Digital Video Camera - which one?
14 January 2002, 10:15 AM
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Chaps,
I'm looking to buy a new Digital Video Camera. The features I must have are:
DV in / DV out (Firewire)
Analouge In (for external camera)
The rest is not that important to me. I'm looking at the Sony DCRPC120 which has these features plus 8MB Memory Stick for still pics, USB for pics transfer, Bluetooth, Infra red camera, Large LCD screen, 120x zoom (20x optical), 80 mins (in use) battery life.....
Anybody got any recommendations either way (good/bad)?
Cheers,
Matt.
I'm looking to buy a new Digital Video Camera. The features I must have are:
DV in / DV out (Firewire)
Analouge In (for external camera)
The rest is not that important to me. I'm looking at the Sony DCRPC120 which has these features plus 8MB Memory Stick for still pics, USB for pics transfer, Bluetooth, Infra red camera, Large LCD screen, 120x zoom (20x optical), 80 mins (in use) battery life.....
Anybody got any recommendations either way (good/bad)?
Cheers,
Matt.
14 January 2002, 02:50 PM
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Matt
If you're going to be making videos of yourself make sure you get one with a super double strength ultra tough lens, you don't wanna go cracking it do you???
Sal
[Edited by scoobychick - 1/14/2002 2:51:35 PM]
If you're going to be making videos of yourself make sure you get one with a super double strength ultra tough lens, you don't wanna go cracking it do you???
Sal
[Edited by scoobychick - 1/14/2002 2:51:35 PM]
14 January 2002, 04:03 PM
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Further to that, it looks like I can get the Sony for stupid money but without the software. Anybody know where I can buy/beg/borrow or steal ( ) the software that comes with it? (I presume that the software in question is the USB stuff for downloading pics).
Anyone?
Matt
) the software that comes with it? (I presume that the software in question is the USB stuff for downloading pics).Anyone?
Matt
14 January 2002, 06:46 PM
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Does anyone know about the file format of the Sony IP7?
It doesn't appear to do DV in/out, but rather it uses MPEG2 in/out. Does this mean that it compresses the video for transfer, and if so do you lose any quality (especially over multiple copies - i.e is it a lossy algorithm?)?
Cheers,
mb
It doesn't appear to do DV in/out, but rather it uses MPEG2 in/out. Does this mean that it compresses the video for transfer, and if so do you lose any quality (especially over multiple copies - i.e is it a lossy algorithm?)?
Cheers,
mb
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14 January 2002, 07:31 PM
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Having spent the last 48 hours trying to secure a decent camera, i bought the Panasonic NV-DS38, it has DV In/Out and Analogue In (For the Pencil camera and microphone from RF Concepts).
It comes with software and well its good enough for me, compared it to the old Hi 8, what a differnce.
Oly had the camera for 1 day, but very happy.
I had a nightmare trying to find one under a Grand with AV In.
Hope that helps, sorry i am no techie, so don't ask any tricky questions.
It comes with software and well its good enough for me, compared it to the old Hi 8, what a differnce.
Oly had the camera for 1 day, but very happy.
I had a nightmare trying to find one under a Grand with AV In.
Hope that helps, sorry i am no techie, so don't ask any tricky questions.
14 January 2002, 09:45 PM
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Matt,
Have you had a look at the Canon MV4iMC? I got one for Christmas.
I am new to video, but it seems the business to me. Digital in/out, Firewire. Analogue in. S-VHS out. 40x zoom.
You get a Firewire card for your PC if you need it + software. If you have a newish Apple you won't. Just connect to Firewire port and I-movie does the rest.
Also it's tiny! It weighs just 390 grams. Check out the specs on the Canon website.
Have you had a look at the Canon MV4iMC? I got one for Christmas.
I am new to video, but it seems the business to me. Digital in/out, Firewire. Analogue in. S-VHS out. 40x zoom.
You get a Firewire card for your PC if you need it + software. If you have a newish Apple you won't. Just connect to Firewire port and I-movie does the rest.
Also it's tiny! It weighs just 390 grams. Check out the specs on the Canon website.
15 January 2002, 02:02 PM
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Thanks for the replies guys but it looks like I'm gonna go with the Sony due to the superb price I can get it for....
Anyone know where I can get the USB Software that (usually) comes with it???
Matt
Anyone know where I can get the USB Software that (usually) comes with it???
Matt
15 January 2002, 03:59 PM
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PC world do it for 60 quid with a cable. If you have some sort of video management software you can probably download appropriate codecs from Sony or the software mfctr. I'm not sure that USB is as good as firewire though. Someone will probably prove me wrong now
16 January 2002, 01:57 PM
#13
Windows XP works fine with the Sony, assuming you've got the lead.
I have a PC110 and you can only download video/stills from the memory stick via the USB port. If you want to download video from tape then you will probably need a firewire card to do this. USB isnt fast enough to support full video download. Again Windows XP will allow you to download the Video but you will need some video editing software to put it back onto tape again.
If you cant get hold of Windows XP then you can download the USB driver from Sony's web site.
Regards
Paul
[Edited by paulmon - 1/16/2002 1:58:48 PM]
I have a PC110 and you can only download video/stills from the memory stick via the USB port. If you want to download video from tape then you will probably need a firewire card to do this. USB isnt fast enough to support full video download. Again Windows XP will allow you to download the Video but you will need some video editing software to put it back onto tape again.
If you cant get hold of Windows XP then you can download the USB driver from Sony's web site.
Regards
Paul
[Edited by paulmon - 1/16/2002 1:58:48 PM]
16 January 2002, 02:03 PM
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Thanks Paul,
I had a dig around Sony's website yesterday and could find the download - do you have the URL?
I've decided that I'm going to get the PC120 from the US (European model (PAL) with Pan-European warranty ) and buy the software (and USB lead if required) here from Sony Spares (£50 for each). Total saving, about £800 
(the phrase, Rip Of Britain springs to mind )
I figured that the software I'm talking about is just an imaging software package for downloading the pics and Mpeg2 Movie clips via USB from the Memory Stick. The Firewire stuff is done by a 3rd party piece of software which I will get with a Firewire card (when I buy one).
Thanks for the help,
Matt
I had a dig around Sony's website yesterday and could find the download - do you have the URL?
I've decided that I'm going to get the PC120 from the US (European model (PAL) with Pan-European warranty
) and buy the software (and USB lead if required) here from Sony Spares (£50 for each). Total saving, about £800 (the phrase, Rip Of Britain springs to mind )I figured that the software I'm talking about is just an imaging software package for downloading the pics and Mpeg2 Movie clips via USB from the Memory Stick. The Firewire stuff is done by a 3rd party piece of software which I will get with a Firewire card (when I buy one).
Thanks for the help,
Matt
16 January 2002, 02:11 PM
#15
The USB Driver can be found here.
https://registration.sonystyle-europe.com/DimeSupport/upload/sony_usb.zip
This driver is listed as the driver for the PC110 but I assume that it will work with the PC120 as there is very little difference between the two.
Once installed you will see the memory stick as a removable drive in Windows Explorer. You then just copy the files to your hard drive.
Although I would recommend upgrading to Windows XP. It will make life so much easier when you decide you want to edit the video from tape.
Cheers
Paul
[Edited by paulmon - 1/16/2002 2:12:43 PM]
https://registration.sonystyle-europe.com/DimeSupport/upload/sony_usb.zip
This driver is listed as the driver for the PC110 but I assume that it will work with the PC120 as there is very little difference between the two.
Once installed you will see the memory stick as a removable drive in Windows Explorer. You then just copy the files to your hard drive.
Although I would recommend upgrading to Windows XP. It will make life so much easier when you decide you want to edit the video from tape.
Cheers
Paul
[Edited by paulmon - 1/16/2002 2:12:43 PM]
16 January 2002, 02:14 PM
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Paul,
Thanks for that. I don't plan on going XP as my Win2K build is tip top and everything that I want to do works well, reliably and fast. A lot of stuff I have doesn't work properly on XP so I'll give it a miss (and I object to having to give Microsoft my machine details to activate the O/S too [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] )
Cheers,
Matt
Thanks for that. I don't plan on going XP as my Win2K build is tip top and everything that I want to do works well, reliably and fast. A lot of stuff I have doesn't work properly on XP so I'll give it a miss (and I object to having to give Microsoft my machine details to activate the O/S too [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] )
Cheers,
Matt
16 January 2002, 02:29 PM
#17
Matt,
One thing I will say is that I regret buying the PC110 because of the ability to take stills. I wish I had bought dedicated DV camera for about £900 and then spent the £500 difference on a dedicated stills camera. I do find that I take more stills than video and the quality can be a bit average at times.
Paul
One thing I will say is that I regret buying the PC110 because of the ability to take stills. I wish I had bought dedicated DV camera for about £900 and then spent the £500 difference on a dedicated stills camera. I do find that I take more stills than video and the quality can be a bit average at times.
Paul
16 January 2002, 02:32 PM
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I'm not buying it for the stills capability (and I've already got a Digital Camera for that) but for the Video. It looks like I can pick this up for $799 (about £560 at the moment (UK retail £1300-1400)) which is an absolute steal!!!!!
The stills is really just an added bonus. What will be interesing is how good/usable the Bluetooth capability is going to be....
Matt
The stills is really just an added bonus. What will be interesing is how good/usable the Bluetooth capability is going to be....
Matt
16 January 2002, 02:50 PM
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A friend of mine (who works in the same office as me) is currently over at HQ in the US. He knows a shop in New York who are selling the UK/PAL model for $799 (with Pan-Euro warranty). He's gonna bring one back for me and I'll purchase the software from Sony Spares.
Having said that, it looks like I'm off the New York for a couple of days next week now so I could get it myself
Matt
Having said that, it looks like I'm off the New York for a couple of days next week now so I could get it myself
Matt
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