Need some Advice

markeje · 01-30-2013, 02:31 PM

Hello all,

I am in need of HD Video Camera and could use some direction on what to buy. Fairly new to HD Video.
The camera is for work and play. The Camera will be used at work to video mining equipment both in the moving and stilll state. I'll need to be able to take stills of various parts on the machines as well. I need high quality video and something sturdy. I will be moving around the equipment as I film and taking notes. This will video log the equipment for later study. I will need to move the files from the camera to a laptop and be able to distribute the files to other persons. The files will almost always be viewed from a computer and not another media.

Then for play - I do a lot of hunting in the fall and would like to film some of my deer hunts in the fall as well. Filming would be in early morning light and fading light until dark from a tree stand. Dry weather only.

I can spend up to $750 or so for this camera.
Any thoughts?

oblioman · 01-30-2013, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markeje

Hello all,

I am in need of HD Video Camera and could use some direction on what to buy. Fairly new to HD Video.
The camera is for work and play. The Camera will be used at work to video mining equipment both in the moving and stilll state. I'll need to be able to take stills of various parts on the machines as well. I need high quality video and something sturdy. I will be moving around the equipment as I film and taking notes. This will video log the equipment for later study. I will need to move the files from the camera to a laptop and be able to distribute the files to other persons. The files will almost always be viewed from a computer and not another media.

Then for play - I do a lot of hunting in the fall and would like to film some of my deer hunts in the fall as well. Filming would be in early morning light and fading light until dark from a tree stand. Dry weather only.

I can spend up to $750 or so for this camera.
Any thoughts?

Will you be shooting video inside the mine?

markeje · 02-04-2013, 07:14 AM

No - all outdoors.

markeje · 02-04-2013, 07:45 AM

Right now I'm leaning towards the Canon Vixia HF M41.

oblioman · 02-04-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markeje

Right now I'm leaning towards the Canon Vixia HF M41.

That would be a fine choice. You mentioned earlier that you will be distributing your files mainly by computer. Keep in mind that if you keep the files in the .mts format they will be fairly large. A ten minute video is around 2 gig.

markeje · 02-05-2013, 06:29 AM

Thats about how long each file would be I imagine.
Is there a way to compress them or change them to another format with out quality loss?

renowilliams · 02-05-2013, 07:48 AM

When you compress video you will get some quality loss,that being said you still can have a very good file when compressed. You will have to experiment with different codecs and bit rates to determine what looks good to you. I often encode to H264 MP4'S and am happy with the results.

markeje · 02-06-2013, 06:25 AM

Cool - Thanks for the info guys. I'm SURE after I get the camera, which I did get approval for, I will have more questions. Filming itself will be a learning experiance. I need to hit this one out of the park in order to show the value of using videoing the equipment. My boss ultimately wants me to take the video and edit it to a quick 2 minutes synopsis of the undercarriage of the machine.
Any tips/tricks?

oblioman · 02-06-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markeje

Cool - Thanks for the info guys. I'm SURE after I get the camera, which I did get approval for, I will have more questions. Filming itself will be a learning experiance. I need to hit this one out of the park in order to show the value of using videoing the equipment. My boss ultimately wants me to take the video and edit it to a quick 2 minutes synopsis of the undercarriage of the machine.
Any tips/tricks?

Undercarriage? Get a short tripod. Better yet, get a couple of 6 foot lengths of 1 1/2 schedule 80 pvc pipe and construct your own little dolly to smoothly roll your camera along underneath.
This little vid will give you an idea - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riaQGgpxOWY

01-30-2013, 02:31 PM	#1
markeje My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Need some Advice Hello all, I am in need of HD Video Camera and could use some direction on what to buy. Fairly new to HD Video. The camera is for work and play. The Camera will be used at work to video mining equipment both in the moving and stilll state. I'll need to be able to take stills of various parts on the machines as well. I need high quality video and something sturdy. I will be moving around the equipment as I film and taking notes. This will video log the equipment for later study. I will need to move the files from the camera to a laptop and be able to distribute the files to other persons. The files will almost always be viewed from a computer and not another media. Then for play - I do a lot of hunting in the fall and would like to film some of my deer hunts in the fall as well. Filming would be in early morning light and fading light until dark from a tree stand. Dry weather only. I can spend up to $750 or so for this camera. Any thoughts?

Similar Threads to Need some Advice
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Thinking about building a PC. Need some advice and help.	jmwatkins	Gaming & Systems	70	11-01-2012 01:37 PM
Need some advice, Please help	jmwatkins	Flat-Panel TVs	20	05-14-2009 05:48 AM
Buying LCD HDTV. Need some advice on Vizio and Westinghouse.	bigduly	Flat-Panel TVs	11	02-14-2008 01:10 PM
Need Some Advice / Recommendations on RPTV's in the $2000 range	Dervrak	Rear-Projection TVs	30	02-05-2008 12:32 PM
Need some advice on choosing a DLP or LCD	dabig25	Rear-Projection TVs	15	10-22-2006 05:35 PM

02-04-2013, 07:14 AM	#3
markeje My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	No - all outdoors.

02-04-2013, 07:45 AM	#4
markeje My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Right now I'm leaning towards the Canon Vixia HF M41.

02-05-2013, 06:29 AM	#6
markeje My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Thats about how long each file would be I imagine. Is there a way to compress them or change them to another format with out quality loss?

02-05-2013, 07:48 AM	#7
renowilliams High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 35	When you compress video you will get some quality loss,that being said you still can have a very good file when compressed. You will have to experiment with different codecs and bit rates to determine what looks good to you. I often encode to H264 MP4'S and am happy with the results.

02-06-2013, 06:25 AM	#8
markeje My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5	Cool - Thanks for the info guys. I'm SURE after I get the camera, which I did get approval for, I will have more questions. Filming itself will be a learning experiance. I need to hit this one out of the park in order to show the value of using videoing the equipment. My boss ultimately wants me to take the video and edit it to a quick 2 minutes synopsis of the undercarriage of the machine. Any tips/tricks?