| carguy1234 |
We are nearing a very important trip that I'd like to document on video, and it's high time to retire my 8mm camcorder.
I've researched the new models that are out now, and am currently most interested in the Sony DCR-DVD405. Lots of cool features, with video and digital camera modes, plus it supports the rewritable mini DVD's so you don't have to finalize the project to play them on home gear.
Shopping bots come up with this place (that I've never heard of) that gets top customer satisfaction ratings, and close to the lowest prices available for factory new gear:
http://www.ibuydigital.com/product/...FTOKEN=27756371
So I'm wondering if any of you have experience in these areas, or have used "ibuydigital" before.
I am monitoring the AV web sites, but this camcorder is so new, there isn't a lot of objective info out on it yet (but what there is seems quite positive).
Thanks. |
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| vlam |
Don't know much about DVD camcorder but I did look at these last month for a work project. The 30 min capacity did not meet our project specs but I did read that Samsung is suppose to have a full DVD camcorder out (if not already).
As for the IbuyDigital. I would be very cautious of ordering stuff for Brooklyn. Here is a picture of the actual store. You decide.
IbuyDigital on 252 Conover Street, Brooklyn NY |
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| vlam |
| Here is the front door. |
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| dj-mdx2 |
Haven't had any direct experience with I
buy Dig but the bbb profile doesn't sound too promising.
Have you looked at vidcams with HDD? I have a JVC with 30 GB and love it so far. It also has digcam ability with SD slot. |
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| ecsw |
quote:
Originally posted by vlam
Here is the front door.
:eek:
I won't buy anything from it if the picture is correct. :p
If video quality is very important, buy Mini-DV. DVD camcoder is nice, but u have to "close" the dvd on the camcoder before it will play on regular DVD player. Closing a DVD on camcoder takes about 10~20 minutes if I remember it correctly. :p |
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| carguy1234 |
Yikes! Thanks for the replies. Their prices were too good to be true.
As for finalizing the videos with DVD - you don't have to anymore with the RW discs, a major selling point for me on the new Sony models. Also these new model are supposed to have significantly closed the quality gap compared to mini-DV. |
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| G. COLTON |
I have a Mini-DV. The size is great, particularily comparred to the monster full size format that I used to have. Takes excellent footage that is easy to transfer to VHS or DVD whichever you prefer.
G |
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| JL_SS |
| Last year I bought a mini-dv (Panasonic PV-GS250) over a dvd due to the video quality issues. With a dvd you always have compressed video that will loose quality. With mini-dv you keep the original quality and then compress to mpeg if you want to transfer it. I have found that there is significant quality difference between the original video compared to the compressed video. The new camcorders with hard drives are cool and record longer than the dvd models. |
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| pisay87 |
| How about HD-quality video from Sony or Sanyo ? |
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| trixie |
| Although I'm not familiar with Ibuydigital, I am familiar with the tactics of many internet sales companies. These guys acquire their inventories in roundabout ways and they are not recognized by the manufacturers as legitimate dealers. If you shop for the lowest price on the net, you will probably not receive a manufacture's warranty. In its place, the vendor may offer their own in-house warranty that they will market as an equal. Most buyers never realize that they've been duped until their widget needs to be fixed. Let the buyer beware. Welcome to the new gray market. |
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| JL_SS |
| I've bought a few things including my camcorder at very good prices and had no problems at all here: Link |
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| ecsw |
I would also consider JVC GZ-MG70 30GB of HD on the camcode and the size is smaller than Mini-DV.
HD video will be the next trend. Sony is developing a 20~40GB HD (notebook 2.5" HD or 1.7"HD) camcoder and it's due out very soon I believe. I would wait for that one. ;) |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by pisay87
How about HD-quality video from Sony or Sanyo ?
Expensive, but cool. |
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| cmd |
miniDV is probably going to be your best bet and the technology has been well tweaked. I've always been a fan of Sony camcorders (and I'm not a Sony loyalist either). I've had their hi8 and now 2 miniDVs -- I just replaced a 4year old $1300 model with the smaller $1000 replacement. I've found you really get what you pay for with camcorders. I did a LOT of research on them first. Panasonic will give you the best picture for the money hands down, but has fairly bad stabilizer compared to Sony's (don't slam me please!). Canon has a good stabilizer, but bad low-light applications. The HD variations are getting there but still developing and somewhat sensitive -- though I believe that will be the trend in the future. There are several user sites with reviews. Its best to run out to BB and CC and try them out of course, but you're looking for online dealers, try OneCall.com. I've had great luck with them... and they don't sell watches :)
any clues to your trip? |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by cmd
There are several user sites with reviews. Its best to run out to BB and CC and try them out of course, but you're looking for online dealers, try OneCall.com. I've had great luck with them...
I'll second onecall.com and add jandr.com (J&R Music World) to a list of reputible online electronics merchants. J&R is also an authorized Sony dealer.
FWIW, I have a Sony DCR-TRV103, one of the first Digital 8 models made in 1999. It connects to my PC via firewire and has been a workhorse for the last 7 years. It uses Hi-8 tapes to record but the drawback is that you only get 1/2 the recording time on a tape due to the digital vs analog recording. A 120min tape gets me 60 mins of recording. The next step up for me would be to a hard drive based recorder. |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by cmd
I did a LOT of research on them first. Panasonic will give you the best picture for the money hands down, but has fairly bad stabilizer compared to Sony's (don't slam me please!).
Not slamming but I went from a Sony to a Panasonic and don't notice much difference in the stabalization at all. Both seem to work fine. I do get a better picture with the 3ccd Panasonic. |
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| cmd |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
Not slamming but I went from a Sony to a Panasonic and don't notice much difference in the stabalization at all. Both seem to work fine. I do get a better picture with the 3ccd Panasonic.
Ah, you have to spend a lot to match Panasonic's 3 CCD and at that point you can get a better Panasonic! I almost bought one, but noticed the MINOR stabilization issues I read about when zoomed. I would have been fine with it, but other members here like to pan while zoomed out -- makes for some barfy looking video as it is!
I'll second J&R, though their customer service could used some happy pills. Maybe they work in a poorly lit room with bad coffee. |
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| keremoner |
| I have owned a Sony DCR-DVD92 for the past 8 months and I am satisfied (considering that it is their least expensive model). Very convenient and compact. |
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| R-MDX |
These guys have some very good editing hardware and software. There is also a research area on there website. It might answer a few questions for you.
Videoguys |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by cmd
Ah, you have to spend a lot to match Panasonic's 3 CCD and at that point you can get a better Panasonic! I almost bought one, but noticed the MINOR stabilization issues I read about when zoomed. I would have been fine with it, but other members here like to pan while zoomed out -- makes for some barfy looking video as it is!
I'll second J&R, though their customer service could used some happy pills. Maybe they work in a poorly lit room with bad coffee.
I have been using a Panasonic PV-DV910D MiniDV for the past 5 years. I have never noticed any problems with the stabilization. It has 18X optical zoon and I have used the zoom a lot.
G |
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| JL_SS |
quote:
Originally posted by cmd
Ah, you have to spend a lot to match Panasonic's 3 CCD and at that point you can get a better Panasonic! I almost bought one, but noticed the MINOR stabilization issues I read about when zoomed. I would have been fine with it, but other members here like to pan while zoomed out -- makes for some barfy looking video as it is!
I'll second J&R, though their customer service could used some happy pills. Maybe they work in a poorly lit room with bad coffee.
I didn't think it was all that expensive - I got the PV-GS250 for $675 about a year ago. I've been playing with it to try to replicate any stabilization issues and I'm not seeing any at all. I know that Panasonic uses different kinds of imagine stabilization depending on the price level. The 250 uses optical image stabilization (OIS) and the 3ccd model below it uses a digital electronics imagine stabilizer. I would imagine the D-EIS is less stable. |
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| cmd |
quote:
Originally posted by JL_SS
I didn't think it was all that expensive - I got the PV-GS250 for $675 about a year ago.
That was my point, for the money Panasonic is great buy.
Don't get me wrong, the stabilization is ok, but Sony really is king with stability and LCD displays. I compared them side by side -- not a major deal, but worth looking at. Yeah, I knew I'd open up a bag of worms.
Here's a great site for TONS of info. I search for the 250. They really like it and here is what they had to say about the stabilization: "The PV-GS250 offers Optical Image Stabilization which works great, except when optical zoom is engaged—the more zoom, the worse." http://www.camcorderinfo.com/conten...rder-Review.htm |
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| carguy1234 |
Thanks for all the good info.
One more question - what types of filters are you using? I'm looking at getting a neutral density filter, a clear multi-coated filter for general use (mainly to protect the lens), and a polarizing filter for outdoor bright and reflective conditions.
Do I need anything else?
Thanks again. |
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| dj-mdx2 |
quote:
Originally posted by carguy1234
Do I need anything else?
Thanks again.
You're missing the infamous Sony Nightshot X-ray Filter .:2:
Seriously, though, I think you've got it covered for most purposes. |
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