Wanted: HD camera for web
Cory Bergman February 14th, 2007
Ok, my fiancée and I are looking for an HD camera to get into this web video thing, which we hear is quite popular. But we’re finding that most cameras come with strange video formats, lousy audio and crappy editing software. We’d like a camera with firewire, a mic jack, 4:3 options (for YouTube) and the ability to interface seamlessly with Final Cut Pro. Any ideas without breaking the budget?
17 Comments Add your own
1. Emery Jeffreys | February 15th, 2007 at 7:19 am
It’s not HD, but it is an excellent choice, the Canon GL-2. It shoots 4:3 on mini-DV. We use it for Web video and shooting commercials. The biggest challenge on any of this is getting it from tape to digital format so you can edit in Final Cut. It may be overkill, but it gives us a lot of versatility. For digitizing it, I would recommend a mini-DV tape player… or better yet, a friend with an Avid Express. Canon has a smaller version coming out in a month that writes to mini DVD, but since it is new expect to pay at least $995. Even though the GL2 is more expensive, you will not be diapponted with the results.
2. joe | February 15th, 2007 at 7:51 am
you don’t need a hd camera for the web. just pick up a used minidv camcorder from ebay that has firewire out. they run about $300 and under.
3. David Westin | February 15th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I use Firefox and every time I try to check the show comments it doesn’t go to them. I have to left click the word “comments” in order to get to it. Any idea why this won’t work. I presume it’s some sort of Javascript issue, but every PC I have tried it on, it does not work right.
4. Jason | February 15th, 2007 at 8:04 am
David: I’m using Firefox on a mac right now, and the show comments button works just fine.
As for cameras: I have a mini-DV Sony Handicam (about $300) with a firewire out. I use a mac and edit on iMovie (not fancy, only 2 channels of audio, but it came with the computer and it’s free). Youtube makes everyone’s video look fairly crappy… but it’s easy, so I’m not sure an HD cam would be worth it. Depends on what you and the fiancee are planning on shooting.
5. LR fiancee | February 15th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Just to clarify — Cory & I are looking for an HD cam not only so we can do web stuff, but also so we can get great videos at our wedding in two months.
6. Rox | February 15th, 2007 at 8:28 am
I don’t understand why people still think web video should be some blurry dv junk. Not all sites have tons of traffic and thus hosting costs for HD vids mainly for friends and family are in most people’s reach. I’ve been on the look-out for a personal recording device myself. The JVC’s and Panasonic’s hard disc based lines are looking mighty fine, but I’m still waiting for more news on the format front. Is AVCHD it?
7. thedetroitchannel | February 15th, 2007 at 8:33 am
lr fiancee, i have been biting my tongue all morning on this one (not to worry, it’s frozen anyways from shoveling all day yesterday). anyway, one would think cory’s partner, (ahem, safran) would cough up for one as a PRE wedding gift.
8. LR fiancee | February 15th, 2007 at 8:33 am
JVC & Panasonic both have nice hard disc lines, Sony even has one that has been highly rated by some. The frustration is from what I’ve read Mac isn’t compatible with the AVCHD format. GGRRR
9. LR fiancee | February 15th, 2007 at 8:35 am
PS. Cory beat Safran to it.. This is my birthday present.
10. safran | February 15th, 2007 at 8:39 am
phew!
saved a few shekels there.
11. David Johnson | February 15th, 2007 at 9:27 am
do you want something small and portable or something more prosumer-ish? i have a tiny jvc that i tote around more often for capturing memories, but when i want real quality, i go back to the big cannon GL everytime. format is what it is, but nothing beats the lens control and and weight of a real camera to avoid shake.
12. David Johnson | February 15th, 2007 at 9:41 am
i found a flimmaker’s blog that has a lot of hd camera discussion on it — filmdailies.com
13. a video friend | February 15th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Next month, Panasonic’s new consumer HD 1080i camera with onboard 5.1 comes out. It records to a hard disc drive or SD card. When you’re zoomed out, audio is picked up in five directions….when you zoom in…mics get oriented forward to the object. It is so cool for your theater room. Firewire, of course… SD card memory scheduled to get bigger and bigger over course of ‘07. Price point $1499. Played with at CES in January and will buy one myself next month. You must go HD (it’s sooo much better). Final Cut Express HD makes for a nice total home/professional pkg.
14. Troy Thomas | February 15th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Please share what you learn, Cory, because I just happen to be in the market myself.
15. Safran | February 16th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Um… hey… way uncool when someone posts a response under my name (”Shekels” comment above) even as a harmless joke. Color me humorless if you must. But as one of those here who - ahem - actually uses their real name, I’d just assume have exclusivity to it.
16. thedetroitchannel | February 16th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
yes, my bad.
i knew it the moment i hit the submit button.
sorry.
17. Brian | February 18th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
I really like my Sanyo Xacti HD1. Records in HiDef and takes stills at the same time. 10x optical zoom. Uses SD cards. The next evolution, the HD2 is coming out at the end of March if you can wait. They tell me it will have better low light capability. The current model can be found for under $400 but the new on will be 700.
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