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What should I look for in a digital camera/ video camera?

I want a decent inexpensive video camera, what do I look for?

  • I am starting to video tape things and make documentaries. I have a video camera, but whenever you play things back you can't hear anything. I don't want to buy an attachable mic. so I would rather just get a new video camera. What can I get that is a good camera, decent quality video and sound that I can hook up to my computer and edit videos. Please provide links if possible. And while I am here, do you know of any good video editing equipment that I could add music to the videos and cut things and with a littl SFX? Thanks!

  • Answer:

    Do you mean playback on the video camera itself, or from the video camera connected via a cable through another device, or from the tape (that the camera recorded to) being played in a different device altogether? You may want to make sure that the problem is what the camera is recording to the tape itself and not just a mute setting on the cam or a shorted cable, before discarding the cam. That having been said, if the cam is bad, then I have to follow suit with Nick. The Canon Elura 100 is a good buy in that price range, http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/CamInfo-Selects-2006.htm 2nd url, http://www.videomaker.com/article/12964/ Your not necessarily going to get bottom dollar at B&H Photo http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home/ , but they are a highly trusted seller and you'll get top notch service. You might want to check out the Panasonic GS300. With 3CCDs, it might be worth the extra money. Also I'll follow siut again with premeire elements. Adobe Premeire has been around a long time (and now in various flavors and price ranges). Elements is also in the videomaker link above.

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The absolut best camera you can get for its price is canons GL2. I not sure of your price range (the GL2 costs $2000+) but its well worth the price. It is a 3CCD video camera and records on mini DVs. My media club did tons of research when looking to buy a camera and this one won. We have used it for almost a year and absolutly love it! The cheapest place to buy it is from the internet site abes of maine.

media4carroll

As far as video cameras, there are many decent MiniDV cameras in the $300-400 range. I have a Canon Elura100, which has better video quality than anything else I have seen in that price range. The mic is decent, but if you're using an on-camera mic, you need to watch out for background noise because it will pick up everything nearby. www.bhphotovideo.com is the best place I know of for camcorders on the internet. As far as editing software, in the consumer category Pinnacle Studio and Adobe Premier Elements are the best. Both cost about $70. Windows Movie Maker on a PC or iMovie on a Mac will let you do a lot of simple things like cut video and add music, but you will probably need something better to add effects.

Nick

Panasonic 3ccd cameras have very good image quality. You can get one between $500 and $1000 dollars.

UnitedLAX342

You need a fairly modern computer with FireWire connectors and generally a genuine P4 or better Pentium class chip and usually 1GB of RAM and usually 2 GHZ of speed XP is required and XP Pro is needed sometimes. Almost any tape bases Mini DV camera will work. You'll have to buy the Firewire to connect it. Windws Movie Maker works nice and there is also Avid Free if yo have a machine as I detailed at the top. There is also PRemier, Vegas+DVD and Studio 10 Understand all of these are in the $200+ price range. Windows Movie Maker looks to be like an older version of STudio. Panasonic and Sony seem to make nice cameas. The GS29 and HC28

Earl D

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