What video camera should I get? I want to document my wife's pregnancy

[SylEm]

Ok so I've owned video cameras in the past, none were HD. Here's what I intend on using this video camera for (Other than future family events, vacations, etc):

1. Document the pregnancy a couple days each month, I'm going to do a timelapse where I show her growing from one month to the next
2. lots of indoor footage
3. Obviously will film the birth itself

I'm not a complete noob when it comes to cameras but the last one I baught was a Cannon ZR80 so I know I'm behind the times. I just want something that will give me really good HD quality so when I play it back on a big screen it doesn't look cheesy. I plan to do some light editing but nothing too crazy other than music and some title menus and what not. Any suggestions for a good video camera that could provide me these features? I'm looking for a something under the $500 range if possible.

Thanks in advance!

 

[sygyzy]

I have so many different responses to this but I will just go with this one - it doesn't matter what you choose. The technology is so good nowadays that you can easily get a HD camcorder for under $500 that will blow away anything you had in the past.

How about a Panasonic HDC-HS80K HD? Or a Canon VIXIA HF model?

 

[SylEm]

I forgot to add that I don't know much about HD capacity. I mean, I've seen lots of cameras have internal memory now? Some with SSD drives? Which is pretty awesome, but I have no idea how much space I need to document all this. I would presume that I need enough space to film at least 4-5 hours of footage if that helps?

 

[sygyzy]

Just go with FLASH memory. That way you aren't dealing with a mechanical drive, magnetic media, or expensive SSD drives.

It looks like you can get about 4 hours on a 16GB card, depending on bitrate. So say two 16GB cards or a 32GB one.

 

[SylEm]

When you say bitrate, do you mean like 720p, 1080i, or 1080p? If so, I really plan to shoot it in 1080p if possible. Would I still get about 4 hours out of a 16GB flash card?

 

[GWestphal]

get a 64GB high speed card, canon or sony HD cam and then a makeup and lighting guy, you'll have to clear some things with the hospital first too

 

[Throckmorton]

Your wife is going to let you record her giving birth?

 

[tenthumbs]

Get a GoPro Hero 2. Strap it on your head and you can hold your newborn without putting the camera down. $299

 

[SylEm]

Yes she's going to let me. Honestly tenthumbs, I was considering something like this but I moreover wanted something where it would be more effective for filming outside of just the actual birth itself.

 

[tfinch2]

Something to keep in mind unless you already have the information from where you are going, some hospitals do not allow filming or photography of the birth.

 

[karder]

I don't know much about video cameras, but I would recommend one with SD Card. Just for the simplicity of storing the movies once filmed.

Also, see if you can find one with higher fps, rather than all the extra specs.

You should be able to find a decent one for a not too high amount of $'s

 

[NAC]

I have a slightly older Canon HD camcorder which I’m happy with. I can’t speak to current models or other brands.

I also recommend going with SD card, which most camcorders now are. I think I have 16 gigs, I record at the highest quality, and never have a problem with space – just have to upload to computer occasionally.

GET A BACKUP HARD DRIVE! You don’t want to lose this video just because your hard drive crashed!

As far as video editing, my camcorder saves video compressed with x264. This is a challenge for some video editing software. At least it was when I got my camcorder. I spend the money for Sony Vegas and have been happy with it. In any case – for most video editing software you can try for a trial period before you buy, which I would recommend.

A few years ago I made a hobby of creating one or two home videos a year. I’ll sort through the hundreds of photos we take a year and a few hours of video footage. I’ll edit it down to about 15-20 minutes with music, titles, etc. My family and extended family both love the videos and look forward to them every Christmas. My nephew in Germany apparently watched them over and over. Start simple as you described, and you can add to your skills every year. It takes a long time but you’ll get quicker and the results are worth it. I started when my older daughter turned five, so I’m slowly going to catch up by creating videos from when they were babies & toddlers.

I’ve also been of the philosophy that a 15 minute fairly fast paced video of interesting stuff is better than an hour video of boring stuff. I don’t care to watch a movie of someone on a swing for 20 minutes, so I would only film it for 2 minutes and edit in perhaps 20 seconds when my child smiled the biggest. I think it is more difficult with babies – I could only find about six minutes to fill on the first video I made for when my daughters were each under about 1.

Uh… funny story that I didn’t film either of my daughters’ births. I didn’t care to. But I did film when my sister gave birth. ACK! But I was in a safe location near her head, handed the camera on occasion to her husband for the, uh, other shots. I never saw the video, nor do I care to.

 

[Kanalua]

Panasonic HC-V700
Best <$500 camcorder you can buy at the moment.

 

[brotj7]

Check with your MD too. I worked in an L&D in NYS for 3.5 years, and my wife works in a NICU. I can't think of a single MD that would let you film them working. They are liable for 18 years, and get real pissy about it.

As a father of two, hold your wifes hand and watch your babies be born. If they let the video camera in the room, let your mother in law video your wife above the waist.