My wife bought a Sony Handy Cam that records on mini DVDs, that has been back to Sony twice for repair, and that will be available at a deep discount at our next garage sale.

We want to take a step back in technology and get a mini-DV tape machine, since these seem to be reliable, and we can burn the movies onto CDs or DVDs using our computer anyway.

Does anyone here use a mini-DV camera, and which one do you like?

H. C.

Alright. I've been searching reviews, and I realize what a dumb question I asked. I figured there were maybe 4 or 5 cameras out there other than the 3 that Wal-Mart carries. Was I wrong? Yes. In fact, there are more than I imagined. I have gone to a few review sites and settled on the Panasonic PV-GS15. Why? Because my wife is in a big hurry to buy one, she's mostly the one who wants it, and Circuit City (the only brick and mortar place that has them in stock around here) doesn't have the GS14. The GS 15 apparently has a little bit more optical zoom, and the GS14 has a little bit better low light performance.

That's what I ended up with. Every model at this Wal-Mart I saw was out of date. Only one had a USB port. If I had 3 extra days, I'd have got it online and saved $40.

Thanks for witholding input. It would have added to my sense of being overwhelmed by the available choices.

H. C.

Henry,

What kind of trouble did you have with the Handycam? We just got one for Christmas and have not really used it yet. What should I be on the lookout for?

HC,

For general video, almost any make that takes your fancy will do a great job.

The higher the price, normally you will gind the better the quality.

BUT, if you intend to use it for hunting work, pick a camera that will allow you to use manual focus, as the auto-focus plays havoc in the bush.

You will noy be able to focus on anything unless it is in plain view.

I generally like Sony cameras, and have always had great luck with them.

Also, check that the camera has a Firewire port, that makes transfering your footage to the computer that much easier.

Check out the Canon ZR series cameras. They have the highest optical zoom ( up to 22X !!!) that I have found so far and they are a really nice camera to hold.

ZR80, ZR85, or ZR90

There are older models out there with the same optics if you are into the used market (still a "ZR" series).


(turn down your volume... scared the shit out of me)
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=114&modelid=9738

quote:

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Originally posted by duckster:
Henry,<br /><br />What kind of trouble did you have with the Handycam? We just got one for Christmas and have not really used it yet. What should I be on the lookout for?

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There is a "disk error" error message that happens sometimes. You get a bright blue screen with bright yellow letters that says "disk error". If I remember correctly, there is a series of beeps that sounds like "cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo". Here, you are in trouble. Apparently, the camera writes many of its own operating instructions on the DVD that is in the camera. One of these instructions includes how or when to open the door so you can take the disk out. The problem is that when the disk has this error, the camera does not know how to open the door so you can take the disk out.

My wife and I wrestled with the camera for hours trying to find a way to get the door open.

Finally, we called Sony, and they told us there is no user-serviceable way to get the door open in these circumstances, and the camera must be sent to the authorized service center (as of the second time sending it back, there is only one man in North America who services Handy Cams). The third time we got this "disk error", I found a sequence of operations (maybe turning the camera off, then on, then hitting "play" or "review", then pressing the door latch with a certain timing before or after certain tones sounded. I wish I had written it down). Anyway, I got the door open and the disk out. The movies of our baby are lost, and we have no interest in putting another disk in that camera to flush more footage down the drain. The camera might work several tries in a row, but when that "disk error" happens, whatever is on the disk at that point is nearly unrecoverable.

Maybe we have a lemon, and maybe we have a model they made before all the bugs were worked out of the design. The trouble we've had certainly biases the advice I'd give anyone about these cameras. That being said, if I had a Handy Cam that was still new in the box, I would take it back to the store and exchange it for a mini-DV tape machine without the slightest hesitation.

H. C.

quote:

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Originally posted by Saeed:
...BUT, if you intend to use it for hunting work, pick a camera that will allow you to use manual focus, as the auto-focus plays havoc in the bush...

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I checked. Our GS-15 allows manual focussing. Thanks, that will probably save me a headache when I take it outdoors.

H. C.

I've got one of the first "ZR" series, the ZR45. If you go to the Defenshield web-site, (defenshield.com) all of the video there was shot with that camera. Even more impressive is the fact that all of the action stills are video captures from that camera. I'd buy this camera again and again, no buyers remorse at all.