Want to upgrade my camcorder - VHS-C to ? (UK)

[Will Hay]

I have a trusty 'ooooold' Panasonic VHS-C video camcorder which I want to replace.
I currently capture video taken with my VHS-C camcorder via an ATI Radeon capture card using the line-in function as an 720 x 576 avi file (compressed with the Pic Video MJPEG codec) and encode to mpeg2 dvd quality with TMPGEnc.
I'd like to upgrade to a digital camcorder and have a budget of circa.
£500.00.
I would like a side screen so I don't have to be looking down the lens all the time.
I have a dvd burner so anything I record will need to be downloaded to my computer, I won't ever be recording to VHS tape.
I've seen some camcorders with either a firewire link or either a usb link, but don't know enough about the two to decide which is best for me.
Many thanks for any assistance/recommendations.
Will

[slicksterproductions]

Hey. i would recommend one of the Digital 8 camcorders by sony. I have the TRV 140 and it works great and shoots great video. When i bought that one it was 500, now you can get it for 350. Sony released a newer model which is almost the same thing but a little better. Any digital 8 camcorder or Mini DV has fire wire ports. This is what you will use to capture to the comp.(firewire card needed) The usb port is for people who dont have firewire capibilities and who are more interested in capturing there photos and not video. The usb will not give your your 30 fps like firewire will.

Definetely look into the digital 8 models by sony.

They really shoot good quality video( especially compared to a VHS-C camcorder)

P.S. I shoot segments for a local news program using that camcorder.

[bugster]

Mini DV is an excellent format, quality is superb. They should all come with a firewire out port though many do not support firewire in back to tape. If you have a DVD burner as your target format this should not be a problem. Firewire cards for PC's are dirt cheap and can be found for 15-20 UKP.

[Will Hay]

Hey. i would recommend one of the Digital 8 camcorders by sony. I have the TRV 140 and it works great and shoots great video. When i bought that one it was 500, now you can get it for 350. Sony released a newer model which is almost the same thing but a little better.

Hi,
Thanks for the post (you too bugster).
Ironically enough, since posting my message, I've virtualy settled for the Sony MiniDV TRV19 (best price I've seen here in the UK is £449.00)
I was going to go with the TRV14 but for the extra £34.00 the next model in the range has *DV In* so I thought what the hell.
I'm still unsure about what the hell to use DV In for, I guess I can transfer edited footage back to the tape and maybe run my VHS-C through it and onto my computer (rather than capture with my ATI Radeon, right?).
Would this be all I'd use 'DV In' for?
Will

[Rondo]

If I'm understanding you right in your last comment, you're looking to hook up an analogue input (i.e. your old camcorder) to your computer through your new camcorder.

DV In can't be used to do that - DV In is used (as you said first) to record from your computer back onto your camcorder & needs a digital DV-spec data flow.

What you need in order to be able to hook up your old VHS-C camcorder is Analogue In on your new one. The spec suggests that it has that.

Incidentally, that will probably also allow you to pass a signal straight through your new camcorder using it as an on-the-fly Analogue-DV converter - and that signal could also be straight from your TV.

[Will Hay]

If I'm understanding you right in your last comment, you're looking to hook up an analogue input (i.e. your old camcorder) to your computer through your new camcorder.

DV In can't be used to do that - DV In is used (as you said first) to record from your computer back onto your camcorder & needs a digital DV-spec data flow.

What you need in order to be able to hook up your old VHS-C camcorder is Analogue In on your new one. The spec suggests that it has that.

Incidentally, that will probably also allow you to pass a signal straight through your new camcorder using it as an on-the-fly Analogue-DV converter - and that signal could also be straight from your TV.

I see, thanks.
To be honest, I already have a decent hook up whereupon I get a tv or vcr signal directly to my computer, and as far as my old VHS-C tapes go I could use my same method (ie. via my ATI Radeon) and then use the firewire of my new camcorder.
I'm trying to convince myself I don't need dv in, I can't imagine a scenerio where I'll back up my editing back to a tape, I'll encode the uncompressed, edited movie on to dvd-r and maybe create a second copy. After all, dvd-r disks are cheaper than the digital camcorder tapes.
Would I be correct in assuming there is software to make a non-enabled dvd in camcorder dvd-in enabled?
Isn't it something to do with EU tax levy?
Finally, and assuming I ditch my 'DV in' requirement, there are three camcorder's I'm looking at:
1) Panasonic (Mini DV) NVDS60B £349
2) Sony (Mini DV) DCR-TRV14 £415
3) JVC Mini DV (GR-DVL160) £329
Whilst they all appear to do the same thing, I'm trying to convince myself to take either of the cheaper ones as the Sony one is artifically inflated, but a part of me (call it sony corp. global conditioning ) is of the opinion you can't beat Sony and won't be disapointed.
Help!
Will

[bugster]

Would I be correct in assuming there is software to make a non-enabled dvd in camcorder dvd-in enabled?

there is hacked firmware availabel for many cameras that enables the DV-in feature but be careful, using it will void the warranty and incorrectly done can destroy the camera.

[donpedro]

You might want to look for function called "passthrough". It will let you record analog source through your digital camcorder on you PC as DV AVI. Very good way to have another "capture device".

[Will Hay]

I'm leaning towards Sony, specifically the TRV-19.
I appreciate it's not yet available (a week or so in the UK) but does anyone have any thoughts?
Will

[Cheesemeister2000]

Had a friend work for Sony and test out their Digital Camcorders.

He wasn`t that impressed with them saying they were pixely ( if that`s a word ! ) some of the time.

He said he would stick with Hi-8 for the moment.

Thats just his view though.

I can`t comment because i still own a VHS-C camera too !

Cheesemeister2000

[Will Hay]

Had a friend work for Sony and test out their Digital Camcorders.

He wasn`t that impressed with them saying they were pixely ( if that`s a word ! ) some of the time.

He said he would stick with Hi-8 for the moment.

Thats just his view though.

I can`t comment because i still own a VHS-C camera too !

Cheesemeister2000

If I don't go with the Sony Mini DV, I'll be getting the Pansonic MiniDV DS60B (or something), or perhaps one of the new JVC range.
I think your friend means 'stick with Digital 8 for the moment', this is the Sony digital format before the flood of Min DV cams came.
Thanks for the post, believe I'll still go with the Sony, after testing of course.
Will

[energy80s]

Silky, check out the Canon 500 range. I recently bought the mv500i. It has full analogue and digital in and out with passthrough and is a great little camcorder in its own right - most video mags give it a 5 star rating. The difference between the 500 and the 530 is that the 530 has a flash card for storing digital images whereas the 500 stores them on tape as 7 second stills - but for the difference in price I wouldn't recommend it. The cheapest I've seen the mv500i was £563 in Dixons in Birmingham airport, however I bought mine for £439 from Nomatica in France! I highly recommend them, they offer a 2 year guarantee as standard and if you use TNT as the carrier, you can track your parcel around the country as its on its way to you! Check out www.nomatica.com for more info.

Rodney.

[Will Hay]

Silky, check out the Canon 500 range. I recently bought the mv500i. It has full analogue and digital in and out with passthrough and is a great little camcorder in its own right - most video mags give it a 5 star rating. The difference between the 500 and the 530 is that the 530 has a flash card for storing digital images whereas the 500 stores them on tape as 7 second stills - but for the difference in price I wouldn't recommend it. The cheapest I've seen the mv500i was £563 in Dixons in Birmingham airport, however I bought mine for £439 from Nomatica in France! I highly recommend them, they offer a 2 year guarantee as standard and if you use TNT as the carrier, you can track your parcel around the country as its on its way to you! Check out www.nomatica.com for more info.

Rodney.

Thanks, appreciate the recommendation.
Cheapest I've seen it in the uK is here, I'll definately give it a try out when I'm in the city centre tomorow (then search properly on the web!)
Thaks again,
Will

[energy80s]

Silky, that's the basic 500 with no inputs. Add another £100 for an analogue input and then you'll see why the Nomatica deal was so sweet!

[Will Hay]

Silky, that's the basic 500 with no inputs. Add another £100 for an analogue input and then you'll see why the Nomatica deal was so sweet!

Right!
Thanks!
I'm about to set off for LS1 in about ten mins to do some testing!
Will

[Will Hay]

Nomatica doesn't have it

[energy80s]

It's just been updated to the mv600i. This seems to have the same spec as the 500 except for a larger imaging chip allowing for better, higher resolution pictures. Price is £433! I would go for the package with the 3 tapes (mine were TDK's) for £442.

[Will Hay]

It's just been updated to the mv600i. This seems to have the same spec as the 500 except for a larger imaging chip allowing for better, higher resolution pictures. Price is £433! I would go for the package with the 3 tapes (mine were TDK's) for £442.

Thanks
I went for the Sony TRV-14 at £415.00
I was going to wait for the 19 (dv in and passthrough) but decided I was just being extravagent and my current capture system is perfectly adaquete for the small vhs transfers I do.
Call it Sony corp. global brainwashing but for me Sony tops the list in camcorders, and so far I've been delighted.
Thanks again,
Will

[donpedro]

Just t hought little bit out of topic....

When I was in process of buying DV camcorder couple of yesrs ago here in US, I picked Panasonic based on my research on the web (price+functions). But then I went to the "real" stores and I played with all of them little bit. I was suprised by Sony's "steady shot" function when I had it on max. zoom. It was much, much better then any other brand and that is why I picked Sony instead of Panasonic

[Will Hay]

Just t hought little bit out of topic....

When I was in process of buying DV camcorder couple of yesrs ago here in US, I picked Panasonic based on my research on the web (price+functions). But then I went to the "real" stores and I played with all of them little bit. I was suprised by Sony's "steady shot" function when I had it on max. zoom. It was much, much better then any other brand and that is why I picked Sony instead of Panasonic

Then I'm glad I picked the right brand and went with Sony myself
Will