Choosing the right 1080p SD-card enabled Camcorder

[yangp]

Hello !

I have been looking to buy a SD-card enabled 1080p/1080i camcorder.
Currently I have found 2 models that interest me, these are:
- SONY TG3E/TG1
- Sanyo Xacti HD1010

Which one do you think it is better to get ? I also saw best-price Aiptek SD-card camcorders, does anyone have any experience with these ?

If someone has an URL of some other similar devices, please paste the link.

Regards,
Jan

[yangp]

Recently I saw an ad for AIPTEK-AHD 200 , which costs 100 EUR, so I am thinking of getting this camera. Does anyone have any experiences with Aiptek cameras?

Regards,
Jan

[edDV]

What do you intend to do with the video?

The video files from these cameras are difficult to edit and the bundled software is lacking. Read the reviews.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/sony-tg3e-tg1-camcorder-review/ see "Time to edit".

[Rawit]

Check this site:

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/review-98-Sony+Handycam+HDR-TG1+VS+Sanyo+Xacti+HD1000.html

Myself, I've ordered a Xacti HD1010, it should be arriving tomorrow. I saw some video samples of both the camera's, and to me it appears the Xacti is better with colors (no blown out white skies), and lets you choose between different resolutions and framerates. The Sony however, has superior stabilization (which is quite important, especially when using zoom).

Other big differences are the battery life (120 min. for the Sanyo, versus 45 min. of the Sony), their form factor (pistol grip vs normal grip) and the memory cards they support (sd-card vs sony memory stick).

The Sony has a shell made of titanium, which makes it very sturdy. The Sanyo is also of a high build quality.

About the editing part, shooting in 720p60 mode with the Sanyo gives you perfectly editable movies, both on Mac and PC. The 1080i/p resolutions demand a very fast computer to edit, even to play the files correctly. I suggest to download the video samples from the link, and see if you are able to edit them.

I have no experience with the Aiptek. I only saw a sample once, which looked a bit interpolated, but still nice. Good luck with the search

[edDV]

Check this site:

http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/review-98-Sony+Handycam+HDR-TG1+VS+Sanyo+Xacti+HD1000.html

Myself, I've ordered a Xacti HD1010, it should be arriving tomorrow. I saw some video samples of both the camera's, and to me it appears the Xacti is better with colors (no blown out white skies), and lets you choose between different resolutions and framerates. The Sony however, has superior stabilization (which is quite important, especially when using zoom).

Other big differences are the battery life (120 min. for the Sanyo, versus 45 min. of the Sony), their form factor (pistol grip vs normal grip) and the memory cards they support (sd-card vs sony memory stick).

The Sony has a shell made of titanium, which makes it very sturdy. The Sanyo is also of a high build quality.

About the editing part, shooting in 720p60 mode with the Sanyo gives you perfectly editable movies, both on Mac and PC. The 1080i/p resolutions demand a very fast computer to edit, even to play the files correctly. I suggest to download the video samples from the link, and see if you are able to edit them.

I have no experience with the Aiptek. I only saw a sample once, which looked a bit interpolated, but still nice. Good luck with the search

I agree that 1280x720p is the way to go with these cameras but unfortunately, this is at 29.97 or 25 frame rate which will show as jerky when hand held. 720p at 59.94 or 50 fps is a few years out.

So the trade off comes down to jerky 720p (unless a heavy tripod is used) or difficult to play/edit 1080i @ 59.94 fields per second.

For 1080i the real problem is AVC encoding which stresses the computer. HDV or XDCAM-EX using MPeg2 are easily handled by a current Core2 Duo or Quad.

[Rawit]

I don't know exactly what you mean with "720p at 59.94 or 50 fps is a few years out", but the Sanyo is capable of 720p60, 60 frames, not fields, per second, which is very very smooth, but as you say, also very sensitive for camera shake.

I was capable of playing back the 1080p30/1080i60 files, but only under Linux, Windows plays a few seconds and then the players crash...

[Rudyard]

I have to buy a camcorder for my father inlaw and as he wont edit (besides basic cutting/transitions maybe) and only wants to use it for family videos, nothing special.

Is there anything wrong with SD card cameras or HDD cameras?? I found mini DVD to be unreliable and capturing real time via HDV or DV he doesnt like.

So are the other 2 formats ok in 2008 or is there a reason why people stay away??

Looking to buy soon.

[edDV]

I don't know exactly what you mean with "720p at 59.94 or 50 fps is a few years out", but the Sanyo is capable of 720p60, 60 frames, not fields, per second, which is very very smooth, but as you say, also very sensitive for camera shake.

I was capable of playing back the 1080p30/1080i60 files, but only under Linux, Windows plays a few seconds and then the players crash...

The Sanyo website discusses 720p at 30 fps, not 60 or 1080i at 60 fields per second. The spec sheet mentions a 720p 60 fps mode but it is not emphasized in the descriptive literature. Stabilization is digital, not optical.
http://sanyodigital.com/product.aspx?v=22

Reviews of earlier generation Sanyo Xacti cameras have not been good.
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sanyo-VPC-HD1-Camcorder-Review.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sanyo-Xacti-VPC-HD2-Camcorder-Review.htm

I can't find a serious review of this new 1010 model.

[Rawit]

There is nothing wrong with SD or HDD camera's, but the format the video is stored in can differ among manufactures.
The current generation of High Definition sd-recorders stores the video in MPEG4/AVCHD. Also most High Definition hdd-recorders use this format, except some products from JVC, which use HDV. Support for these formats is growing rapidly (HDV is better supported, but is loosing terrain to MPEG4/AVCHD).

Transferring video's from sd or hdd camera's is much faster then from dv-tape. Sd camera's are also more shockproof, but the amount of video they can store is more limited compared against hdd or dv-tape. You will have buy some additional cards, but memory prices are low.

The Canon HF series is quite popular right now, which are sd-card based recorders. If you search, you should be able to find sample video's of these camera's. Vimeo also has lots of sample video's of all kinds of camera's.

[Silver Fox]

I have 2 different models of the Aiptek HD camcorders and the video quality is excellent PROVIDING you use a tripod. These cameras do not have video stabilization and without the tripod the video is way to "jittery". For $99 and $179 US on sale at circuit city from time to time you can't beat the quality. I have taken side by side shots with the Aiptek and my full size JVC HD camera and the video is very difficult to tell apart. Only on the 120" screen can you tell the differance and then you have to look for it. On a 50" plazma there is no differance.

[Rawit]

The Sanyo website discusses 720p at 30 fps, not 60 or 1080i at 60 fields per second. The spec sheet mentions a 720p 60 fps mode but it is not emphasized in the descriptive literature. Stabilization is digital, not optical.
http://sanyodigital.com/product.aspx?v=22

Reviews of earlier generation Sanyo Xacti cameras have not been good.
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sanyo-VPC-HD1-Camcorder-Review.htm
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sanyo-Xacti-VPC-HD2-Camcorder-Review.htm

I can't find a serious review of this new 1010 model.

I received my HD1010 yesterday, I can confirm it can record in 720p30, 720p60, 1080p30 and 1080i60. I will try to put some samples up soon .

[Rudyard]

great thanks for the advice