Do you have a camcorder? Do you use it?

[daniel1113]

My parents tape everything with their camcorder, and have been doing so for the past twenty years. However, they never get the old videos out to watch, so I don't really understand why they do it. Photographs seem much more useful to me than videos.

 

[Sasiki]

I bought a Kodak ZI6 just before Christmas. We have a 7 month old son.. it's nice to be able to just turn it on and record. With it being pocket sized, i figured we'd be more likely to take it with us.

 

[wiredspider]

I have one and used it maybe twice, my pocket size camera gets the job done much better. I recall using the camcorder once for my brother's graduation, at the time I was thinking how much I would have liked to have a video of my graduation speech, but he he wasn't speaking at his and just one of the many kids sitting there waiting for his diploma, no point really.

 

[speg]

I would recommend a pocket camcorder, like the flip.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Yes I do and like you (soon), I have kids. I wouldn't if I didn't have kids.

I spent $400 on a camcorder and a good size memory stick (8 gig).

Don't spend to much, just upgrade every 5 years or so. Besides, a HD camera needs a computer with more hard drive space which is more money.


And you will want to do backups of the PC you put these video files on! That's more money (possibly).

Cost $400 ..... and $250 or so for setting up the backup system (ghost + firewire drive + hard drive upgrade in PC). So $650 in all honesty. It was worth every penny!

 

[Doggiedog]

I have a nice Canon Optura 600 which cost me about $1200 that I've used maybe half a dozen times. I also have a Canon TX-1 and rarely use it too. Now I've a Canon 5D MkII but use it mostly for stills.

 

[Jabbernyx]

Currently use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ10K for stills and casual video. Wish it had more zoom (have a separate SD MiniDV for that), waiting for the price of fullHD camcorders to drop a little more.

 

[91TTZ]

I bought a Canon Powershot A570IS for its video function. It shoots in 640x480 resolution at 30 fps. Many other cameras only shoot at 320x200 or 640x480 at only 15 or 20 fps which yields choppy video. The A590IS which replaced the A570IS decreased the frame rate for videos from 30 fps to 20fps.

I also have a Canon HV30 HD camcorder. The video quality with that is great. It uses minidv tapes instead of flash memory. I like tapes since it's a lot cheaper to buy new tapes than it is to buy new flash memory cards, and they're convenient for storing your movies. Most people don't use their cards for storage so they end up erasing their old footage and reusing the card. Tapes are so cheap that you'd simply throw a new tape in when your old one is full.

 

[rh71]

Got the HF-100 right before our twins came about 8mo. ago. Use it pretty often still. Only downside is if you're taping an event, the battery dies quicker than I'd like. Buy and extra or get the extended.

Also bought a DSLR (rebel xsi) and use that a lot too. Only problem is these 2 are bulky to carry when we already have the kids to haul around.

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: Imp

Originally posted by: Fayd
homemade porn films.

Only took 4 posts...

i aim to please.

actually it's a sign of the declining state of atot. normally, this would have been first reply.

 

[zinfamous]

I paid ~$1200 for a nice top-midrange Canon miniDV back in 2002. ...barely use it now.

quite cheap....then.
now miniDV hardly exists....

 

[MotionMan]

Get some sort of video camera, but make sure it is easy to use so you will use it often.

Same with the digital camera.

MotionMan (father of young children)

 

[SearchMaster]

Any of youse with a nice rarely-used HD camcorder want to let go of it cheap?

 

[shortylickens]

Have one. Dont use it.

For a while I was dating a naughty little gal and thought maybe she would be into pics and videos. As naughty as she was she never wanted to do that. She was up for anything else, she just didnt want any evidence of it later.
Cant say I blame her. The internet is way too powerful these days and frankly I dont know if I would trust somebody with vids of me either.

Anyway I've got a Sony with 40Gb hard drive running at 480p, which is more than good enough. My problem isnt resolution its lighting quality.

 

[vshah]

i have the canon HF11 with the built in flash memory. it is awesome. 1080p video recording is amazing...the only thing not so good about it is the low light performance and the battery life of the standard battery that comes with it.

 

[oboeguy]

Worth it if you're having a baby. It feels like they change every day I tell you.

As for which cam, unless you break the bank, though, there will be compromises with what you get. I went for an inexpensive fits-in-pocket 720p cam while a pal of mine who had a baby around the same time got a 3CCD SD cam. Lowlight performance is not remotely comparable but I'm glad I didn't spend the big bucks.

 

[AkumaX]

I had a Sony HC10 Mini-DV. It was cool and all, but hardly used it because it was a pain to deal with the tapes (and it was only SD content)

I'd love the HF-100, but its hard to justify the $500 price tag.
So I got an Aiptek GVS 1080p for $200. Has 5x Optical Zoom + IS.
Loving it for the 720p @ 60fps mode (makes a huge difference if you have the hardware to play it back).
It's a lot of fun to play with

Also have a Sony A300 DSLR. How to juggle between the two...

 

[mxyzptlk]

I spent a couple grand on a Canon XL1s and a second wide angle lens.

I use it to record live shows and amateur porn

 

[Barfo]

Don't have one right now and when I did I never used it.

 

[Squisher]

About the only thing I might spend extra for is one that does better in low light situations. Some camcorders are notorious for pixelating like you're looking at security camera footage when they have to perform in low light.

 

[Deeko]

I have one. I used it a lot in college for various things...filming drunk dorm activities, projects, generally unmentionable things.....but it hasn't left the shelf since I graduated.

 

[Muadib]

I bought my last one back in 2000, to help my dad with his church projects. I also used it as a webcam, so my gf could show her family her nephew. I don't have FireWire in my current pc, so I haven't used the camcorder in about a year.

 

[HannibalX]

I have one and I use it. I filmed a lot at my son's birth (but not the actual birth, didn't see the point).

 

[Blieb]

Originally posted by: iFX
I have one and I use it. I filmed a lot at my son's birth (but not the actual birth, didn't see the point).

It sounds silly ... but I often joke that I want to film the birth (from a non-gross view of course) ... watching it through a little screen would be more like youtube, so I won't pass out

Of course I probably would prop it ... I'd rather hold my first born than the damn camera!

 

[Kanalua]

My brother has this: http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-Zi...o-Camera/dp/B001BO7R00

it fits in his pocket and he takes it everywhere and uses it all the time.

Takes great 720p video...