Camera Upgrade Dilemma

[PC Wannabe]

Newbie/Novice here - trying to upgrade our camera. We shoot a show out of a homemade studio, with 2 cameras and a mixer/switcher that is 9 years old. Switcher is SE-800 DV from data video. Video inputs for the switcher are firewire and S video. I am trying to buy a new camera, would like one that records to SD (not mini DV). The camera will be used to shoot video for the show, as well as for shooting the show. I am looking for a decent quality camera (small budget here), but I am having a hard time finding an SD camera that has a firewire output. What are my options here? Is there an adapter for the firewire input on the switcher that can convert what the newer cameras use? Obviously, I am trying to keep from buying a new camera AND a new switcher.

[aedipuss]

firewire is pretty much limited to DVavi and HDV. you can still buy SD canon gl-2 cams, but they are miniDV. not much better for a semi-pro.

[julitomg]

Unfortunately, fewer and fewer camcorders offer S video output, specially consumer oriented. I had a Panasonic AG DVC30 and it still had a S video out, but its predecesor, the HMC40 (witch I currently own) doesn´t. You´ll have to use composite or component. The mixer is also probably standard definition, so your next camera would have to be SD as well, even if it records into memory cards rather than tapes (that´s what you meant by SD, didn´t you?) Other solution would be to record your shows with a couple of HD camcorders, recording the whole show without stoping the cams and after that, use a good NLE (like Premiere, Vegas, etc..) to do a two cam edit, it´s not that hard (make sure to have a slate board or something to sinc the cams to)

[PC Wannabe]

Like I said, I am very much over my head with most of this discussion. By SD I did mean "memory card", basically I want a camera that is not mini DV. I guess I am at a point where I need to decide whether to stay with what we have (which is operational, just not the quality that today's technology offers), or pretty much replace 2 cameras and a switcher (if I buy a newer camera, that will force me to buy a new switcher, which will also bring about compatibility issues with the other camera that we use!). Only problem is, I don't really have the budget for all of that at one time.

[julitomg]

SD can also mean Standard Definition (just like HD means High Definition), that´s why Aedipuss suggested the Canon GL-2 cams wich are mini DV SD camcorders (and very good ones I should say). If we understand correctly you are looking to upgrade your equipment to SD Card based camcorders, and altough there are SD SD cams (camcorders that record to SD memory cards but do it in Standard Definition), it´s more likely that you prefer to go into HD. But my original question remains; do you really need live switching? Switchers aren´t cheap
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&ci=2865&N=4258705338&srtclk=sort
My first suggestion remains, why not invest in a couple of reasonable priced HD cams, record the whole show continously and do a two track editing or multi cam in a NLE like Adobe Premiere (I do it all the time, no problems there), its little brother Premiere Elements wich is much less expensive should be able to do it too, also Sony´s Vegas and others.

[Cornucopia]

Who gives a flip if it normally uses DV or not if you are outputting both live to a switcher. The output of the switcher feeds something that must record and save in whatever format you choose (which could be DV or some losslessly compressed SD quality video).

Scott

[PC Wannabe]

I really appreciate everyone trying to help. The biggest problem is communicating with people that are knowledgeable and understand the lingo - my level of expertise is quite low.
Cornucopia - the camera will be a dual purpose camera. We will shoot the video for the show, and the memory card format allows for a faster transfer of the video to the computer for editing. That part of the equation is more of a convenience than anything, a time saver.
Julitomg - remember, technical terms are sometimes over my head. By NLE, are you referring to editing software? We use a version of Final Cut Pro on a Mac.
Can anyone tell me what type of connection most of the newer cameras use? When I look at the specs, most of them are full of technical terms that I am not familiar with.

[julitomg]

NLE=Non linear Editor...yes, editing software (wich you already have, Final Cut), dont worry about not knowing every term, acronym, etc...feel free to ask. Also..you´ll find a good, basic Glossary at column on the left of this site.
As for connectors, well, the most basic type is the Composite Video (usually a RCA type connector identified with the color yellow) and most have ir, even the more proffesional ones for monitoring purposes (it can be a BNC connector tho), S-Video is becoming rarer to find, component video has kind of superseded it. Firewire is the norm with miniDV (also DVCPRO and HDV) and the newer camcorders that use memory cards (or internal hard drives, etc...) use USB to transfer data to a PC, many also use HDMI (or mini HDMI)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_and_video_interfaces_and_connectors
For the third time I ask you if you really need to do live switching...is it a live show? a live streamin for internet?, it ´s not that I´m trying to be nosy, but like I said, you could skip the mixer and save some money (that you could put to use in a couple of better cams than what you may already have in mind)
By the way, have you thought of a specific model, set of features in your next camcorder?
Here´s a good source of information on the subject:
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

[PC Wannabe]

J - thanks for your help and most especially your understanding. We don't do a live show, so we could do what you are describing. The guy that produces the show also uses the mixer for other projects, making commercials, etc., and this is mainly just how we are used to doing everything. I have certainly learned a lot over the last few days, mostly that there is no easy fix to our little dilemma. Right now, I am probably looking at buying 2 different cameras (a memory card camera to shoot the video, and a mini dv camera for the show) as opposed to one "dual purpose" camera. I appreciate the camcorder website, I will definitely go there and sift through that information before making a selection.
As with most anything, the more that I learn, the more questions that I have. I appreciate everyone's willingness to help.

[julitomg]

Right now, I am probably looking at buying 2 different cameras

Just remember that if you try to use these two different cameras in a two cam mix, the image quality between them will be very noticeable (and unprofessional looking), performing a correct white balance in both cameras won´t be sufficient, there are lots of differences regarding number, size and type of image sensor, internal processing, etc...even the brand of the camera makes a difference.
For example, what kind of camera would you consider suited to your needs/budget? any particular model? how much do you think you´d be willing to spend in a cam?
I was thinking that many modern SD based camcorders have composite and/or component video out, it ocurred to me that if the cam you choose does indeed have component video out (the blue, red and green RCA cables, instead of just a yellow one), you could use an adapter like this:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/300346-REG/InFocus_SP_VIDEO_ADPT_SP_VIDEO_ADPT_C...o_Adapter.html
and connect them to your mixer´s S-VIDEO inputs, at least it´d theoretically give you a better quality signal than if you had used just composite (yellow)

[PC Wannabe]

I have one fairly new Mini DV camera that we use to shoot the show with (the "one shot" camera). The "two shot" camera is the older one and I am thinking of replacing it with a newer mini DV similar to the one shot camera. The other camera (memory card camera) that I am talking about buying would be for shooting the video that we will edit to use on our show, and would not be used in the actual shooting of the show. That seems to be what I am going to have to do for now. Budget will be around $2500 for both cameras. I have looked around the internet (B&H Photo and other sites), and I think that I will be able to squeeze 2 pretty decent cameras out of that. Again, I really appreciate your help!