Need advice on HD camcorder purchase

piscesmom · 06-23-2007, 11:49 AM

I want to buy a new camcorder in the next two weeks for a European cruise which I will be taking with my husband and children. I am the family photographer so I will be carrying the camcorder as well as my Canon SD900 camera (small) around constantly so I don't want the camcorder to be too big. I've had a Sony DCR-TVR series camcorder for many years and think now is a good time to upgrade to a high definition camera. I've done video editing in the past on a volunteer basis and now that my kids are older I would like to create some movies for my own family in the near future, especially for my mother who has cancer and has requested that I pull together old footage for her (video on miniDV tapes would be combined with digital photos). I need to purchase film editing software in the next six months or so. If you have advice on that I would appreciate it. Our family has a year old iMac and a new Vista compatible laptop.

I need advice on buying a HD camcorder and would appreciate you sharing ideas on what to buy. I like to buy what I call "state-of-the-art affordable" electronics, i.e., the newest technology but at a consumer price. I stopped by an electronics store to see what is out there and liked the idea of HD. I was drawn to the ones with a hard drive and specifically was looking at the Sony HDRSR5. I've had good luck with Sonys in the past. It was listed at $1099.99 at my local Circuit City and was not on sale. I only have a week and a half to make the purchase so I will probably have to buy it at a store but will research the price to make sure I get the best deal; I'm willing to go up to $1500.

I have a background in computers but am self-educating myself at this point. I was a software engineer sixteen years ago but "retired" to raise my four children. I do volunteer computer work for a charity but will finish my tenure next June so I will have finally some time on my hands to get into making movies.

I just discovered this forum today. It looks great. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

acgold7 · 06-23-2007, 12:25 PM

If you want the most options and ease of editing, you should consider an HDV (tape) based cam such as the Sony HC7 or the Canon HV20, both very popular right now. Based on what you said about editing I'd recommend one of these. And they use the same inexpensive MiniDV tapes that you're using right now and can be found anywhere. You don't need special "HDV" tapes.

Other formats may be attractive but depend upon what you want to do with the video. If you want instant playback and don't plan on editing, you could consider the DVD based HiDef cams, such as Sony's UX series. If you are okay with bringing a laptop with you and constantly copying to your computer -- their HDDs fill up in seven hours or less -- and still plan on not editing, then the SR series could be a good choice. But note that editing software support for these cams isn't as widespread as with tape. The full edition of Vegas, as well as Pinnacle and Ulead, apparently both will edit AVCHD files, which is what the HDD cams store their video as.

In terms of editing software, you should stay with what you know and like. I use Adobe Premiere Pro, which I find does most things pretty well. Many others swear by Sony Vegas -- there's a full Pro version and a more affordable version called Vegas Movie Studio Platinum that many people like and is well under $100.

Others swear by Pinnacle and Ulead, but on the other forums I read I tend to see more people complaining about them than liking them...

If your Mac is to be your primary editing computer, you could also consider Final Cut, which has passionate fans everywhere.

06-23-2007, 11:49 AM	#1
piscesmom What is HD? Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1	Need advice on HD camcorder purchase I want to buy a new camcorder in the next two weeks for a European cruise which I will be taking with my husband and children. I am the family photographer so I will be carrying the camcorder as well as my Canon SD900 camera (small) around constantly so I don't want the camcorder to be too big. I've had a Sony DCR-TVR series camcorder for many years and think now is a good time to upgrade to a high definition camera. I've done video editing in the past on a volunteer basis and now that my kids are older I would like to create some movies for my own family in the near future, especially for my mother who has cancer and has requested that I pull together old footage for her (video on miniDV tapes would be combined with digital photos). I need to purchase film editing software in the next six months or so. If you have advice on that I would appreciate it. Our family has a year old iMac and a new Vista compatible laptop. I need advice on buying a HD camcorder and would appreciate you sharing ideas on what to buy. I like to buy what I call "state-of-the-art affordable" electronics, i.e., the newest technology but at a consumer price. I stopped by an electronics store to see what is out there and liked the idea of HD. I was drawn to the ones with a hard drive and specifically was looking at the Sony HDRSR5. I've had good luck with Sonys in the past. It was listed at $1099.99 at my local Circuit City and was not on sale. I only have a week and a half to make the purchase so I will probably have to buy it at a store but will research the price to make sure I get the best deal; I'm willing to go up to $1500. I have a background in computers but am self-educating myself at this point. I was a software engineer sixteen years ago but "retired" to raise my four children. I do volunteer computer work for a charity but will finish my tenure next June so I will have finally some time on my hands to get into making movies. I just discovered this forum today. It looks great. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

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06-23-2007, 12:25 PM	#2
acgold7 I'll never go back to SD Join Date: May 2006 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 524	If you want the most options and ease of editing, you should consider an HDV (tape) based cam such as the Sony HC7 or the Canon HV20, both very popular right now. Based on what you said about editing I'd recommend one of these. And they use the same inexpensive MiniDV tapes that you're using right now and can be found anywhere. You don't need special "HDV" tapes. Other formats may be attractive but depend upon what you want to do with the video. If you want instant playback and don't plan on editing, you could consider the DVD based HiDef cams, such as Sony's UX series. If you are okay with bringing a laptop with you and constantly copying to your computer -- their HDDs fill up in seven hours or less -- and still plan on not editing, then the SR series could be a good choice. But note that editing software support for these cams isn't as widespread as with tape. The full edition of Vegas, as well as Pinnacle and Ulead, apparently both will edit AVCHD files, which is what the HDD cams store their video as. In terms of editing software, you should stay with what you know and like. I use Adobe Premiere Pro, which I find does most things pretty well. Many others swear by Sony Vegas -- there's a full Pro version and a more affordable version called Vegas Movie Studio Platinum that many people like and is well under $100. Others swear by Pinnacle and Ulead, but on the other forums I read I tend to see more people complaining about them than liking them... If your Mac is to be your primary editing computer, you could also consider Final Cut, which has passionate fans everywhere.