My plains game hunt is scheduled for next year. I need to buy a video camera. I want a DVD recorder. Anyone have a favorite? I like the Sony products. Some of the miniature ones look good but I don't want to compromise too much with the zoom feature. Thanks. Roger

The DVD video recorders are getting better, but, they are still behind DV tape in both quality and flexibility.

Like yourself, I do like the Sony range, and we have been using thier DVCAM and MiniDV cameras for years, and love them.

As far as zoom is concerned, whatever camera you get, the first thing you should do is TURN THE DIGITAL ZOOM OFF!

It is OK to use the digital zoom to look at something far away, but I certainly won't use it to record anything.

It degrades the quality quite dramatically.

Your best bet might be to go toa dealer who has both types, and try the cameras yourself.

I am technologically behind the curve on this but since your hunt is not until next year I would say just do your research now and wait because the latest and greatest will come out in time for the Christmas season and whatever you want today will be cheaper in the new year. Of course you may want the latest and greatest and that will then be yet another option unavailable today and for the next several months.

We have a DVD camera. The advantage is that you can choose a clip from a menu rather than stream through a whole tape to find what you want. Of course, you can make such a disk with such a menu on your PC if you want.



The disadvantage is that the camera isn't so reliable. It's been back to the factory for a problem that would take a long time to describe. Apparently, a bad sector on a disk put the camera in a mode where it didn't operate, wouldn't turn off, and the disk door wouldn't open. Soon, the disk cameras will pull ahead of the tape-fed machines. We're not there yet, IMO.



H. C.

I've been spending the weekend editing some Digital Video of Namibia in 2000 taken with a Sony Digital 8mm. I am constantly amazed at the quality of both the picture and video. I find I can take about an hour of video on a tape and a NP F550 battery pack will last about the same time with leaving it on until it shuts itself off and other wasteful practices. I have a battery charger that works off a cigarette lighter and the one that comes with it which is good for 110 or 220volts ac (you'll need a plug adapter). I find by the time one battery is down, the other is charged. Both will charge over night if they are down.

It is not important to have a color video screen on the camera, but it is imperative to have a color view finder. It makes finding the animals much easier. The rule with cameras is the same as with everything else, KISS. By the way, plug all the orifices on the camera. I had a seed pod get into the phono jack and jam it so that the camera's on-board mic was off. Half my trip was a silent movie! Ku-dude

PS: The new Pinnacle 9 Studio is light years ahead of their Studio 8 product. I may be able to master this thing. K-d