What are a few Prosumer camcorders?

Prosumer Camcorders. Help me out people!.HVRA1U C-MOS 1080i HDV Camcorder?

• I want to get this camera for our high school art department to use in 2 separate units - 1.) Media Art film unit - where students can record short films etc. then Edit the clips using Adobe premiere. I really don't know why these things all record on mini cassettes? please tell me. Also, is it easy to import the recorded video onto a computer? how is that done from a cassette? 2.) Drama class would like to use it for film also. Is this model ideal. we really can't spend more than this. (2300$) Help me out. theres way too much out there! and i really don't have time to do the research with proposal deadlines and such!

• Answer:

  I agree with Mandy... You actually have some choices - but first, a little "clarification". The "little cassettes" used by most prosumer and professional grade camcorders - in this case -are "MiniDV tape. The DV = Digital video. It is the same series of zeros and ones that are stored on flash memory or hard disc drive camcorders, but the format of the video is a lot less compressed. Since video compression discards data and that results in reduced video quality, the goal is typically to use a format that that compresses the least. MiniDV tape camcorders record in DV and HDV video formats. Thes are much less compressd when compared to the very highly compressed consumer grade flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders video formats (mod/mpg and AVCHD, respectively). No one should ever waste money on DVD based camcorders,and that is all the attention they will get here. Typically, prosumer and pro grade camcorders that do record to flash memory will record DV or HDV format video to that flash memory (not mod/tod or AVCHD like the consumer grade camcorders). There are no internal hard disc drive camcorders in the prosumer or professional category. The camcorder is one part of the "system". Does your budget include external mics, tripod, lights. cases and lots of other stuff? The Sony HVR-A1U is the "pro" sibling of the consumer grade HDR-HC1 from about 5 years ago. The upside is that it uses XLR connectors for audio, it small, compared to the larger camcorders - but there are downsides. Its small lens and single 1/3" CMOS imaging chip are more like a consumer camcorder. Indoor and low lighting will be a challenge. The miniDV tape loads from the bottom. This can be a bummer if changing tapes is needed and the camcorder is on a tripod. The tape door is blocked. There is a "spacer" from CAVISION that lifts the camcorder from the tripod about 3/4" and provides nough clearance to change tapes without removing the camcorder from the tripod. The HDR-FX7 is a good alternative - the larger lens and 3 imaging chip array will do a much better job with low light performance. Its audio in jack is a 1/8" stereo jack, but XLR connections are possible by getting a XLR adapter like one of those from juicedLink or BeachTek. You will also want a LANC. This is a wired remote that can turn on/off recording and zoom and focus - without actually touching the camcorder. It clips on to the tripod handle. The Sony HVR-HD1000 has the same lens size and imaging chip as the HVR-A1U so expect not-so-good results with indoor and low light - but the HVR-HD1000 is a shoulder-mount (and has only a 1/8" audio-in jack)... Another advantage to the students is that they can take their "project" with them. It is on the tape. Tapes are inexpensive (I get an 8-pack for $8.99 at Fry's Electronics... so just a little over $3 per tape). Each 60 minute miniDV tape can hold up to 63 minutes of high definition video. Connect the camcorder's DV port (not USB) to the computer's firewire port (not USB) and with the camcorder in "Plat/Edit" mode, launch the video editor in the computer and capture or import the video - not all video editors can deal with HDV format video... Not all computers have a firewire port or a way to add one.