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New to Video Cameras..

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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Ive done photography but I'm just starting out in video. I got a camera for graduation and was wondering if it was any good. I read some reviews but they are mixed..
http://http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/537781-REG/JVC_GZ_MG330HUS_GZ_MG330H_30GB_Hybrid_HDD_Micro.html
how is this for an intro camera? and I was interested in getting a fish eye lens for my camera and I think this one looks good..
http://http://cgi.ebay.com/43X-Pro-HD-Full-Fisheye-Lens-30-5mm-Fish-Eye-NEW_W0QQitemZ270241198431QQihZ017QQcategoryZ64327QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
just to be sure.. this lens will fit right? and should I keep this camera or trade it for a different/similar priced model? also should I I get a wide angle lens or are they even worth it?
thanks

May 30 2008 10:54PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
I can't really help you with the lense, but I did use that camera for a bit. The size is good, it can easily fit in a pocket which is good. If you're doing follow cams and stuff remember to turn off 'Drop Detection' or something like that. It's not great in low light, but for an intro camera, well, it hasn't got all the settings an ideal beginners camera has but it will do. Manual controls are difficult to set quickly because it's all through the screen, but it is a consumer camera so don't expect too much.

This was shot with it http://www.vimeo.com/1060513 , although I did bring my parkinson's with me that day so footy is pretty shakey.

May 30 2008 11:47PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
This video better compares the flat/low-light capability
http://vimeo.com/1094701

Sunny = Happy
Flat = Okay
Low light = Grainy
May 31 2008 12:07AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
what other controls is it missing?
May 31 2008 4:49PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
I don't remember, I just remember thinking I didn't have as much control over the shot as I would have liked. It lets you control focus, shutter speed, um, I can't remember what else.


May 31 2008 5:07PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
for a beginner, its a fine camera. get out there and shoot/edit lots of footage.

Every time i write a short film i always think about what i have available to me. If you've got an HVX thats terrific, but if you dont, you dont. That doesn't mean that the camera you have now wont get the job done.

shoot lots and get used to the camera inside and out. thats how you're going to get good footage.
Jun 2 2008 2:37AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
very true.. but If Im going to be spending money I want a good camera..

how about this camera?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/478691-REG/Samsung_SCHMX10_SC_HMX10c_HD_Camcorder.html

this is the one I have now but I might take it back and maybe get that one ^ if its better.. from what little I read about it seems better but worth the money?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/537781-REG/JVC_GZ_MG330HUS_GZ_MG330H_30GB_Hybrid_HDD_Micro.html

Jun 2 2008 3:04AM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
I'd stick with the JVC. As good as HD sounds, it's not gonna get you better shots. Plus, it'll be a pain in the ass to edit with, and to be honest, the manual controls are probably the same or worse on the Samsung. The only thing the Samsung can offer is a bigger resolution.

Stick with the JVC.

Jun 2 2008 3:39AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
do you have any better suggestions for a standard resolution camera then.. I looked for a long time but I cant find what I want for cheap.. go figure. I want one that works well with low light and has a good stabilization, hdd for sure and small if possible. I wanted one with a higher resolution than 640? but thats when I start getting into hd..
Jun 2 2008 4:24AM
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kfilenda
Posts: 509 - Karma: 72
canon please, and i think fisheyes are a little overused
Jun 2 2008 10:24AM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
is there a reason you want hard disk? i've found for skiing/boarding tapes work really well because i can film a huge amount of footage and store it easily (on the tape) plus hard drives tend to freak out if they're shaken suddenly or something like that.

I'm a bit confused as well. do you already have a camera and you're thinking about swapping it, or are you simply looking for a camera?

If you're looking to buy a camera I'd check out the HV30, its got alot of frame rate options (60i, 24p 30p), 1080i HD, plus its just awesome in general.

If you already have a camera, i'd stick with it and grab a few accessories such as a polarizing filter and a wide angle.
Jun 2 2008 6:10PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
I just got a camera for graduation and my parents said they are cool if I return this camera
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9135493 and get another one.. I kinda wanted a HDD cause the ease of use and not having to have tapes or dvds..
Jun 2 2008 6:24PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
and the hv-30 is a bit high for me.. I was looking for one that was around 500$ because I can trade that camera back in and wont have a huge difference to pay
Jun 2 2008 6:26PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
how about this camera?

http://www.soniccameras.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2293&extra_info=specifications&osCsid=512d059bca64b491609d500b0b1e0015
Jun 2 2008 6:46PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
That's a scam. HV30's aren't going for anything lower than $700 right now.

Are you still looking at HDD's only or are you willing to switch to tape? HDD is definitely more convenient, I agree. If you're willing to have a look at tape cameras, may I suggest to Panasonic GS-320 or 500. 3CCD to capture great color, a whole bunch of manual settings, it's a great starter camera.

I wouldn't be too fussy though. If I were you I'd just stick with the JVC.
Jun 2 2008 7:00PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
ya that site didnt look good to me so I typed in their street address into google and saw a link for the BBB and when I read their review it simple said they were rude and pushy to customers but didnt say they were a fake. I thought that was the point of the BBB? oh well.. so then I posted the link and checked back to the original google site and went to the first result and that proved they were a scam.. any ways, Im really new to cameras in case you missed me saying that the first four times.. but tapes just seem obsolete to me and a pain, can you still hook the camera up to the computer and upload all of it? or is that just a perk or hdd?
Jun 2 2008 7:12PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Yes you can. All cameras can.


Tapes may be a pain, but for those who value quality over ease of use still appreciate them. For instance, when comparing HD, the tape format (HDV) can reach a datarate of 25mbps, while AVCHD (using in HDD and flash-based camcorders) have yet to reach their theoreticall 24mbps datarate (most are only able to reach 18 or so I think as of now). This means that when using HDD cameras, you end up with more artifacts (blocky bits, I'm sure you've seen them before, like huge pixels) when filming moving scenes because the format can't handle that much data at a single time.

So it's your compromise. I'd take tape over HDD/Flash anyday, but I can see why others may not. If you're willing to sacrifice some quality for ease of use, I don't see why you shouldn't.

Jun 2 2008 7:20PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
Here's what it comes down to,

you have a camera now that works just fine. The main thing you should be concerned about is the storage for footage. If you want to hang on to your footage you'll need an external hard drive probably.

If you're going to trade it in, i would recommend trading it for a panasonic GS500 or Canon HV30. Tapes are cheap and IMO better for storage.

if your exhausted by reading all this crap, just make a decision and start filming.
Jun 2 2008 8:51PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
i've been wanting to do that for a while... too bad its like the end of the season

Jun 2 2008 9:57PM
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kfilenda
Posts: 509 - Karma: 72
DV TAPES
Jun 2 2008 11:15PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
ok so you guys have convinced me tapes are worth the pain.. but Im still undecided. I think I like this camera the most, but best buy is charging way more than b and h.. and to return the current camera I would have to pay a restocking fee.. sneaky bastards. 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8216389&productCategoryId=abcat0403005&type=product&tab=2&id=1166236106283#productdetail


and b and h's price..
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/477103-REG/Panasonic_PVGS320_PV_GS320_3_CCD_Mini.html

But for a future reference, what usually are the key things to look for in video quality? I was just looking at resolution but there doesnt seem to be a universal rating (or Im just missing it cause Ive been using different sites) like there is for still cameras. I know 3 ccd helps out bringing out the colors but for clarity Im not sure what to look for? Also what is an acceptable minimum lighting.. 5 lux? 10 lux? Ive seen  everywhere from 2- 15 lux and read reviews on both cameras saying they before bad in low light.
Jun 3 2008 2:06AM
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holyDINOSAURS
Posts: 7038 - Karma: 639
dont even consider HDD. and even less DVD.
use tapes.
suck it up.
Jun 3 2008 2:07AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
what Im getting at with the lighting question is would I be able to film at a resort that has night skiing. or am I just out of luck
Jun 3 2008 2:35AM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
that would entirely depend on the lighting at the resort...

Jun 3 2008 4:42AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
If I got that camera, what kinda tapes should I get? Is one brand better than another, and how about the HD tapes?
Jun 3 2008 6:42PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Tapes are tapes. Sony, Panasonic, Fuji, TDK. Just don't get no-name tapes. If you get the GS-320, don't bother with HD tapes. Even HD cameras don't require HD tapes.

And whatever you do, stick with the same brand/model. Pick one and stick with it.

Jun 3 2008 6:47PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
reason being?
Jun 3 2008 6:58PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Each brand uses a different lubricant on the tape. Mixing and matching leads to shit being left of the heads in the camera which will fuck up your camera.



Jun 3 2008 7:10PM
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ILoveOhio
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 253
The gs320 is a GREAT beginner camera.  Learn all of the manual controls and you can get some pretty good colors out of it.  I have one right now and I plan to upgrade to a DVX before next winter.  As far as miniDV vs. DVD vs HDD..........go with miniDV please!  All you need is a firewire cab;e and port.
Jun 3 2008 7:23PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
ok well today I go to take  back that other camera and get the gs320 at best buy. well I went in thinking I was just going to test it out and then decide later. I couldnt find it and some guy came up and asked if he could help, well turns out they dont have any in store but he could answer some questions about it. well I talk to him for a minute and then ask how much it is, he goes and checks on a computer and says 450$ which is what I expected since thats what the website says. So I ask if they price match other companies and he asked who has it for cheaper, and I tell him b and h has it for 320. he says oh and was like we may actually be selling it for cheaper let me go check, he gets on the computer again looks it up again and is said ha we have it for 315! then I of course ask why it says 450 on the computer and why did he tell me that it was 450. he says there must have been a glitch. so I get it for 315 but they had to ship it to the store.
I also talked to my bro later on that night and he says ya uhm coporate best buy has gotten into some trouble for price gouging  or what ever its called.

SPARK NOTES : Best buy seemed super sketchy today but I ended up getting the camera for $120 less than what I was told..
Jun 4 2008 12:56AM
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KarmaInitiative
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 174
aight this thread is mad long so quick and simple, is there a good hd tape cam for less than 600
Jun 4 2008 1:07PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
HD Tape Cam? No


Standard def Tape Cam? Yes

Panasonic GS320 or GS500

Jun 4 2008 1:30PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Sorry to bring this thread back, but I was wondering if I could get a handle and mount it to the 320? or whats my best option for having a handle, use a mic? use some old scrap and bend it?
Jun 8 2008 2:05AM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
All cameras have a tripod mount on the bottom of a camera, you can use that to mount a handle like this to it

Click for larger image

It's pretty easy to make it yourself, bend it twice, stick a bike grip on it and you're done.

Jun 8 2008 2:13AM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
I have a panasonic HDC-SD9 and its pretty sick it shoots at 1080i 24p and has nice ass quality 

its small as shit but runs around 700
Jun 8 2008 1:02PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
considering I like using the sound from the video in ski edits?
Jun 8 2008 1:17PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
He meant noise and grain in the picture, not in sound.
Jun 8 2008 6:14PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
My B
Jun 8 2008 7:15PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Im seriously about to slit some throats so someone please help me..
I bought the gs 320, but cant get the video off my camera. Ive tried reading through the booklet but Im no finding any answers, but I did find something that pissed me off and I think its saying that this only works with the mac os 10.3-10.4 and mines a 10.5.3... someone help!?
Jun 11 2008 10:42PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Firewire

Get the Firewire cable, plug it into your camera, plug the other into your firewire port in your computer. open up iMovie or final cut express or whatever you're using, and go to 'capture video from device'

Jun 11 2008 11:11PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
just tried that and when the screen comes up to caputre video from device its a blue screen that says communication error.. please help me!
Jun 11 2008 11:23PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
eh fuck my life. I went to go get a new fire wire cable cause I was hoping this one was just messed up.. so I go to walmart, pay $27 for a damn cable, get pulled over coming home..but I did finally manage to get camera to upload.
Jun 12 2008 1:50AM
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ILoveOhio
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 253
Hahah that sucks bro.  How much was the ticket?
Jun 12 2008 11:52AM
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