Q. I'm starting out so this would be my first camcorder I have ever used.
A. Hi "Bittercold":
Since you already asked twice last month about miniDV camcorders, I won't repeat any of the other Y!A pros' advice on that subject. I will, however, point you back to fellow Contributor "L's" Answer to you regarding the AVCHD format issues that the Canon XA10 records all its files in: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmxPdh4o1WYVv83bjYM0h6Xsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20120324030021AAL8XNH
If you are interested in "filmmaking", then you are going to have to plan for editing, and AVCHD's lossy compression codec isn't the best for frame-accurate edits.
If you've never done any camcorder shooting at all, you might be better served starting out with something used from a good camera store or pawn shop, and making sure some of your budget money goes into the extra RAM & fast hard drives (among other things) that editing HD footage will require. Try a $250-$500 test run, before you go spending almost 2-grand.
Feel free to update us with what kind of stuff you plan to shoot, for better feedback. It makes a difference:
When I get hired by Coach Schuman or one of the other Yahoo!Sports' "Rivals 100" coaches to videotape a football event, they expect me to bring a miniDV format camcorder, not a flash-card AVCHD or H.264 unit, no matter how expensive. And small-is-good with run & gun sports shooting, so I use a Canon ZR-series or Panasonic GS-80 (both under $700), rather than my $3000 Sony Z1U. We shoot everything in 4:3 Standard Def, since that's what the editor, the other coaches, and all the other shooters work in. And the low-compression DV codecs make for good action footage and easy edits.
The Canon XA10 has pro-audio features, good Canon glass optics, dual SD slots, etc., but I can't say if it's the best deal for you.
hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
Since you already asked twice last month about miniDV camcorders, I won't repeat any of the other Y!A pros' advice on that subject. I will, however, point you back to fellow Contributor "L's" Answer to you regarding the AVCHD format issues that the Canon XA10 records all its files in: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmxPdh4o1WYVv83bjYM0h6Xsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20120324030021AAL8XNH
If you are interested in "filmmaking", then you are going to have to plan for editing, and AVCHD's lossy compression codec isn't the best for frame-accurate edits.
If you've never done any camcorder shooting at all, you might be better served starting out with something used from a good camera store or pawn shop, and making sure some of your budget money goes into the extra RAM & fast hard drives (among other things) that editing HD footage will require. Try a $250-$500 test run, before you go spending almost 2-grand.
Feel free to update us with what kind of stuff you plan to shoot, for better feedback. It makes a difference:
When I get hired by Coach Schuman or one of the other Yahoo!Sports' "Rivals 100" coaches to videotape a football event, they expect me to bring a miniDV format camcorder, not a flash-card AVCHD or H.264 unit, no matter how expensive. And small-is-good with run & gun sports shooting, so I use a Canon ZR-series or Panasonic GS-80 (both under $700), rather than my $3000 Sony Z1U. We shoot everything in 4:3 Standard Def, since that's what the editor, the other coaches, and all the other shooters work in. And the low-compression DV codecs make for good action footage and easy edits.
The Canon XA10 has pro-audio features, good Canon glass optics, dual SD slots, etc., but I can't say if it's the best deal for you.
hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
I want to buy a camcorder that is compatible with mac?
Q. I just had my son and want to record a whole bunch of stuff, but dont have a camera. I am researching what is the best bang for the buck and making sure it is compatible with mac. someone told me jvc wasnt. and that cannon was the best, but its expensive. Sonny and panasonic are in my price range of under 500. I want one with a hard drive.
A. Pretty much all camcorders are compatible with all computers - but some need different tools - hardware and software...
Since you didn't tell us which Mac...
MiniDV tape based camcorders continue to provide the best available video quality - this is because DV (and HDV) use a lot less compression when writing the digital video stream to the digital tape. Connecting an Apple Macintosh and miniDV tape based camcorder requires a 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable to connect the camcorder's DV port to the Mac's Firewire 400 port. All Macs made in about the last ten years have a standard firewire 400 port. iMovie and iMovie HD will import the video. The only exceptio nto the firewire rule for Macs is the MacBook Air - no firewire port...
Hard Disc Drive (HDD) and flash memory camcorders use the same compression methods - a lot more than miniDV - so HDD and flash memory video quality is not as good as miniDV. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad (DVD based camcorders ARE bad), but just not quite as good. For the most part, if your Mac is new, you connect the computer and camcorder with USB, copy the files from the camcorder to the computer and convert the video files - then iMovie can use the file. You may need to download and install StreamClip to do the conversion - it is available from apple.com's downloads area.
I don't recommend HDD camcorders for three reasons:
1) They cannot handle vibrations. This can be loud audio from a band, big crown noise or a motor (or jet engine, race cars). The hard drive heads will park and not record in an effort to protect the platters.
2) They do not do well in high altitude (anything over about (,700 feet). Since I don't know where you live or want to take video (skiing in the mountains?), I don't know if this matters.
3) When you drop/break the camera, how do you get the video off the hard drive? With miniDV tape or flash memory, you can typically take the media out and use another camera... with a HDD camcorder, you will need to work with a data recovery service like DriveSavers... open your wallet...
The Canon FS10 and FS100. They have a mic jack... so do the Canon ZR900 and ZR930. And I have no particular affinity for Canon, I use a Sony HDR-HC1 and HDR-FX1. But for "best bang for the buck", the Canon flash camcorders are probably it... in your stated price range.
Since you didn't tell us which Mac...
MiniDV tape based camcorders continue to provide the best available video quality - this is because DV (and HDV) use a lot less compression when writing the digital video stream to the digital tape. Connecting an Apple Macintosh and miniDV tape based camcorder requires a 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable to connect the camcorder's DV port to the Mac's Firewire 400 port. All Macs made in about the last ten years have a standard firewire 400 port. iMovie and iMovie HD will import the video. The only exceptio nto the firewire rule for Macs is the MacBook Air - no firewire port...
Hard Disc Drive (HDD) and flash memory camcorders use the same compression methods - a lot more than miniDV - so HDD and flash memory video quality is not as good as miniDV. Don't get me wrong, it is not bad (DVD based camcorders ARE bad), but just not quite as good. For the most part, if your Mac is new, you connect the computer and camcorder with USB, copy the files from the camcorder to the computer and convert the video files - then iMovie can use the file. You may need to download and install StreamClip to do the conversion - it is available from apple.com's downloads area.
I don't recommend HDD camcorders for three reasons:
1) They cannot handle vibrations. This can be loud audio from a band, big crown noise or a motor (or jet engine, race cars). The hard drive heads will park and not record in an effort to protect the platters.
2) They do not do well in high altitude (anything over about (,700 feet). Since I don't know where you live or want to take video (skiing in the mountains?), I don't know if this matters.
3) When you drop/break the camera, how do you get the video off the hard drive? With miniDV tape or flash memory, you can typically take the media out and use another camera... with a HDD camcorder, you will need to work with a data recovery service like DriveSavers... open your wallet...
The Canon FS10 and FS100. They have a mic jack... so do the Canon ZR900 and ZR930. And I have no particular affinity for Canon, I use a Sony HDR-HC1 and HDR-FX1. But for "best bang for the buck", the Canon flash camcorders are probably it... in your stated price range.
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