|
|
| rjisinspired |
| Posted: Jul 22 2010, 07:33 AM |
 |
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 1256
Member No.: 20008
Joined: 12-October 06
|
Seeing as how tape cameras are obsolete it seems, won't buy used neither, I am looking for others opinions on what type of camcorder would be recommended for a new purchase.
HD really isn't all that important to me. I would be happy with something that is just as the same quality, or maybe a little bit better, than what a DCR-TRV280 digital 8 camera would be for quality.
Some stores claim to sell trv280's new but I'm not paying $800.00 - $999.99 for one. My spending limit is maybe about $400.00. It seems that digital really is cheaper than tape and not the other way around.
No CMOS, would prefer a CCD imager chip if at all possible. If I watch anymore videos to where it feels like I'm on a boat, aka wobble from pans, I will surely vomit.
Looking for a camcorder that doesn't have heavy compression to the point of being blocky, my digital 8 produced no blocks, only some slight noise possibly from the imager chip which was easily cleanable. These are my main concerns, CCD and non-degraded images from high compressions like I have seen come out from many digital cameras.
I understand that I will need to probably reencode to lossless to edit from since mpeg4, AVC, etc, needs to be anyway because of key frames issues. I realize smart rendering may be king in this instance but that's only if I'm saving back as the same format and settings and in many cases I won't be saving back to an AVC or h264, if this is what cameras produce these day, because I don't need high definition, don't need huge resolutions and would like to not have the CPU work too much to decode the video. Xvid at 720 X 480; CPU doesn't break even a sweat, once I put x264 or AVC through it, forget it.
My digital 8 now has something in it that rattles, something broke from the part that retracts the LCD screen from the body and now the screen and retractor wiggles. Any movement of the camera will knock whatever is lose in that section and will record onto the audio track of the tape.
If stores would sell the digital 8's that are left in surplus at decent and legitimate prices then I would get one. ugh. I'll just use my digital 8 to playback tapes and someday do a transfer from all the tapes.
It would be nice if the battery packs from my dcr-trv280 would work with this new camcorder but something is telling me this may not be the case. Sony batteries can be pricey and I have two spares that would just go to waste, it would be a shame.
I have looked into repair facilities only to be amazed by the cost of repairs and to be honest I have had things repaired in the past only to have something returned back to me either not working as it once did or having something else broken. I feel like I don't want to gamble with a repair. It's just as bad as that snide car repairman that says "you need this, you need that" and they end up doing something that isn't necessary or they break something else.
What do other recommend? Thanks. |
|
| rjisinspired |
| Posted: Jul 22 2010, 08:18 AM |
|
|
Advanced Member
Group: Members
Posts: 1256
Member No.: 20008
Joined: 12-October 06
|
also, a viewfinder would be nice. I don't care much for LCD screens unless I play back footage plus having an LCD screen will suck up more power when on then when one is disabled.
Always folding in and out an LCD screen can lead to wear as in the above example of mine which is broken. A viewfinder I find creates a balance to where you can be a little bit more steadier with the camera because you have that brace.
Nightshot, since Sony would be preferred since I do paranormal work at times but I guess I could do without that feature. A lot of Sony cameras don't even specify that they have nightshot anymore, not even on Sony's site!
Update:
After looking around I think I found the kind of cameras to get, either a Sony SX63 or an SX44 kit down a little further on the page:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url...y+sx63&x=6&y=27
The good: It takes the very same type of batteries my digital 8 does!! CCD!!
The bad: No nightshot mode!!! I think Sony stripped nightshot from all newer cameras because I don't see this feature listed even on their site. If that has been discontinued, I must say that really sucks because a lot of paranormal investigators, including myself, rely on that feature exclusively. argh.
Sony's claim about seeing through people's clothing wasn't really all that. Some years ago Sony had to actually trim the nightshot feature because they said that you can actually see people naked with it. I have seen clips from those past cameras and tell you the truth they didn't expose anything. Sure you might had seen curvatures and stuff with very thin dresses and stuff but that's really about it.
The old negative film trick or an R72 filter with a real infrared camera may be a different story.
I guess I can still hold on to my digital 8 since it still works. i can tripod the camera or just be very careful when panning so I don't get the rattling inside the camera from the busted LCD screen retractor.
I feel like I'm kind of selling out in a way. I'm an analog kind of guy, yet digital 8 is digital so I guess going completely digital, minus tapes, will be ok.
Update X2
I am writing to Sony to get information about nightshot mode. Will report back. |
|
|
