD? I read that Mini-DV is still the best way to go. I will be running a FAST computer as always :) but I have heard converting the files can be time consuming... I know I want to watch HD footage on the plasma but would need to get it into other formats that hopefully someone else will see...Yeah, I could just buy the HVX and get it over with :)

Thanks for the info!
Tom

[Huy Vu]

Thanks for the quick reply BennisHahn, do you think it is limiting to have a compressed HD file or need to convert from HD to SD? I read that Mini-DV is still the best way to go. I will be running a FAST computer as always :) but I have heard converting the files can be time consuming... I know I want to watch HD footage on the plasma but would need to get it into other formats that hopefully someone else will see...Yeah, I could just buy the HVX and get it over with :)

Thanks for the info!
Tom

Bottom line is with HD you're always working with a compressed file, even DVCPROHD. Uncompressed HD can be had but the requirement for shooting and editing it is just off the roof. All of the current HD cameras offer an internal down convert feature or you can downconvert in your NLE. Render time however is always significant, even with a fast computer. There's no way to get around it except to spend more money on RAID drives etc.

For youtube, starting with HD doesn't give you any advantage. It's almost a crapshoot whether your footage will come out good or mushed up.

[cdmiller87]

Consider getting a used DVX. For one reason, the 24p setting is really cool.

[tcdrushgeddy]

Thanks jade, are you saying that I can go with an HD cam and have the choice of opting not to shoot in HD and shoot in SD and not have to convert/render the file? ... yep, wasn't really looking at youtube as the premier delivery mechanism but that's where this started and then I went it and made it more complex :)

[Huy Vu]

Yea, all the tape based HD cam (not sure about the HVX since it shoots to P2 card) can downconvert HD footage already shot into SD without any need for conversion in editing. All of them are capable of SD only mode as well.

[tcdrushgeddy]

Thanks cd, I will definitely consider a used DVX100, that is kind of why I posted here, I don't know about the 24P setting yet, it sounds cool (progressive scan film or something like that :) I know HD is awesome but I can also appreciate what the other formats could offer...

[tcdrushgeddy]

Hey, thanks for the input folks. I decided to go ahead and buy the Canon HV20, I just ordered it from B&H!