Consumer Electronics

Monday, April 13, 2009

Should I get this Digital Camera? Sony DSC-T500?

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stor...





It's the sony DSC-T500, it's slim like I want, and I like the HD recording and the 10.1 megapixels, and I have been wanting a digital camera for quite some time, is this a good one?



We just put the new T500 through its paces during the arrival of our new baby. Both still shots and HD video taken with the camera came out beautifully. Camera performance is excellent. The touch screen controls are intuitive, the options are plenty (if you want to bother with them), and the quality of the output is great.





The only reasons I'm not giving the camera at 5/5 is that the battery seems to get dragged down rather quickly (admittedly mostly due to video usage), and the included docking station is required to plug the camera into your Mac (or PC). As I travel a fair bit, and like the small size of the camera, it's a bit of a shame that a docking station is needed, in addition to the USB cable (would be optimal if you could plug straight into the camera and avoid the extra hardware).





One last point to note is that this camera is the better choice if you want video and still photo capability in one. If you're looking for a camera that can store a ton of still pics on board, without requiring the not included Memory Stick Duo cards, then go with the T700 model.





All in all, this is a solid camera, with a great output, in a perfect size. Definitely can't go wrong.





Sony Cybershot DSC-T500


Price: $269.99


http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Cybershot-DSC...




I would suggest new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T90 over T500,12 MP with 4x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization.Touch screen panel.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?i...

I need help with a camera, please help?

i have a aiptec mega pixel digital camcorder. i was taking pictures of myself and there was one messed up picture and i tried to turn the camera off and it wasn't responding so i to out one of the batteries and it just shows a black screen and nothing shows up. can you tell me what it means and what i can do to fix it



Mine did that when i put in a new and larger memory card (mine was a new digital camera though-not camcorder).


I went from a 1gig to a 4gig and formatted it and everything and it still messed up just like what you're describing.


I had to keep taking the battery out to even get it to shut off.





I ended up putting my old card back in it and it has worked great since.




What the hell is an 'Aiptec'?.





Hey.. You buy cheap, you buy twice!.








Next time buy a quality product.








Sorry to be harsh, but it's true!.





.




The camera is haunted.....

Need a cheap fisheye?

i do alot of skateboard filming and i want to get a fish eye for my shitty samsung camcorder model SC-D363 and i want to kno where i can find a cheap fisheye for it



Ebay is your best bet. Determine the filter diameter required for your camera, like 37mm or whatever, and then search EBay with "37mm fisheye lens" and you'll get a few thousand hits.





Most will be crappy plastic, and cheap.

How to tell if a roll of film is used already?

so i bought a lomo fisheye camera a few months back and took some pictures with it until the roll was done, however when i put the roll of film back in the canister i didnt mark it so now i have four canisters with film rolls in them but not sure which is the one i used already, the others were not used so i was wondering if there was a way i could tell a used roll of film from a unused one,thanks in advance



normally when film is rewound it goes entirely back inside the cassette. you should have 3 with a pigtale of film ready to load, and one that does not have a film end showing.




Did you try holding it up to a light to see if you can see the pictures in it. Or my other suggestion: just buy a digital camera :D.

I need help regarding cameras?

I'm going to see Coldplay/Snow Patrol/Howling Bells in 2 months, and you're not allowed cameras in the concert. I need a good camera, as close to an SLR as possible, that is cheap, and that I can sneak into the concert (via pocket or something) or one that I would be allowed to take with me. Thanks!



Hmm...cameras are prohibited at the venue, yet you want to break a rule?





Bear in mind that if you're caught, you'll be ejected from the venue, WITHOUT a refund.

Can you help me with my digital camera search?

I can a Canon Power Shot 750, which I absolutely LOVED. Last week it had a bad fall and I had it repaired but now its having more problems. If they can't / won't fix it, I may have to resort to buying new, but I don't really know where to start.





I would really like to be able to use my 2GB SD card - do you know which brands use it?





Any other recommendations would be great! I want to spend under $200 because I have an SLR and I need this one to be more of a "knock around".



i think most if not all will support that card,


im going to search for some i'll edit.





EDIT:


okay so, these are some shockproof/water proof cameras i've eard about





olympus is really good at doing this:


http://www.olympuscanada.com/cpg_section...


(theres a whole bunch on that site) ^^





also you said you liked the canon powershot? here's a shock proof one.


http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/...


( i think it's adorable^^)








hope i could help you out :)











answer mine?


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...




I have a Samsung BL103 and I love it! It takes really good quality pictures! It was under $200 and you can use a 2GB SD card. (That's what I use). You can buy it on-


http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BL103-Pixe...




i like the lumix cameras. they work really good for me. unfortunately, yesterday my brother dropped it and it broke.




canon sd1200








All of the major brands are good. Choose a brand that appeals to you. Then you have to think about getting a spare battery, what size memory card, if you want an extended warranty, how much you can afford, what size zoom, if you want manual controls, the size of the camera, finding a reliable place to purchase it, and the list goes on and on and on.......





The first thing to realize is that almost any digital camera will take good pictures. If more people would read the manual more than once, they would be able to take better pictures. Usually, the person assumes it is the camera when it could be them not knowing exactly what to do. Just give yourself more photographic knowledge by doing more reading on the internet.





I really believe buying a camera is an individual choice.


The person needs to read alot of reviews on cameras so they can decide on the features that they really want and need.


Go to the store and hold them so you can see if they feel comfortable in your hands. If possible, take some pictures in the store to check the quality of the pictures.


I can only give a suggestion of what to look for in a new digital camera.


Good Luck











my suggestion


go to this link for help


http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camera-b...





http://www.sears.com/shc/s/dap_10153_126...

My camera is acting really wierd.. HELP!!!?

A few days ago i dropped my camera while it was filming. I fixed it though but during the days I've had some problems with them like ,glitching during turning off the camera, lens getting stuck but i eventually fixed them all by myself.





Now, The camera lens will come out then back in then out and back in then it'll say on the screen to turn it off and on again. I do so, but it doesn't turn on so i can't take pictures! help??



You have damaged your camera by dropping it. The only solution is to...either try and get it repaired or to buy a new one.


Buying a new one would most likely be the better and cheaper option.


If you do buy a new camera, I'd advise you to attach the wrist strap and always use it...because it will save your camera from permanent damage if you were to drop it.




it needs repaired by the manufacturer

I DROPPED MY CAMERA?? HELP!!?

A few days ago i dropped my camera while it was filming. I fixed it though but during the days I've had some problems with them like ,glitching during turning off the camera, lens getting stuck but i eventually fixed them all by myself.





Now, The camera lens will come out then back in then out and back in then it'll say on the screen to turn it off and on again. I do so, but it doesn't turn on so i can't take pictures! help??



please ignore the dork who said sale it on eBay. -500 points for the moron. more than likely you wont be able to fix it. when you shake the camera does anything sound loose inside? if not more than likely something broke off the circuit board itself. also have you tried removing its battery and such so it will reset. also some digital cameras have a small pinhole to reset them back to factory defaults. if none of those works you pretty much have a paper weight. unless you know someone who works on them as a hobby.




it needs repaired by the manufacturer




not sure maybe get a new one and sell that one on ebay

What kind of camera do people use to create claymation movies?

I just want to know cos me and some people are making a claymation movie in the style of Wallace and Gromit, Harvie Krumpet etc, and we are having trouble with a digital flash camera, so we need to know PLZ if there is a camera available in Australia that is made for this task.


Thnx in advance!!!



The problem is that most digital cameras (even DSLR's with a live view) can't be used with stop motion software since they all go into a "generic hard drive" mode for uploading pics when plugged into a computer. That's why stop motion programs can't detect your camera; it's not made to provide a live video feed when plugged into a computer.





Webcams are the easiest to use with stop motion software since the whole point of them is to provide a live video feed while hooked up to a computer. Camcorders can be used as well, just make sure that whichever way it provides a Video Out signal (USB, Firewire, RCA Jack) that your computer has a proper port/jack for it. If not, you might need an adapter.





Keep in mind you can still use your digital camera for stop motion. You just need to take all your pics first, then upload them onto your computer and turn them into a video. Most stop motion software can take pics off your hard drive and compile them into video.





If you need any more help or info, let me know.




What is a digital flash camera?





You can use just about anything, provided it has the resolution you need. Since even full 1080p HD video is only 2 megapixels, the camera sensor is most likely not the problem.





What is the problem?





One of those theatrical claymation things... Princess Bride maybe? was shot with Canon 20D cameras. They could just have easily used Powershot Pro1's, not a big deal.

If i get a digital camera how do i put the pictures on the computer, and then how do i get them to the site th?

the site i want them to go to.....



Your new digital camera will come with a User Manual, so you just need to read it.


But, the usual way to transfer images to your computer is by direct camera to computer connection via a USB cable (which always comes supplied with the camera). Or, you can use the memory card with a card reader.


Once your images have been transferred to your computer, you should easily be able to upload them to whichever site your like (these sites will give you directions on how to upload).

Dropped my camera.. any tips on how to fix it?? CLICK?

My lens goes in and out like 6 times and then shuts off and thats that... its really werid because i dropped it couple of days ago..





any tips on how to fixx it?





I tried


taking the battery out


wiggling the lens



im sorry to say, but your camera is pretty much toast,


the lens is probably misaligned after the impact.


it could probably be fixed, but warranty will not cover it, therefore it might be better to just recycle the camera and buy a new one (vs. cost of repairing it)

Does a lot of continous clicks in a camera decrease its battery life?

Does a lot of continous clicks in a camera decrease its battery life? And does the number of clicks has anything to do with the camera's battery life?



If I understand your question, the answer is (sort of) yes.





It isn't so much the number of times you press the shutter button, as all rechargeable batteries will wear out. The more you use them, the more you have to recharge them, and the sooner they will fail. This can take a few months, or (hopefully) a few years.





It isn't just the times you press the shutter button. Having the camera on draws power, even with the camera off the battery loses a small amount of power. Any rechargeable battery that is not on a charger is losing power. It's what they do.

Is the cannon ae-1 an alright camera for photography?

i recently acquired on from my aunt (lens included), and i was just wondering if this is a good camera to take photos with. i have experience with slr's, but none with cameras that actually need film. thanks for your help, i do pick best answers.





http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj212...



The AE-1 is a classic example of the early "auto exposure" 35mm film cameras. It uses Shutter Priority as its form of "auto exposure" so you choose a shutter speed and the camera will choose an f-stop that will result in a correct exposure. Of course you can also choose full manual metering.





Load a roll of Kodak Ektar 100 and you'll be impressed with the results you get.




It's a great little camera. You do indeed have to think before each shot--the good old way, and the right way to learn photography.





So you know, you can get used lenses for it very cheaply. Keep in mind that it uses the old Canon mouth, and this means it will not physically fit any current Canon camera (film or digital) if you decide to buy one now.




It is a very good camera. Since it isn't the Program model, you actually have to think about what you are doing while you take pictures. This is a good thing!





I learned many years ago, with a Canon AL-1, very similar to this. For the 1st 6 months I owned it, all I had was the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. Cameras didn't come with zoom lenses that far back... they all came with a 50mm. Zooming was done with your feet!





Enjoy the camera, and the experience.




For a film camera I'd say it's probably just fine. Buying used? Be careful.





Good Luck

My camera is taking cloudy pictures, where do I take it to get it fixed?

I dropped it in the tub a few months ago, but barely before I caught it. I'm sure this is why the lens is "cloudy". The pics come out looking hazy, although, you can still see the pic pretty well. It is a Nikon Coolpix. Can I take it somewhere to get it fixed.



don't take it to be fixed, open up all the "doors" of the camera cover the lens to protect it. Place the camera with doors open into a bag of rice. Make sure it's completely covered by rice. Let sit over night. Clean out all rice so none is stuck inside camera parts. Let dry more with doors open. Check the next day to see if the cloudiness is gone. If it is, you just saved yourself a bunch of dough. If not bring it to a Ritz Camera if you have one.




Any service or camera shop could help you if it's just trapped water/condesation...





Always use strap to avoid dropping the camera!




just take photos on a clear sunny day, I couldn't resist; lol.




mackcam.com

Can you attach different lenses to a Fujifilm Finepix S1000?

i would like to take "fish eye" pictures but I have that camera and so i want to know if you can



No, it's a point and shoot




No, that one doesn't use interchangeable lenses like a DSLR.

Nikon COOLPIX L100 or Canon Powershot SX10?

I need a good camera that will take high quality beauty shots. I'm an upcoming makeup artist and want a really nice digital camera to take crisp pictures for my portfolio. I don't want to spend a large amount of money and a DSLR would most definitely be confusing for me. I have narrowed it down to these two...


the Nikon COOLPIX L100 $265.99


the Canon Powershot SX10 $399.99


they are both 10 mega pixels. which one do you recommend I buy? or do you have another recommendation? I need a camera that will show colors truly.


thank you!



If I were you I would go with Nikon L100,less expensive than the SX10IS.This camera takes focused, sharp, professional-looking pictures


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PK8...





and another good medel that I would suggest is Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28K 10MP with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.Picture quality is excellent.High quality Leica Lens.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CCL...




the fz28 would be better


I have read bad reviews about the L100

Sony A200 Memory ???????????

hi


i have been reading some information on what devices such as sd cf cards you can use and not on the sony a200 and it say you can use the Cf card and the memory stick pro duo is this correct ?



It took awhile to fully understand your question.... but ANYWAYS..





Yes, the Sony A200 accepts Compact Flash and Memory Stick, but not SD cards.




on mine im pretty sure i can only use the cf card, i think the memory stick duo is for higher models, but im truly happy with perfomance of the card, i got a really fast one, and suggest you invest into that too since it will let you take more action shots in a row before your memory card gives way to the intense memory being sent to it

My Digital Camera has stopped coming through the PC! All i have had?

to do in the past is...Desktop-turn cam on-then up comes the screen to copy your pics etc...What is wrong here???????????



lol...ditto on the lmao!

Left my nikon out in the rain.?

I have a nikon s210 and I accidentally left it out in the rain. It was during a pretty bad storm and I was wondering if it was broken or if I could get a new one free of charge.





I let it dry out about a week after the storm and then charged the battery. I put it in the nikon but all that happened was a green light flashed and then it went dead. Can anyone help me? Please let me know!



Did you try taking a picture with it? That would be the first thing to do. Make sure you pressed the display button so that you can see if the screen will come up. Try accessing the menus. If non of this stuff works then you may need a new one.




It's dead, you can't get a new one, leaving it out in the rain voids the warranty. You will have to purchase a new one.

External Microphones for camcorders?

I have an old panasonic pv-21 camcorder (that uses vhs-c tapes)





I am looking for an external mic for it and was wondering....





what is the standard size mic plug for exteranal mics on cameras


(I THINK ITS 3.5mm)





will a regular mic (a music microphone) work for for an external mic?





im not trying to buy an expensive mic





thanks



all you need is an adapter so that your mic and cable will work with your camera. The camera uses a mini plug that's 3.5mm. figure out what your mic and cable have at its end, then buy the adapter from radio shack and you're good to go.
i won the GOgurt sweepstakes and want to know when i will get my flip ultra..i entered about febuary?



As I told you back on February, be patient. Those things can take up to 12 weeks.

How can I export in 1440x1080 while maintaining 16:9?

I recently got an HV30 and I've been trying to figure out for DAYS this 1.33 / 1920 stuff. The thing is, I am using After Effects, when I import the captured 1440x1080 footage it recognizes the file with a 1.00 aspect ratio (so the video looks like 4:3) I click on Interpret Footage and change "Square Pixels (1.00)" to HD Anamorphic (1.33) and the video looks in widescreen now. However, no matter how I export it (AVI, MPEG...) it always renders it squeezed to 4:3. I AM NOT getting widescreen.



The export files you specify are standard definition. That is why After Effects makes the anamorphic squeeze to fit 16:9 widescreen into a 4:3 container. When anamorphic SD is played back, it has to be expanded again to get the widescreen effect.





To save the HD source as HD and not be converted down to SD as you are doing now, you need to export as an HD file type.

Which camcorder is better Flip MinoHD or Kodak Zi6?

IDK which one 2 buy!!!!! the Flip MinoHD is really cool and records HD, just like the Kodak Zi6. But they say Kodak Zi6 has HD60 which is even better that HD or something like that. And in the Flip MinoHD you can upload the videos directly to YouTube, Myspace, and AOL video. ANd i need a good camcorder for YouTube and Myspace................WHICH ONE DO I GET????!!!! HELP!



probably the flip minoHD


cuz it does what u want automatically^.^


and it has HD automatically too so


that one


or u could buy both if they dont cost too much and see which ones better and take back the one you dont like................


oh but thats just me lol


but yeah i like the flip mino best

Do you have to install a school projector before use?

when you use a normal projector any teacher uses, is there a program you normally have to install for the model or does it usually work right away after you plug it in?



If it is VGA plug, you are good to go. The projector may only support 600x800 SVGA or even 480x640 VGA monitor resolution and that would have to be set from the computer "control panel" as most computers are running XVGA or higher resolution modes these days.





If you plan to run it from your laptop, be aware that the VGA port on laptops are toggled on and off from the keyboard. The default position is usually "off", so you will need to find the toggle before it will come on, its an "F" key on my computer.




Projector? Like one that connects to a computer?





It is just a monitor. The computer's VGA port connects to the projector's VGA port with a VGA cable - like a monitor. For basic use to display what is on the computer, there is nothing to install on the computer.





Some projectors have a wireless mouse set-up that might need to be installed for remote control of a mouse...

Please help me with my memory card!?

I just pulled off a couple of videos off of my memory card and then deleted them (not from the camera, on a card reader) Now when i put it back in the camera it says that i have no space left when there is only a 1 minute video and the camera has 30 minutes of filming. Please help me!



Try formatting the card in the camera, that should erase anything on the card and make it usable in your camera.





The formatting will be somewhere in the cameras menu, check your owners manual.

When you split videos and clone yourself using Sony Vegas 8... (READ DESCRIPTION PLEASE)?

When you split videos and clone yourself using Sony Vegas 8, one masked side of the video is darker than the other. Either that, or the masking line is visible through the video.





HOW CAN YOU FIX THAT? Is there a way to fix it, like delete the visibility of the line?



you're going to have to touch up the saturation or light in Vegas. I dont have it so i dont really know how to exactly but there must be some effect to change the brightness. It happened because you shot the two scenes in different lighting, like different times of day. In order to eliminate it in the future, shoot the two scenes as closely together as you can, hopefully minutes apart, so the light doesnt noticeably change

Sony camcorders, whats the difference?

One of these sony camcorders is cheaper than the other but I can't figure out why! They have different model numbers.





http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...





http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?...



1st has 4 G internal memory


2nd has 8 G internal memory




if you listed the model numbers, I would of explained it.

Anywhere where i can get a camcorder cheap?

Im always making videos on my phone and the videos are to short and the picture is horrible. Im planning on making a skate video and i need to get a camcorder. Help



Try walmart and Canadian Tire! Also check at futureshop.ca/futureshop.com





Good luck!




Recommend...


Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 30-Minutes recording





http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V1P...








for more cheap camcorder...





http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?i...




Check amazon.com they always have good deals


http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?i...




Ebay?




maybe try a local pawn shop

Movie making help needed!?

I want to make a movie using my home camera. I filmed all the scenes I need for my movie and I connected my camera to the computer to put all the scenes together but the computer says the file format is not supported . P.S I used windows photo gallery (which also supports videos and makes movies) P.S.S It worked with my camcorder just yesterday.



A lot of camcorders don,t have the proper format for video editing softwares. You have two choices:





1) Install a video converter that can be found on the web


2) Buy a camcorder with the right video format (ex. AVI, WMV and MPG, but not .MP4).





Good luck! Should you require any further assistance, I can be reached through email by my profile's page.




Restart your computer.

The best HD camcorder for under 200 bucks?

I'm looking for a new camcorder to shoot short clips. I have two hundred bucks and no more and wanna know what the best HD camcorder is for 200 bucks or less. I really wanted a handy cam but those are three hundred and too much for me.



Aiptek A-HD 1080P High Definition Camcorder


or Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder


http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?i...




flip mino HD

Can the Sony DCR-SR65 camcorder connect to a Mac?

I want to buy it for my friend


and he has a mac mini


i just want to make sure that this camcorder will be able to connect to his computer without any problems



Yes. With the USB cable that comes in the box - it is a regular mini-USB to USB connector. The camcorder needs to be in PC mode and will mount like any other external "mass storage device" to copy the highly compressed MPEG2 files.





The video will need to be converted.





Handy tools to have:





Flip4Mac (for playback):


http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/vi...





StreamClip for converting:


http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/vi...





or HandBrake for converting:


http://handbrake.fr/

Recorded Performance was too dark :(?

I had a performance and my mom recorded it, but the whole thing is too dark. Cant see anything. Is there ANY way I can get this lighter at least to see something???



I do video editing in Premiere and there are filters you can add to your video, which can brighten it up, color correct, improve audio, etc. etc. You might want to find a video production company in your area and see what they can do for you. It'll probably cost you at least $50/hr, and you would most likely get the finished product on a DVD. You might want to find a student in video production at a local community college that would do it for much cheaper.

Mini DV, HD, Direct to flash, miniDVD or Hard disk Camcorders?

Based on final quality and editability.



Currently, HDV has been the reigning champ for quality for high-definition camcorders. And virtually all HD camcorders trump SD models on quality, even if you're shooting for delivery on SD (DVD, for example). The one place SD cameras, particularly pro(ish) models like the Sony VX2100 shine is low-light... you will still get better performance out of a top 3-chip SD model than a similar HD model in very low light. Any camera with a 24fps mode will also help in low-light.





Format wise, there's basically two in common use, at least until you're up in the >$5,000 range. HDV is, of course, high-definition (1440x1080) on mini-DV tape using the MPEG-2 CODEC and MPEG Layer-2 Audio format. AVCHD supports a wide variety of options, though it's based on H.264 (also called MPEG-4 Part 10 or AVC), which is pretty well established as the successor to MPEG-2 in may fields (video discs, digital television, etc). HDV is fixed at 25Mb/s regardless of whether you're shooting 1080/60i, 1080/30p, or 1080/24p. AVCHD formats are "computer-like"... cameras can choose various different bitrates, based on a trade-off between quality and storage requirements.





As far as real formats go, HDV has been the quality winner for quite some time. This is largely based on the fact that MPEG-2 was a fully mature video CODEC before the first HDV camcorder shipped. So there's been a bit of improvement in sensor tech over the years, but the format has pretty much been good from the get-go. AVCHD has been evolving. In theory, it should offer at least twice the coding efficiency of MPEG-2... same quality at half the storage space. And that'll probably be true in 5 years, but it's not quite there yet, particularly when you're encoding in realtime on a camcorder. To offset this, newer models have bitrates up to 24Mb/s, and they're starting to match and even sometimes exceed the quality of HDV, at least in come circumstances.





Format is also an issue. I never recommend DVD-based camcorders, simply because the DVD is too small.. 1.4GB per layer, versus 12-16GB on a mini-DV tape. DVD camcorders record at lower bitrates to stretch this space, and even at that, you get only about 20 minutes per layer (at the top quality setting), and that's lower quality than you would see with HDV or other AVCHD models. Hitachi also makes a Blu-Ray camcorder, which seems like a good idea... a single-layer 3" Blu-Ray disc stores 7.5GB, enough for about an hour's worth of video. I own one of these... it was probably worth what I paid (heavy discount), but the quality is poor compared to HDV except under ideal conditions (I own two HDV models, too).





Hard disc drive had the advantage of long recording times, so if recording beyond an hour without stop is important, this is an option. Most HD HDD camcorders are AVCHD, but HDDs are fast enough and large enough that they don't need to make the same compromises they do for DVD. The main problems with HDD: they are the most fragile sort of media, and once they're filled, you need a PC to unload video before you can shoot more (or you have to delete something).





Flash is my "computer-friendly" format of choice. I've seen fast 8GB SDHC cards for $20... they're of course reusable for years if not decades. A few models have internal storage as well, so you're already able to get >1hr recording time without swapping media.





I'm a big fan of Canon's flash-based HD camcorders.. if I needed another consumer/prosumer-class camcorder today, I would probably buy one of these. Panasonic makes some very interesting pro/prosumer models, but their consumer models are kind of a mixed bag. They pushed for 3CCD sensors in the SD days, and have moved this to HD, which seems like a good thing. Only, as before, they're using three tiny (1/6") sensors together to deliver a not-quite-full-HD image, and they suffer in low-light compared to the large single-chip CMOS sensors used by Canon and Sony. Some of the rationale for 3CCD sensors is lost in the HD models anyway... it was a bit more settled a question in SD days.





You really do need the latest and greatest computer for AVCHD editing. My main PC here, a few years old dual-core Athlon (2.2GHz, 4GB DDR), does a fine job editing HDV, but AVCHD brings it to is knees. It's better on my Quad Core2 machine (2.4GHz, 4GB DDR2, usually "the work computer" running Linux).





Even at that, if I had a large project with AVCHD files, I would probably convert them all to CineForm (an "intermediate CODEC", Apple has one too... these became popular as an editing format in the days before realtime MPEG-2/HD editing was really practical). It's not a big deal, just something to be aware of. Intermediate CODECs generally use a different style of compression (CineForm is based on wavelets, not DCTs), so you don't get "recompression artifacts" messing up your video. The main downside is size: CineForm runs around 50GB/hour for HD. Thus the 4TB of external storage sitting here on my desk...





Technically, though, for a small video in MPEG-2 or a somewhat larger one in AVCHD, it's worthwhile to maintain the original format if you can, if you're authoring for Blu-Ray, as you many not need any recompression (except, of course, for where you edit). You can't get better quality than that!




Edit ability totally depends on what computer you are using. Trust me on this if you don't have a super fast PC 2.8 GHz or an newer apple running Final Cut Pro editing software stay far away from HD, HDV or AVCHD. I have Sony HDV AVCHD camcorder that records to Flash/memory stick for Sony and I can't edit my footage as beautiful as it looks until I buy a $1200 PC or a new Mac. Mini DV is still the easiest to edit if you have average equipment. Quality wise there is no comparison between HD and Mini DV but I feel the Average hardware is not yet equipped to deal with HD format.

Sony Camcorders Compatible with Final Cut Pro?

and if you'd like to answer two questions, haha, which Sony Camcorder would you get???



http://support.apple.com/kb/TA26860?view...





That website lists all Final Cut Pro compatible Sony Camcorders.





It all depends what you need the camcorder for and what you'd use it for, I can't recommend any single camcorder.




I have not yet found a Sony Camcorder that won't work with FinalCut Pro... sometimes the video needs to be converted, first, though... Which Macintosh computer are you using? Which version of Final Cut?





MiniDV and Digital8 tape based camcorders transfer video - DV or HDV - with a firewire camble connecting the camcorder's DV port to the Mac's firewire port. The newest MacBooks and MacBook Air do not have a firewire port so there is no direct importing mechanism. The DCR-HC series are standard definition; the HDR-HC series are high definition.





Hard disc drive or flash memory camcorders connect to a Mac with a USB cable. The external "mass storage device" mounts to the desktop and the video files are copied to the Mac. If standard definition MPEG files (like form the DCR-SR series), you need to convert the video files first - I like StreamClip


http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/vi...


and HandBrake


http://handbrake.fr/


After converting the video, drag the converted clips to the Log & Capture area.





If high definition hard disc drive or flash memory camcorders are used - consumer-grade cams save to a very highly compressed AVCHD format. You must be running the current viersion of FinalCut on an Intel-chip based Mac. Earlier versions or PPC based Macs cannot deal with AVCHD/MTS files.





I own and use a Sony HDR-HC1 and HDR-FX1. If I could only buy new, today, I would have the following on my short list:


HDR-HC9


HDR-FX1000


HVR-Z1U


HVR-Z5U





The HDR-HC9 is the least expensive camcorder Sony makes that has a mic jack AND manual audio control. None of the other consumer hard disc drive or flash memory camcorders up to about $1,300 have both (they have a mic jack, but no manual audio control). The HVR-HD1000 has a mic jack (1/8" - 3.5mm) and manual audio control - and is a shoulder mount - but it uses the same lenses and imaging chips used by the HDR-HC9. The HVR-A1U also is in that same ball-park, but it uses much better XLR connectors for external audio inputs.





Neither the DCR-HC52 or DCR-HC62 have a mic jack. I would suggest looking at the Canon FS and ZR seireis for standard definition camcorders with a mic jack - but they do not have manual audio control.





You did not tell us your budget.

My camcorder won

i have a sony Carl Zeisis Vario-Tessar DCR-DVD108 Handycam. when i plug in the usb cord it says its connecting but it never does. and my camera didnt come with a disc... is there another way to connect it to the computer..or any suggestions on what is wrong with it???



Your computer must have a drawer loading DVD drive. (Never put a small or odd-shaped disc ina slot loader. If you computer has only a slot loader, then get an external drawer loader - I like they stuff LaCie makes.)





You need a DVD ripper. I like HandBrake.


http://handbrake.fr/





Finalize the DVD in the camcorder.





Take the disc out of the camcorder and put it in the drawer loading DVD drive in (or connected to) your computer.





Launch the DVD ripper.





Convert the VOB files form the DVD to a file format your computer video editor can deal with... MovieMaker like WMV or AVI; iMovie likes MOV or MP4.





When the ripping/conversion is done, quit the ripping application and launch the video editor. Drag the video files you just ripped to the Collections or Log & Capture or Clips pane...




DVD camcorders do NOT hook to your pc for download.


If you have a mini dvd camcorder?


You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (I downloaded handbrake file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.

Question about converting a recordable DVD onto my computer?

Okay, so i have a digital video recorded, and it makes little DVD's, i was wondering, after i have finalized the disc and everything for playback, how would i go about converting it onto my computer, so i can edit the dvd on windows movie maker. i've searched a bit and read something about having to convert it to AVI form or something. how would i do that? is there a special program i have to download? is there any way that i can convert it onto my computer without using that program? i just need like, basic instructions on how to do this, and best answer to whomever puts it in lamens terms for me.


it would be greatly appreciated


:]



You can try Cucusoft DVD and Video converters suite which includes Cucusoft Ultimate DVD and Video Converter Suite. It is the best all-in-one DVD and video conversion software converts DVDs and videos to play on almost any portable device including iPod, iPhone, Zune, PSP, video capable MP3 players, video capable mobile phones, and Pocket P.C., etc.


You can free download this software free from here:


http://freedvdripper.org/dvdvideoconvert...


Unbiased reviews and side-by-side comparisons of DVD video converter suite give you enough information to research the ins and outs of a particular product:


http://www.topsreviews.com/reviews/dvd-v...


For mac users, you can choose Aimersoft DVD Converter Suite for Mac:


http://macdvdconverter.com/mac-dvd-conve...


Also, you can google some other software:


http://www.google.com




You may try this all-in-one dvd converter, I always use it to convert DVD to wmv video for editing in windows movie maker, my friends recommend it to me. It's safe and works pretty well for me, it supports copyright protected DVD, and here is a step by step guide about how to use it


http://www.freedvdripper.net/guides/rip-...


Hope it helps. Contact me if you have any other question or use http://www.ask.com to search more answers.

Timecode and dvx100b help?

Well I filmed a tape went to batch capture a bunch of logged clips and it's a mess. The audio is out of sync, wrong clips captured, errors etc.. I'm wondering if this has something to do with broken timecode and what's the best setup or way to go about recording without breaking timecode and keeping everything on one single timecode. Thanks.



Not sure exactly what caused that bad batch capture, but if you don't remove the tape from the camera, you shouldn't end up with broken timecode. If you do remove the tape, you can use the "end search" function to cue the tape up to a few frames before the last scene currently recorded on the tape, to allow for continued timecode from where the last recording left off.

I got a nice camera but the videos don

I have Windows Movie Maker, an Insignia NS-DCC5HB09 camera, brand-new and I have also purchased MAGIX movie edit pro 14. All three of them work fine, but I got on and tried to play some movies I made on Windows Media Player and it couldn't because of the codec. So, I downloaded ffdshow video decoder so I could watch the videos on WMP. But, every time I try to play them on either Movie Maker or Edit Pro, it downloads fine, and the audio is there but the video is not. If anyone could tell me how to improve this please help, there is ten points in it for you.



Use the provided software (The disk that comes with the camcorder) to import the video.

Transfer of MiniDv video to computer?

I have connected the camcorder using a firewire cable and my computer recognizes the camcorder, However I can not be able to view the videos that I have on tape on my camcorder. How do I view it and transfer it to my pc? Thank You!



Open your editing program and capture the video.





Make sure your camcorder is in playback mode.

Which camcorder should i get?

should i get the JVC Everio GZ-MG330 Blue ~ HDD Camcorder w/ 30 GB Hard Drive and microSD Slot for $329.88 or the JVC Everio GZ-MS100 Red ~ Digital Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 35x Optical Zoom & SD Card Slot for $269.88



Dont get jvc it is complete garbage... breaks down so easily.......

Need camera help... how to convert from Mpeg need help fast?

I am making a movie for school, and when I added the files to my computer from my camera a DXG-572V 5.0 Megapixel they were all added to my computer as MPEG files... they are all being read as audio files instead of video files so no picture is showing up...



You may try this total video converter, I always use it to convert video including AVI, WMV, MP4, MPEG, MOV, VOB, 3GP, FLV, etc. my friends recommend it to me, it's safe and works pretty well. The conversion quality is good, and the conversion speed is really fast. It also supports batch conversion. Here is the download link


http://video-converter.reviewstown.com/v...


If you are interested in it, here is a step by step guide about how to use it


http://www.freedvdripper.net/guides/conv...


Hope it helps. Contact me if you have any other question or you can use http://www.ask.com for more answers .




Aimersoft DVD Studio Pack is the most powerful multimedia conversion tool that it support various video formats. I use this tool now and it works great for me.


I download the software from:


http://www.topsreviews.com/dvd-video-con...


Unbiased reviews and side-by-side comparisons of DVD video converter suite give you enough information to research the ins and outs of a particular product:


http://www.topsreviews.com/reviews/dvd-v...


Wish you will like one after your comparison.


Also, you can google some other software:


http://www.google.com




http://media-convert.com/ maybe this help u.

What conversion is compatible with Windows Video Maker?

I have a camera that films on MPG so I put the video on my desktop and then in imported it to WVM and it only played the audio. What can I do or what can I convert it to, to allow it to play the video as well? I tried converting it to AVI and it said that there was a box not checked, an auto codec thing or something. What do I do? I need to edit it.



Aimersoft DVD Studio Pack is the most powerful multimedia conversion tool that it support various video formats. I use this tool now and it works great for me.


I download the software from:


http://www.topsreviews.com/dvd-video-con...


Unbiased reviews and side-by-side comparisons of DVD video converter suite give you enough information to research the ins and outs of a particular product:


http://www.topsreviews.com/reviews/dvd-v...


Wish you will like one after your comparison.


Also, you can google some other software:


http://www.google.com




you just need to download a proper codec for mpg, k-lite media codec pack" its free

Which Video Camcorder Do You Recommend?

I Am Willing To Spend Up To $300.





I Want It To Record In VGA Mode.





I Want A Stereo Microphone.





I Want It To Accept SDHC Cards.





I Want It To Have Image Stabilizer.





I Want It To Have a USB Cable.



Samsung SC-MX20L Flash Memory Camcorder w/34x Optical Zoom





http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FA1...

How can i download pictures onto my myspace from my Camera?!?

ok so i have a Sony, Cyber-shot, Vario-Tessar 2,8,5,8/5,35-21,4 and it has 7.2 mega pixels.


my computer is Dell, Dimension 4300.


thanks!



Actually, you UPload from your camera to your computer; then log in to your MySpace area and UPload from your computer to your MySpace area... Click where is says, "upload photos"...

Need help deciding where to go for a mini holiday?

I'm torn between going to see my friend in Alaska, or going to disrupt the life of my dear contact Jili, in Oregon. Where should I go?



Jili. She has goats and makes homemade lemon bars.




Okay, if you go to Alaska, I am coming too! But OR does rock in the summer..there's a ton to do here! Bring the girl babby and we'll make it a girl week!




Your avatar is a unicorn humping another unicorn and a rainbow. Come to my place in Sydney!!




I hear there's good booty and barbecue in Oregon.




Byron's wisdom is waaaay beyond his years...





Come alone.




New York is way better then those places! Come here.





Okay...not really...but you should still come here.

Where do you get hidden body cameras from?

Like the ones journalists were when they do undercover documentaries for tv? Can you buy/rent them, are they easy to use, how much are they? TY.



try cpc farnell.co .uk


maplin also do a pen / minidvr recorder which you can down load through usb


be careful though you need specific permissions to use them . Human rights act makes it an offence to spy on anyone without reasonable cause..




ebay has them, be careful of the chinese stuff, it may sound good, but may be junk.





you need a video camera with AV in/out and a spy cam




Ebay or Radio Shack

Can I use my JVC everio cam as a webcam? Is it a DV camcorder?

yes, use a firewire cable.




i dont know ;(

Sony Camcorders with Alternative Mic?

I have been eyeballing the HDR-CX100 from Sony.com . It seems really nice, but doesn't have an ALTERNATIVE microphone input. It does have a built in mic.





My question is that i want to ask if there is any HD camcorders that have an input that you can put a microphone in. All I see is the professional camcorders with those input of microphones, my budget is around $600.



The Canon HV20, HV30, HV40 and the Sony HDR-HC9 are the least expensive camcorders with a mic jack (1/8") AND manual audio control. They record to 1080i HDV format video (and 480p standard definition DV format video) - but this means your computer needs a firewire port for importing the video. If it does not have one, hopefully your computer has an available expansion slot so you can add one. USB transfer will not work.





A mic jack is only part of the equation - the manual audio control is very important.




I used to use a TRV-27 which has extrenal mic. I've found that the built-in mike on Sony camcorders is really quite good. Check out Sony Camcorders buying guides, it may be of little help to you to choose the one that fits in your budget - http://www.retrevo.com/samples/Sony-Camc...