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Which One?

olds

olds

Elite Member
I know zip, zero, zilch, nada about video cameras.
We have 3 at work and I am supposed to get one of them to work.
Since I know nothing of the technology, I turn to you. Which one should I revive?
The Camera will be set in the back of a classroom to film instructors.

Sony Video Hi8 CCD-TR101
http://www.docs.sony.com/release/CCDTR101.pdf

Canon Mini DV DM-GL1
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/camcorders/minidv_camcorders/gl1

Canon VC-40A - (This thing looks old)
51jOl&
 
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None.

The money you spend repairing (then supporting!) any of them would be FAR better spent getting even a Flip. The technology has come that far.
 
rivan said:
None.

The money you spend repairing (then supporting!) any of them would be FAR better spent getting even a Flip. The technology has come that far.
Click to expand...
It has to sit on a tripod in the back of a classroom to video instructors.
 
Go with the Canon miniDV. It's the only one that I know is a digital format and I'm pretty sure that blank tapes are available.
 
oldsmoboat said:
It has to sit on a tripod in the back of a classroom to video instructors.
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I'd think they (the Flips - not that I'm recommending those over any other inexpensive solution) have a mount. It might not be a standard mount, but I know they make tripods for them.

The models you have lying around all record to tape. To get that video to a computer, you'll have to capture it, which is a pain in the ass.

Modern ones are USB-> done. Formats vary, but the flips (and similar) are designed to be ULTRA simple to work with.
 
Kipper717 said:
Go with the Canon miniDV. It's the only one that I know is a digital format and I'm pretty sure that blank tapes are available.
Click to expand...

The video isn't digital; it's analog, but written to tape in a digital format. They video has to be captured (via a separate device) before it can be used on a computer.

Edit: that said, if you HAVE to pick one of the older cameras, the GL1 had excellent quality for it's day. It's just been completely eclipsed by technology.
 
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rivan said:
The video isn't digital; it's analog, but written to tape in a digital format. They video has to be captured (via a separate device) before it can be used on a computer.
Click to expand...
What type of device, in case we have it?
 
rivan said:
A video capture device. They're very inexpensive these days even if you don't have one. The capture process is real-time, though. 2 hours of tape, you let it run for 2 hours to capture. You essentially have the camera play the video for the device, which digitizes it.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...rder_Plus.html
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I am going to take a look through these boxes.

We have it and it works!
 
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oldsmoboat said:
I know zip, zero, zilch, nada about video cameras.
We have 3 at work and I am supposed to get one of them to work.
Since I know nothing of the technology, I turn to you. Which one should I revive?
The Camera will be set in the back of my basement to film the people in my well.
Click to expand...

D:
 
oldsmoboat said:
Ya, I am using the Canon Mini DV DM-GL1. We have everything we need to use it. I suggested we buy a new one but with our current budget, I doubt we'd get one.
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-GL1-Digi.../dp/B0000507JI

41YZEAfUSsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
Click to expand...

Well, as I mentioned above, the GL1 was an amazing camera for it's day. Lower-end pro optics with excellent built-in mic. If nothing else, the audio should be a lot better than any of the lower-end solutions available today.

I'd assumed something on each of the cameras you'd linked was broken - the GL line had some issues with the tapes not being recognized. Getting it repaired would be a spendy proposition.
 
Nah, I just don't know anything about video cameras. I am the "tech" guy here because I can turn on a computer and email a pic on my phone.
 
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