Need help buying a Minidv digital camcorder. Any video pros out there?

[Salvador]

Hello.

I'm looking to get a consumer level digital minidv camcorder and need some help. I have been looking at the Canon ZR series as well as the Sony TRV models. I think that I've decided to go with the Sony only because I hear that it has better low light capability and because the Canon's apparently have problems with the onboard mic picking up the motor hum on the camera.

I have a few questions though, particularly with the digital still and MPEG movie mode on the Sony cameras. I'm not really interested in taking stills with the digital movie camera. I have a digital camera for that purpose. I am however interested in the MPEG movie mode because it seems like a popular format for movies. Do I need this when I have a digital video camera? What format does the digital movie camera shoot the movies in? Why would an MPEG mode on the Memory Stick be more beneficial to me over shooting regular video on the digital tape? I'm confused here..

If someone wants to PM me privately regarding this, feel free. Any help would be most appreciated!

Sal

 

[Salvador]

Sheesh.. Anybody?

What I'm basically asking here is if there is any advantage to using the MPEG movie mode with the memory stick on the video camera over using the digital tape to record the regular movie mode? I'm looking for an excuse not to buy the digital still feature with MPEG movie mode. I probably won't use the digital still mode, but I might use the MPEG mode if there is some sort of advantage.

Sal

 

[Night201]

First off, get the Canon. How much are you looking to spend? As for the mic picking up the hum of motors, etc...virtually all cameras will experience this problem. That's why you should always get an external mic to mount on the shoe mount. It'll sound better as well.

As for stills, most MiniDV cameras have this function. I wouldn't worry about using it. A digital still camera will have a far better picture!!!

I also wouldn't record in MPEG format. Just record like normal on the MiniDV tape. You'll then transfer the file to your computer (it'll be an AVI file), edit it, then compress it to whatever format you want (MPEG1 for VCD, MPEG2 to burn onto a DVD), or just export it back to another MiniDV tape.

Simple as that. I think you are making more complicated than it really should be.

 

[pulse8]

First off, get the Canon.

Why? The Sony cameras are excellent.

 

[Salvador]

Why? The Sony cameras are excellent.

The Sony's onboard mic's don't pic up the motor noise from what I'm hearing. Also, the Canon's have lousy low light ability (indoors under ambient light) and the Sony's are supposed to be really good. Plus, the Sony's have a sharper Carl Zeiss lens, even though it's only a 10x optical zoom vs the Canon's 20 or 22x. I think I'm sold on the Sony from what I've heard. I also like the size of the Sony's better than the Canon's. The Canon's seem to be the size that the Sony's were last year.

I was only asking about the still's because someone on the digital camera forums was mentioning that they liked to shoot MPEG's on the memory stick for emails and such. I wonder if that's an easier way to shoot if you don't want to do all the photo editing. I don't have any interest in the still capability. I already have a digital still camera for that purpose. I was just interested in the MPEG capability, but if you say that I shouldn't bother with it, I don't need to get the camera's with the memory sticks.

BTW.. The entry level Canon (ZR60) and Sony (TRV19) don't have the memory stick for digital stills.

Thanks again.

Sal

 

[imported_Mike]

the MPEGs would be alot lower quality, but perfect for emails

 

[Night201]

I would still shoot regular and edit the small clip and encode to to MPG1 and then email it, rather then encode it on a memory stick.