What camcorder takes the best video in the dark?

Q. I am trying to find a camcorder to buy for ghost hunting which requires being in the dark... What camera is the best quality dark shot?

A. Hi C!
I think its cool you're ghost hunting. It's been a passion of mine for the past 2 years. I work in an old school building that some suspect is haunted. I have taken some interesting video footage there and submitted it to some ghost video sites.
To get back to your question, I use the JVC GZ-HD300A Everio 60GB Hard Drive Camcorder. I've used other inferior cameras which are fine in the daylight but this cam has the best twilight and night mode out there.
Believe me, I know how it feels to miss a chance at filming something amazing because I don't have the right camera. You can find this camcorder at http://offto.net/onsalecom/ for a very competitive price.
Just search "camcorders" and click "JVC"
I got it from their site after shopping around. They shipped it quick and reliably and their customer service is excellent.
Good luck, and drop me a line and let me know if you catch anything paranormal on film.

All the best, Jimmy

Original Question

What is the best camcorder to record a basic training graduation?

Q. My mom wants to purchase a new camcorder to use at my basic training graduation for the Air Force. I am ashamed to admit, I dont know a thing about camcorders. I did some researched and talked to a few people who recently purchased a camcorder and I'm still very fuzzy. Does anyone have any suggestions? Specific brand and model? Maybe, a general rule of thumb or ruleS of thumb for purchasing a GOOD quality camcorder.

A. Basic training for camcorder purchase: There are two categories of camcorders STANDARD definition and and HIGH Definition. There are 4 recording formats for camcorders. 1) MiniDV tape 2) DVD 3)Hard Disk Drive or HDD and 4) Flash Drive.

Note as of February 2009, High Definition is the rule, standard broadcast TV will no longer exist, you will need to aquire a converter box just to watch regular broadcast television such as Oprah or whatever. So, eventually you will get an HD television. So, do you really want to purchase Standard Definition camcorder? Prices range $200 - $600.

MiniDV tape requires you to dub from camcorder to TV or computer via hookup to watch. 60 minute recording tapes.

DVD records only 30 minutes per side or disk. MUST finalize disk on camcorder BEFORE you can view on DVD player. No cables, but necessary to purchase new media all the time. $400 - $600 Standard...$700+ for HD.

HDD or Hard Disk Drive camcorders have 20 - 120 GB of internal memory, thats 6 hours to 40 hours of video time. But, you must download to computer to burn DVD/CD or purchase a separate DVD burner to archieve your videos off of HDD camcorder. $450 - $550 Standard...$850+ for HD.

Flash Drive camcorders are currently Canon, Sony or Samsung. These have some internal and primarily external removable memory such as Secure Disk memory card or Sony Memory Stick. These units are strickly playback or USB download to computer to burn a cd/DVD disk. $800+.

Note: Sony Blueray for High Definition is the winner of the format war for HD. All burners will be for Blue Ray recording.

ps...better have an updated computer to handle the RAM for video burning or DVR recording to at least archieve your videos.

Recommend Sony SR10 HDD. Sony has it all from lens to living room system.

Congrats on USAF boot camp completion. Fly High!

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What video format does this camcorder record in?

Q. What video format does the Polaroid DVC-00725F HD camcorder record in? I'm thinking of getting one, but first I need to know what format it records in.

A. Looks like it captures directly to AVI format - one of the reviewers at Amazon listed that.

More reviews at CNET:
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/polaroid-dvc-00725f/4505-6500_7-33503413.html

Original Question

What type of Camcorder format should I buy?

Q. I want to buy a Camcorder for my own personal use, but I want to also use it for video recording at my church. I want to know Which video format (such as, MiniDV, Digital8, Mini-DVD, Built-in hard drive, or Memory cards) is best for Burning the recording on to a DVD.

A. The previous answer gives great advice, but I have to disagree. Through my experience, miniDV is by far the best. I would consider going with hard drive camcorders, but miniDVD or memory card camcorders aren't even worth your time. MiniDV beats out hard drive for several reasons:
1) Better Picture quality: All consumer cameras compress. So its not a matter of whether they compress, but how much. When shooting in HD, I have found that Hard Drive, DVD, and memory card cameras compress A LOT more than miniDV.
2) Compatibility: MiniDV camcorders are compatible with virtually every editing program out there, including professional programs such as Avid Media Compser, Final Cut Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro, as well as the crappy default programs like iMovie and Windows Movie Maker. Hard Drive camcorders offer several options such as Sony Vegas, Final Cut Express, and a few others, but not nearly as much. DVD camcorders are very limited. Either put up with the software that the camera comes with, or purchase the decent, yet not impressive program, Ulead Video Studio. I don't know about flash drive cameras, but that's because I never bothered to look into them.
3) Storage: MiniDV offers much easier, cheaper, and more reliable storage than Hard Drive cameras. First of all, miniDV camcorders record to cheap, 2$ miniDv cassettes, meaning you could archive your original footage forever. With Hard Drive cameras, once the hard drive is full, you have to capture the footage into the computer, then delete it from the camera before recording more. Of course, you could store the originial footage onto hard drives, but that's still more time consuming and not as reliable: hard drives can crash!

Regarding your second question, if you want to edit your footage, then burn to DVD, don't get a DVD camcorder. They are the hardest to edit. Also they are a totally different file type. In order to convert it to the standard .avi file that can be burned to DVD, you'll need to rip the encoded files from the DVD to the computer then re-export as an .avi file. Either miniDV or Hard Drive camcorders would be fine for DVD burning...I still like miniDV better though.

Well, I hope that helps....and I apologize if I sounded a bit biased (but it's true, miniDV owns!). So have fun and best of luck!
....oh and btw: most professional cameras use miniDV, apart from the expensive solid state cameras such as the Panasonic HVX200 and PMW-EX1, which utilize even more professional formats, but that's an entirely different story.

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Where can i buy a cheap camcorder?

Q. I want to get a camcorder very cheap for £30-£50 were can i get one

A. You can buy it from http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26rs%3D560798%26high-price%3D50%26x%3D11%26ref%255F%3Dsr%255Fnr%255Fp%255F36%255Fpr%26keywords%3Dcamcorder%26low-price%3D30%26y%3D10%26qid%3D1242967706%26rh%3Di%253Aaps%252Ck%253Acamcorder%252Ci%253Aelectronics%252Cn%253A560798%252Cn%253A%2521560800&tag=new-deals-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=19450

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where can i buy a cord to transfer my videos from camcorder to mac computer? ?

Q. this is my first time transfering videos into computer and i lost the cord to transfer it i think called USB cord so where do i buy another one?

A. You can buy a camcorder usb cable from
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=camcorder%20usb%20cable&tag=new-deals-20&index=photo&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=camcorder%20usb%20cable&tag=new-deals-21&index=electronics-uk&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=6738

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Anyone no of a great professional camcorder?

Q. I am starting video production and am wondering what equiptment is the best to buy, at an affordable price. I guess I am wanting a professional camcorder at a budgeter's price.

A. Great question. Here are my top picks for the best professional camcorder. I have taken price into consideration. If you want HD:

1) Red Scarlet (coming soon, 2009) $3,000
2) Sony PMW-EX1 $6,000
3) JVC GY-HD200U $5,500
4) Panasonic AG-HVX200 $5,000
5) Canon XH-A1 $3,300

RED SCARLET: Many are skeptical about the Red Scarlet as it is a relatively unknown brand, but I believe it is the best professional camcorder under $10,000. No contest. With a traditional camcorder, like that made by Sony, Canon, etc, you'll be lucky if you get one that records in true HD. That is, most camcorders do NOT record in true 1920 x 1080 resolution, apart from the Sony PWM-EX1, as listed above. The Red Scarlet however, records footage in 3K, that is about 150% of the resolution of 1920 x 1080 HD. All that for $3,000. I don't know how well the Scarlet will perform when it is released in 2009 as far as color reproduction, cinematic look, audio capabilities, and manual controls, but I do know that it gives you better resolution than any camera I know of under $20,000. Therefore, the Red Scarlet is definately worth looking into. 3K footage for under $3K is a total steal!
______________
SONY PMW-EX1: It is a relatively new camcorder that records to tapeless media the SxS cards. The EX1 has better resolution that its Canon, Panasonic and JVC competitors, as the XDCAM cards do NOT compress nearly as much as HDV. Another huge advantage is that it has 3 CMOS chips that are 1/2" each, as opposed to 1/3" or smaller chips found on every other camera under $10,000. The larger image sensor gives your picture a much narrower depth of field, which is great for budding filmmakers, wanting that look of celluloid film. The only setback is that the EX1's media format, the SxS XDCAM media cards only record about 25 minutes of high quality footage on the supplied card, and purchasing additional cards is very expensive.
_______________
JVC HD200U
The HD200U is no Sony, Panasonic, or Canon, but it is an excellent camera nonetheless. Some pro reviews have said that the earlier model, the HD110U was the second best camera as far as picture quality in the prosumer level, next to the Canon XL-H1, which is $8,000. I really like the HD110 and HD200 as it is the only prosumer HD camera, apart from the XL-H1 with interchangeable lenses, rather than a built in lens. The only problem is that the HD200U does not record HD in 1080p or 1080i, but instead, it only has a lower-resolution 720p mode. To me, this isn't all that bad, as I prefer 720p at 60fps over 1080p at 30fps; it blurs much less, but you'll have to make the decision. Numerous independant films have been shot on the JVC HD110 and HD200, so its an excellent camera!

_______________
Panasonic HVX200: The HVX200 is a great inexpensive choice for the indie filmmaker. It has excellent picture quality and an excellent 24p mode. Another huge upside is that it records to both HDV OR P2 cards, so its really convenient. However, it does not have quite as good picture quality as the Sony EX1, nor does it have interchangeable lenses like the JVC HD200. It's an excellent, well-rounded HD camera nonetheless. I found it works excellent with the Redrock M2 35mm adapters though.
____________
Canon XH-A1: The XH-A1 is rated as one of the best cameras out there for its combination of quality and value for your money. I agree. It's a nice, well rounded camera; relatively easy to use (compared to the others at least) and is packed with loads of features, making it an excellent value. My only problem is that it does not have a 720p mode. It also lacks a real 24p mode, and instead has what Canon calls a 24f mode. According to Canon, the 2 are identical, but I really don't know.

For standard definition, which is still a great option, as HD is still new and expensive:
1) Panasonic AG-DVX100B $2,500
2) Canon XL2 $3,000
3) Sony DSR-PD170 $2,500

I really can't decide whether I like the DVX100B or the XL2 better. I'm leaning towads the DVX100B as a better overall camera (and its very user friendly), but then again, the XL2 has interchangeable lenses. Both can record in 24p, which is a great option. The PD170 is a total low-light wonder, is easy to use, but does not have a 24p mode.

If this is still not what you had in mind for a budget, here are some decent consumer HD cameras:
1) Sony HDR-HC3 and HDR-HC9
2) Canon HV20 and HV30

both are HDV. I highly recommend it. I can't stand mini DVD or flash media. HDV is also considerably better than Hard Disk camera; they don't compress your footage quite as much.


Hope that helps, and I apologize if that's still not what you had in mind. Well good luck, and have fun!!!

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What kind of microphone and sound equipment would you recommend to use to make a movie?

Q. I'm going to make a youtube video, and all I have is a Kodak Playsport camcorder, but nothing else, what kind of microphone and sound equipment would I need to do this??
P.S. I wanna make a video kindof like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR5PXn-wS1c&feature=channel&list=UL

A. If you want a good HD camera within a decent price range. Check on the Kodak Zi8. I have that one and it does beautifully. You can change between 1080p, 720p 60FPS, 720p 30FPS, and SD videos. It even has 5.1MP stills, but I don't use that. The best thing about it is the external mic jack, which allows you to use a better microphone, which Flip cameras do not have. As well as an SD card slot, which allows countless hours of recording.

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What are the differences between the 3 HD flip cameras?

Q. Hey guys, I am interested in buying a new camera/camcorder when I stumbled across the Hd flip cameras.
I was wondering what were the differences between the MinoHD 3, the Ultra HD3, and the SlideHD. Also which one is the best out of all, and where I can buy them.
Can you please tell me their resolution, other features, and such. Thanks!

A. http://mashable.com/2011/04/12/rip-flip-camera/

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Best portable Handycam and Digital camera ?

Q. I am planning to buy a small tiny camcorder/digital camera which has 1080P recording.

If it has some built in flash card storage which can do around 5+ recording it will be great.

Any suggestions and model numbers are appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Can any of the current 4G cell phone does that ?

A. The GE DV1-GG Waterproof and Shockproof 1080P Pocket Video Camera has a Christmas bonus discount now of 35%, making it sell for under $85. You read that right: UNDER $85

It has won awards in every show it has been entered into, such as
WINNER: Digital Movie Awards,
WON the Silver Award at the 2011 Summer Digital Camera Grand Prix,
WON the Plus X award in Germany
Highly commended from GadgetSpeak.
Color: Graphite Grey
Just some of the best features are:
1080P Digital Video Camera
2.5 Inch auto brightness LCD screen
SD slot for SD/SDHC cards up to 32GB
Shockproof
Waterproof up to five meters
Built-in USB for easy transfer
66 owners have rated it 4 stars from 5.

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What is the best standard def camcorder for under $500?

Q. Right now, I don't have any standard definition screens. Therefore, I don't need an hd camcorder right now. What is the best standard def camcorder for my price level? I have a fast laptop for video editing. My main concern is video quality and reliability. What would you recommend? I will use it for everything (recording indoors and outdoors, both day and night).
Are you positive that those are the best standard def cameras in my price range?

A. Canon ZR900, ZR930.

No consumer camcorder (less than $2,000) does well in low light.

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What is the best camcorder in the $500 price range?

Q. I just bought a Panasonic SDR-H60 camcorder and the image is really bad. It's pixelated and soft when I play it on my widescreen tv. In fact it's worse than the VHS camcorders which offer a wet/crisp looking image.

Is there a camcorder in the $500 price range that looks clean and crisp on a flat screen and isn't all soft and pixelated?

A. I suggest Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder.It captures videos at 1920x1080 for true 1080i display.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00114162K?ie=UTF8&tag=ad107-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00114162K

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What is a good inexpensive camcorder for independent filmmakers?

Q. I'm looking for a camcorder to buy, something that will not give me the whole 'home movie' effect and feel to it. I will also need a tripod so it won't be shakey and all that but could you just tell me some good inexpensive camcorders that will give me what i'm looking for. I don't know much about camcorders and lenses but i'm looking into it. If anyone can help me with brands and prices of camcorders to look into I will be very thankful.

-M

A. By "something that will not give me the whole 'home movie' effect and feel," I think your talking about the film-look. It can be replicated, through either software or in-camera. However, both these options are pretty expensive, and it doesn't sound like you have that much money right now. I'll get to that later, but for now I'm going to talk about cameras.

I dont know your budget, but from what you said, Im guessing you want a camera probably $800 or below (correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll re write this). In that price range, I cant recommend any particular camera, but follow these rules and you should have a pretty good beginner filmmaking camera:

1. Get miniDV- pretty obvious isn't it?
2. Look for a lot of manual functions- every cam has auto functions, but look for the ability to switch to manual focus, iris, shutter, etc.
3. 3ccds are better than 1
4. The newest isnt always the greatest- not really a rule but basically dont go and get the newest thing that just came out

Other plusses are mic ports, headphone ports, hot shoes, and optical image stabilizer.

If you get a tripod, get one with a fluid head. I'm not recommending a particular one, but look around on google. To tell you the truth, Im not exactly a pro on tripods. But a useful trick that you can do with your tripod is screw on your camera, and instead of opening up the legs, hold the legs together and walk with it. If you do it right, the tripod will absorb the shake from your hands giving you a very cheap steadicam effect.

I hope this helped, and I'm a filmmaker as well, and I always like meeting other filmmakers so feel free to contact me at evilgenius4930@yahoo.com

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Is it safe to record what is on a television screen with a camcorder?

Q. For example, I record video of the television screen, which is about 30 to 50 inches, using the camcorder. I am playing video games on the television screen, so I am trying to record the gameplay from a camcorder.I would like to know if excessive recording like this would hurt the camcorder's lenses in any way. Thank you!

A. Not a tv won't hurt the cam corder..however.. a microwave would...stay away from those things.
but there are cords and a program that you can purchase to hook your game system up straight to your computer and you can edit it together. the cam corder will make all the colors off and you'll see a lot of extra lines. Plus there will be a lot of shaking obviously.

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What kind of microphone and sound equipment would you recommend to use to make a movie?

Q. I'm going to make a youtube video, and all I have is a Kodak Playsport camcorder, but nothing else, what kind of microphone and sound equipment would I need to do this??
P.S. I wanna make a video kindof like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR5PXn-wS1c&feature=channel&list=UL

A. If you want a good HD camera within a decent price range. Check on the Kodak Zi8. I have that one and it does beautifully. You can change between 1080p, 720p 60FPS, 720p 30FPS, and SD videos. It even has 5.1MP stills, but I don't use that. The best thing about it is the external mic jack, which allows you to use a better microphone, which Flip cameras do not have. As well as an SD card slot, which allows countless hours of recording.

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Why are cameras / camcorders waterproof to certain depth?

Q. This just came up in my mind, How come cameras / camcorders are waterproof only to a certain depth. Like the kodak playsport, it says it's waterproof only down to 10 feet or something. What happens if you go lower?

A. As you go deeper, the water pressure increases. The seals designed to keep the water out of the inside of the camera/camcorder are not designed to handle the pressure.

When you get to about 10 feet, your ears can feel the effects of that pressure.

The underwater camera or camcorder housings that are made for 100+ feet depth will typically cost more than the camera they are protecting... The deeper the housing is rated, the more challenging it is to engineer and make and the more expensive it is.

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should i buy a DSLR camers and a camcorder in india or thailand or malyasia or singapore?

Q. I am for a vacation to thailand,malaysia and singapore. I want to buy a a DSLR camers and a camcorder. I need advice that should i buy them in india or from the above mentioned countries. International warranty must be there.
thanks
vip
Pls specify the possible price differnce in the items and the cons of buying from there

A. I do not know about shopping in Thailand but comparing Singapore and Malaysia, the prices will be lower in Malaysia. This is because Singapore charges a 7% GST on all items. Of course, as a tourist, you can get refund when you exit. If you do not mind filling up the forms for the GST refunds, then Singapore and Malaysia's prices will be comparable.

Having said that, you have to do your homework on what the price of the camera is.Buy only from reputable stores. You may not get the best price but it will save you from been taken for a ride. As international warranty is important to you, state this upfront.

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Does canon camcorder comes with default 1 year international warranty?

Q. Hi, I am going to purchase a Canon HV40 from B&H USA. I am getting it shipped in India. Though the product comes with 1 year default manufacturer warranty, Does it also cover International coverage? That means Canon India will repair it under warranty even though i bought it from canon USA?

A. I know SONY does but not sure about Canon, your only problem is that you are getting a camera that is NTSC, and not PAL. all the parts that are carried in India will be PAL. So if there is a problem you may either have to send it to the USA for repair or the company that is going to repair it will have to order the parts, and this could take some time.

The actual video will not be a problem as your computer will not care what format its in, and you can change it when you come to render it.

It probably wont hurt to contact Canon and talk to them direct.


RR

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Whats the best cheap yet good camcorder to use for Youtube???

Q. Hi i'm starting to make a lot of YouTube videos and it's been alright for like the first year but now I wanna take it to the next level with my camera quality. Right now i've been using my webcam because my IPhone camera broke and so I needed to use something for my YouTube videos. I think I saved up enough to get me a okay camera but it can't be in like the hundreds...I just need something that is good enough to entertain my YouTubers. I want something that has HD quality and has a mic included into it. I want probably a handycam for it and if you can please have a camcorder that is in like Best Buy or Walmart. That would really help. My time is limited so please help me as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your time. ~Sanyika~

A. Most digital cameras take video and a camera like the Fujii finepix would be great for youtube videos , it records in HD and also takes some great stills and the older models from last year and the 2013 models will be sold on black Friday for good prices probably , maybe in the $150 range which is a bargain

If you don't want to wait until then best buy has some good deals on sony , jvc and canon camcorders now , some are nearly half price . check their website and sort by price .

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Black Friday HD camcorder deals?

Q. Anyone know of any good HD camcorder deals that will be going on Black Friday? If yes, where?

A. I don't know about any specific stores that will carry a special deal for a camcorder, but you're welcome to check yourself here - http://www.theblackfriday.com/ This site provides all incoming Black Friday deals as they're revealed, so you can search by item or specifically by store.

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I have a dvd that doesn't work properly, should I get it fixed?

Q. I have a camcorder dvd and was faulty before I finialized it. I can send it to someone who says can fix it and do editing and put the readable scenes on a new dvd. This will cost some money of course. Should I do this or should / can I do this myself. I have tried to do it but it will not read the whole faulty disc. Any suggestions or should i just get it done by someone who knows how?

A. Try this first http://www.handbrake.fr/ this is a video converter. You might try this, it works for pictures, not sure about dvd videos, http://www.recuva.com and try a deep scan. These programs are free.

And just to make sure that you know how to download a minidvd,
If you have a mini dvd camcorder….
You will have to finalize your dvd in the camera and then put the dvd in your computer's DVD burner (top loading only) and then you will have to convert the files (I downloaded http://www.handbrake.fr/ file converter free) and import them into your editing program. Use the HELP feature in your editing program to learn about editing. Usually you would import your videos and drop them in to the timeline, add transitions, menus, music, etc. Once you are ready to burn, your project will be burned to a different DVD and you can file the original away.

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How do you lose the camcorder Icons when burning to DVD?

Q. I have a JVC GZ-MG37U camcorder. The DVD burner is a Sony. When I burn to DVD the Camcorder Icons are on the DVD. I would like to only see what I am trying to record. Thanks for any assistance.

A. That shouldn't be happening, try calling the camera peoples tech support.

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Can i still travel with Ocean Village once she has moved?

Q. I found out that Ocean Village was moving to australia. Not being funny, but it honestly did break my heart. All my treasured memories lie on that ship, i traveled with her 4 years ago with my family around the greek islands (Ocean Village One). Never had a better time in my life. ive missed it dearly ever since i had to get off and i promised myself i will visit her again, Then i found out she was going. Never cried so much in my life, and im a bloke. I met someone very Special on there, we shared a lot of memories. I have the holiday recorded on my dads camcorder, watch it all the time. I have pictures, its been 4 years and i still haven't gotten over it. I just hope to god we can still travel with her once she has moved to Australia, or she will come back to us, were she belongs.

A. She will be be called Pacific Pearl and will be part of P&O Cruises (Australia) so you will be able to travel on her on one or two week cruises out of Australia and New Zealand by booking via them. She is refitting in Singapore in November and December and will start cruising under her new flag from just before Christmas 2010.

Ocean Village 2 did the same this time last year and is now known as Pacific Jewel.

All details and booking info is available via the P&O (Australia) website on the link shown below.

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What phone should I get?

Q. I was looking for a verizaon phone with these qualities. They are all pretty important to me. Plus they are in order of importance.

-physical and/or virtual keyboard
-threaded text messaging
-navigation/gps
-good quality camera and video

thanks

A. I have used this product and it performs really well

Motorola DROID 2 Global Android Phone, White (Verizon Wireless)

Android 2.2-powered smartphone with 3.7-inch touchscreen, redesigned QWERTY keyboard, improved 1.2 GHz processor, and global roaming capabilities
Google mobile services including Google Maps with Navigation for voice prompted turn-by-turn directions; can be used as a 3G Mobile Hotspot
8 GB internal plus 8 GB preloaded microSD memory; Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking; Bluetooth stereo music; 5-megapixel camera/camcorder
Up to 8.33 hours of talk time, up to 230 hours (9+ days) of standby time; released in November, 2010

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Which camcorder will work better for now?

Q. I have a camcorder from 2008 and a camcorder from 2010, both work just as well. One has a scratch on the glass part of the lens and one has a hot pixel on the sensor, which would be better to use until I can afford a new camcorder? I can't afford a new one right now, or I wouldn't be asking.

A. Hot pixel

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I need help buying a camcorder and shotgun mic?

Q. I want to buy a good camcorder and shotgun mic. I don't know allot about them and i only have about $1300 to spend on them. So could someone tell me a good camcorder and shotgun mic to buy for under $1300.

Thank you.

A. You should buy this one

Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder - 2010 MODEL

Records up to 12 hours of crisp high definition video to a 32GB internal flash drive or directly to two

removable SD memory cards
Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
Canon 1/2.6" 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion

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Best filming camera to film movies?

Q. Hi! In 2015, some school mates and I are planning to shoot a remake of The Breakfast Club. It will be the 30 year anniversary and we are excited to start. Anyways, I am looking for a great filming camera for movies. I know it'll be pricey but I seem to get 0 help when I just google it. I also want to know how to make the footage have an 80s feel, quality wise. I will be using the camera that any of you suggest for a number of years and films to come, and I would also appreciate if you have any movie editing software? Thank you!

A. I am guessing you are looking to use some digital camera to film. If you are going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a professional movie camera, please ignore rest of my answer.

Most of us know that most compact cameras, or smart-phones like iPhones, are not good at video recording. If light is good, they do an okay job. When light is dull, they are almost unusable. Same is true for most consumer SLR cameras with kit lenses. So what do we do to take high quality High-Definition videos? Should we use an HD camcoder or a pocket camcorder like Sony Bloggie or UltraHD?

Most compact cameras don't do a good job in low light- for still images or for videos. If you zoom in, the shake becomes too obvious. Most DSLRs will do a little better as light level goes down but many of them will not auto focus during videos (because of the mirror which needs to be flipped for focusing). You can bypass this with a mirrorless camera which can auto focus, like Panasonic G or GF series but with Auto focus, you lose the control over which part of the frame, or on which person to focus on. If you have 3 persons in a frame, your Auto-Focus will not know which one you want to focus on. Why not? Silly, it is Auto-focus! It focuses by itself!! That is the reason you never see a professional movie or videos done with Autofocus.

Now read an article here which can give you nice tips:
http://photography-with-any-camera.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-recording-with-dslr-is-it-worth-it.html

Original Question

What is a good quality relatively cheap camcorder?

Q. My priorities are: hd video quality and hd sound

My maximum is 500 dollars

The quality is SUPER IMPORTANT. Thanks!

A. Hi Pink Glasses,

That's a lot to wish for with a budget like that. Luckily HD camcorders are not that
expensive anymore these days. For real good sound you should go for a cam with an
external mic. option but that will narrow down your possibilities budgetwise..
You can take a look here for 2013 budget camcorders :

http://www.reviewgist.com/best-camcorders?page=5&type=Budge

or here :

http://www.squidoo.com/best-camcorder-for-the-money

Another option is to look for a used semi-pro cam, like this one :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JVC-GY-HM100U-PRO-HD-MEMORY-CARD-CAMERA-RECORDER-USED-1-/231099765432?pt=Camcorders_Professional_Video_Cameras&hash=item35ce9e92b8

This may be a useful link for everybody who's planning to buy a camcorder :

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-fUxQUtV7Rnl/learn/learningcenter/home/camcorders_faq.html

I hope this is helpful to you,

Freetings, Lance.

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How do I transfer my internal memory on my camcorder, to the inserted SD card?

Q. The camcorder is a JVC model GZ-MG20U. If anyone could help me, it'd be greatly appreciated.

A. Check the user's manual from the JVC website:
http://books.jvc.com/booklist.asp?Model=GZ-MG20U

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Is it legal to have a camcorder running in my car to record my travels? I am in Massachusetts?

Q. I bought a new HD camcorder and windshield mount. I want to have it mounted and running while driving but do not know if it is legal. I bet it is but it's Massachusetts and everything here makes no sense so I figured I would ask.

A. If you REALLY want to know, contact your local or state Law Enforcement.

It is likely legal - but what may not be legal is how you mount the camcorder - If windshield mounted, that could block the driver's vision - and THAT would not be legal. It is not that there is a camcorder blocking the view, but that there is *something* in the windshield area that impedes the driver's vision.

Mount the camera in a different place so it is not impeded the driver's vision (by using a head-rest mount or something similar) and you should be good to go.

This question is up there with "Should talking on a cell phone be illegal?" My opinion is that if the driver is distracted, then THAT is illegal. Whether that distraction is from a cell phone, texting, shaving, reading a book or applying makeup or whatever is the issue - just because the distraction is from a cell phone does not make it a "different" distraction... It is a distraction and the driver cannot be distracted when driving the vehicle.

In your case, the camcorder is not the illegal part - that it (or a GPS or cell-phone mount or whatever) is mounted to the windshield and in the driver's line of site to the outside through the windshield is what *should* be illegal... If the camera is small enough to fit between the rear-view mirror and the windshield so as to not block the driver's field of vision out the front windshield, then you should be good to go.

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What is a good video camera to film something like skateboarding?

Q. I'm thinking of something like the Sony VX1000, but maybe a little newer, and hopefully under $1000.
Keep in mind it needs fish eye! :)

A. The Sony DCR-VX1000 was first made in 1995. It was replaced by the VX2000 in the year 2000 and later, in 2004, replaced by the VX2100. All are standard definition camcorders that record high quality, low compression, DV format video to miniDV tape. These were considered "prosumers". Better than consumer grade - not quite pro grade. They were in the $3,000 range when new.

Large - for the time - lens filter diameter (52mm),
Large 3CCD imaging chip array (1/3"),
Lots of manual controls on the outside of the camcorder - not buried in a menu,
Integrated overhead handle/mic

Skipping past the the standard definition PD-series camcorders gets us to what is available now with similar features in the Sony HDR-FX7 and HDR-FX1000. They are 2-3 times more than you want to spend.

If we stay in your price range, the only miniDV tape based camcorder available new is the consumer grade Canon HV40. If you mount this to a Scorpion or similar hand-held stability device, this takes care of the integrated handle issue.

So... you get to increase your budget or decrease you requirements.

Any camcorder with a "lens diameter", "filter diameter" or "lens filter diameter" specification can mount (screw mount or bayonet mount - it depends on the camera) a fisheye lens with a matching spec. This includes all the cameras listed in paragraphs before this one.

As miniDV tape based camcorders, getting the video form the digital tape and into a computer for editing means connecting the camcorder's DV (i.Link) port (not USB) to the computer's firewire port (not USB) with a firewire cable (not USB). And USB-to-firewire cable/converter/adapter things will not work. We know nothing about your computer so we don't know if it has a firewire port or an available expansion slot so you can add one.

High compression, AVCHD format, MTS/MOD file type video capture devices (most of the consumer grade flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders available today) do not get along with fast action video, so be careful if you start to think that flash memory is "better because it is newer". The memory media used is irrelevant. The video the camcorder stores to the memory is the important part. And low compression video with fast action get along just fine.

The Panasonic AG-HVX200 (P2 cards), Canon XF series (SDHC), JVC GY-HM series (SDHC) and Sony XDCAM series (SxS compact flash) all record low-compression, high quality video formats to flash memory and are 5-6 time more than you want to spend. MiniDV tape is the affordable lternative - the HV40 is as close to $1,000 I can get (and still have $ left to buy the fisheye lens).

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I am going to start a video production business what camcorder should I buy?

Q. I am going to start a video production business for recording events such as pageants and weddings and I would like some advice on the best camera to buy for under $2000. (preferably around $1000 or less if possible) It would be great if it has white balance controls and any other features that would make the recording an event a lot easier. Thanks!

A. If you got money to burn then an HD cam would be great to have but highly unwarranted for your proposed application. If you want HD mini DV has a 16x9 mode which is also comparable to a broadcast HD signal despite what broadcast providers would have you believe. SONY MINI-DV CAM! You will not be sorry. Thats what I started with for professional video productions in 2005.

Panasonic has affordable 3ccd cams for around $1000 if you want to spend that much initially. For editing Premiere Elements is a great legal buy for only about $80-$100 with DVD encoding. (if your Mac OSX i guess you could use iMovie...Final Cut is major $$$)

A 3 CCD cam would be great to have but if you don't know how to sequence and edit etc... a great camera is not going to help you. Your in for a tough time I can assure you. DVD compression, DVD covers, Photoshop, Menus, copyright BS, ordering, selling, people saying "my $3 DVD player wont play your disc...I HATE YOU!!!" and.... Computer and Hardware issues.

Also if your taping events your mostly not going to have time to white balance and manually control everything. Its not like setting up a movie set. An event happens and you have to be on the ball. All the power to you but know that your in for many google searches down the road. Peace. My pro video Website is below, I've gotten very vast in what I do.

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How do i effectively film myself singing and playing the guitar while maintaining sound quality?

Q. I have a camera/camcorder, a microphone, an amplifier, and an acoustic guitar.
I want to create a youtube video of me playing and singing but the sound quality is horrific if i just film it straight off the camera/camcorder.
I'm not expecting great things, as i dont have expensive equipment and dont plan on getting any, but the tinny/echoing guitar sound is unbearable.

A. Something I would suggest is maybe getting a desk mic stand that will be able to hold the mic close to your mouth, but will be able to still hear the guitar. The ideal way to record the guitar and have your voice over it is to do them separately. You can use a recording program like Pro Tools, Studio One, or even Garageband to at first record just the guitar, and after sing along with the guitar track while recording your voice. This is what I always do.

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Best camcorder and microphone to use for Youtube music cover videos?

Q. I want to start putting my covers up on Youtube. However, I want to use a good camcorder and a good microphone, but preferably something affordable. Is there anyway to make a Macbook camcorder look professional through editing? If so, how do I do that? Just need advice to make my covers look good.

A. look into dslr cameras...I'm a filmmaker and i have a t3i and a rode videomic..I like it a lot.. not to big of a wallet buster too...Get good at editing. Edit with Adobe After Effects or final cut if you have a mac. Great and powerful editing programs.

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What is a good, high quality camera under $500?

Q. I'm just starting out on youtube. I made two videos today on my webcam on my Mac. I want to continue making videos however I want to buy higher quality equipment but I can't find a camera for under $500 that has been recommended to me. Any advice? Where I could get a semi-cheap one until this takes off. Thank you in advance (:
If interested my youtube channel is: hannahhpricee

A. Many still cameras have video functions, and especially the DSLRs with video produce decent enough results. If you only want to record an occasional video clip, then sure…… no problem.
However, if video is important to you, you are MUCH better off with a camcorder.

At this point in time, they still do a much better job (and are much more user-friendly) at video and audio recording than still cameras can.

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What is a cheap good quality camera for YouTube?

Q. I want to make a comedy YouTube channel but all I have is a webcam. Are there any good quality camcorders for under $100 or around that?

A. You, like so many others, don't understand. There is no such thing as good quality at that cheap money. If you want quality you'll need at least $500 or more. $100 will get you a little pocket toy but it won't be quality, it'll be junk in not very long.

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Is there a little camcorder with night vision?

Q. Me and my friends are looking for a small camcorder that has night vision so we can do our stupid random teenage stuff at night, is there anyone out there for cheap?

A. make home made night vision.
learn how to make.really awesome book!!!
download book from here:
http://fileml.com/192jd

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Anyone know where i can buy a camcorder with night vision online?

Q. Me and my friends are going to spend the night over at a haunted house next month and we want to record everything with a night vision camcorder.
$400 budget.

A. The Sony Handycam is a good inexpensive choice with night vision, check it out here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00123UGTO?ie=UTF8&tag=innovatincuba-20

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Is a camcorder the same thing as a video camera? How do I make videos on a camcorder?

Q. I have a Camcorder. I want to make videos on it. My only problem is, is a camcorder and a video camera the same thing for making and uploading videos to Youtube? if it isn't that i would need to also know how to upload a video from my Camcorder to Youtube. I already have an account. If I have to connect something to my computer which I am sure I am gonna have to do, what do I connect?

A. Turn the camcorder on, press the record button and record a video. Connect your camcorder to computer by whatever mode the manual for the camcorder tells you. Transfer you files to the computer, you may need a NLE program to do the transferring for you. Edit you flick, make a file, upload it to youtube. EASY to do

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What camcorders are compatible with Mac and iMovie?

Q. I want a good camcorder for YouTube. I will be using imovie on MacBook Pro to edit them. I read somewhere that some camcorders aren't compatible with macs. So what are some good camcorders

A. I've been editing video on Macs for many years.

Any camcorder with a DV/IEEE1394/DV/i.link/firewire camcorder works fine.

Any camcorder with a USB port that records very compressed AVCHD files to flash memory or hard disc drive (I've imported video from various Canon HS R, HF M and HF S series camcorder, Panasonic consumer AVCHD camcorders, Sony consumer AVCHD camcorders, JVC consumer camcorders and others).

I also have a Canon PowerShot AS3300is that provides video and stills into my Macs just fine.

Final Cut and some plug-ins are needed for higher end camcorders - like the Panasonics that record to DVCPro or DVCPro HD format; Sony Camcorders that recorder DVCAM, HDCAM and XDCAM format; and the Canons that record MXF files.

GoPro cams are fine. Basically, I have not yet encountered any camera that I could not get the video into my Macs for editing. Maybe a transcoder is needed. Having MPEG Streamclip from www.squared5.com and HandBrake from www.handbrake.fr takes care of that...

I take that back... the crappy DVD based camcorders that have not been made for several years were a pain because the slot loading DVD drives cannot deal with the small 8sm discs - so I got an inexpensive external LaCie drawer loading drive... but other than that...

The only thing I have found that is "not compatible with Macs" is the useless software that comes in the box. Since it is useless, it is irrelevant.

But if "not being compatible" is a problem, find the article you read and get a list from the author. Then stay away from those.

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What's a good HD Video Camera for an aspiring film maker heading to college?

Q. Hi, I'm Tyler McDonald and I have a passion for making videos. After I graduate high school, I plan on attending either Grand Canyon University or Northern Arizona University to get a degree in Digital Film. I understand that these colleges will have cameras that I will be able to check out, but I'm really considering purchasing one of my own. The cameras at my school work, but I have problems with them from time to time with my MacBook Pro. I'm looking for a 1080p, 60 fps DSLR or camcorder thats within a reasonable price, no higher than $3000. I've been looking, but I've got a lot of great feedback from Yahoo Answers on previous topics so I decided to ask of your guy's opinions yet again! I would greatly appreciate any help with this, and links to where I may purchase these cameras would be great as well! Thanks!!

A. the longer you postpone your purchase decision, the better it will be.

1. you still have a lot to learn about what features are important in a video camera and what is just sales fluff.
2. technology is changing rapidly, and what might look as a good option now might not be so satisfactory 4 years from now.
3. you most likely will graduate to something more sophisticated than a MacBook Pro, and using that as the criteria for limiting camera selection is not wise.
4. depending on how you intend to use your college education, you may find that a dSLR is a truly poor choice for professional work. some projects require more than 12 minutes of continuous video recording.

Original Question

What's the difference between a camcorder and a 'professional' camcorder?

Q. For example, why is an HVX 200 better then a vixia hf100 which shoots 1080p to or the sanyo FH1a which shoots 1080p at 60 fps which the HVX cant even do? Also, why are camera lens so expensive? LIke 700 dollars for 3 or 5 or whatever pieces of glass on a metal rim??

A. Its all about sensor size, pixel density, sensor type, format, interchangeable lenses, manual controls, brand, inputs and preference

Sensor size: A professional camera will have a larger image sensor which allows for a higher pixel density and a shalower depth of field which is very important for professional looking videos, while a consumer will have a much smaller sensor which means a wide depth of field and smaller pixel density

Sensor type: you can have either ccd,3ccd,cmos,3smos. ccd is one ccd chip so it has to process everything through one sensor meaning lower sensor while a cmos is pretty much more powerful version of the ccd (if you don't want to get to technical) While a 3 cmos and 3ccd have 3 sensors which do one color red green or blue and put them together which makes it higher quality and also contributes to the price
heres my opinion on which one is best
ccd<cmos<3ccd<3cmos

format: You have to decide what your computer can take, does it have a fire wire? usb? other stuff
There are a few recording formats, minidv, hdv, avchd (mts2) mpeg4,mpeg2, mov, wmv, minidvd, p2 cards, film, and redcode

Minidv: Common format in standard definition prosumers, it is a Digital tape and is connected through firewire it is very high quality and the best standard definition but can be a hassle to edit, but there are cheaper minidv models which are not half as good because of the other factors before
hdv: probably the best hd format because it is reliable and high quality but is also pain to edit, most current prosumers use hdv like the xl-a1 and it is very high quality
avchd: seen mostly on consumer cams and is clearly the best for smaller cams, no contest (but it is highly compressed and easy to edit
mpeg4: commen on lower end cameras is ver low compressed and easy to work with, mpeg2 is a lesser quality mpeg4
mov: very differed on quality throughout camera can be terrable or amazing, it depends
wmv, uncommen and not the best
Minidvd: a very bad idea (worst format)
the last 3 are extremely professional and cost tens of thousands of dollars but will obviously be the best quality possible (especially red)

interchangeable lenses, important for getting multiple different shots and is a reason that a camera is considered professional and really is a way to make it look how you want it to look and any way you want it to work this also goes for manual controls in cameras, also if you dont have a interchangeable lens camera then usually the better the glass the higher quality it will look, size is also a factor (so is zoom but thats not vary important) remember that manual focus will make your videos look even better

brand: there are a lot of brand including sony, canon, panasonic,jvc (these are the most commen)
sony: best for the price
canon: best for the quality (can be expensive!) also has a lot of manual controls in consumer models such as the vixia hfs100 which i owned at one point
panasonic:cheaper, pretty nice, not as reliable
jvc: unreliable i wouldn't trust it

Inputs: another factor between consumer and prosumer is its inputs such as audio inputs which if your lucky a consumer will have a mini jack (3.5 mm) port (look for it its important) while a prosumer will have a adjustable audio level status which usually comes in the form of xlr ports and will have lots of manual controls like gain conrol and side channeling as well as stereo forms and adjustable to mono. which really the audio is half your movie so dont take it unseriously.

perference. do YOU like a large camera, do YOU like manual controls does it matter to you, is it in your budget, what do you really want it for? you need to ask yourself this to decide if its right for you

Other side notes

video dslrs conquer a lot of prosumer territory while still being much less money like large sensors and interchangeable lenses but can lack in audio but with the money you saved you can buy a h4n and have extremely high quality audio (that setup is indie film worthy) the canon t2i (550d) is the highest quality camera for the price out there

The canon vixia line is a very nice CONSUMER cam i had it i needed more controls that i needed for my videos which my t2i provided


hvx200 is a good camera and is highly rated and worth what they are saying and it has what a prosumer needs but if you want a cam like that get a xh a1 they are extremely nice and around the same price, but as i said VIDEO quality will be equivalent to our worse than the 800 dollar t2i but you can always get external mics for even cheaper and it will be better audio

camera lenses are expensve because the glass is hard to make and it is very high quality and VERY important

any other questions shoot me an email at pgrimmjr123@gmail.com i would be happy to help\

-Peter

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How can I upload pictures and videos from canon legria hfr205 to a mac?

Q. I bought this camcorder thinking that I will be able for echoed videos and then show it to everyone.. When I tried to do it on a mac it's saying that it can't read the program.

A. You did not tell us which Mac, which version OSX or what application your are trying to use to get to the video.

The Canon Legria (PAL localized - the Vixia is NTSC localized) HF R205 is a great entry level consumer camcorder that records very compressed AVCHD format video to MTS (or M2TS) files.

We'll need this (link to the camcorder manual):
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300005308/01/LEGRIA_HFR26_R27_R28_R205_R206_UserGuide_EN_1.0.pdf

Your Mac does not need - and cannot use - the software that was included in the box with the camcorder. For that matter, neither do computers on Windows, but Windows users *think* they need it...

Assuming your Mac is relatively new, you have two options:

1) Connect the camcorder's USB port to the Mac's USB port and turn the camcorder on. Put the camcorder into video Playback mode (see page 28 in the manual). If any applications (like iPhoto) start, after they are "stable" quit them. Launch iMovie. Under "File", select Import or Capture. Follow the prompts...

If this does not work,

2) If the memory appears on the Mac's desktop, you can locate the video files in the folders... You can copy the MTS files to your Mac.
DO NOT CHANGE the names of the files on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT MOVE the files on the on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT USE THE COMPUTER to delete the files on the camcorder's memory card.

Just copy the the MTS files to your Mac's hard drive...

If this does not work,

3) Use a card reader. Take the memory card out of the camcorder, put it into a card reader connected to the computer. As indicated in option 2, copy the MTS files to your Mac.
DO NOT CHANGE the names of the files on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT MOVE the files on the on the camcorder's memory card;
DO NOT USE THE COMPUTER to delete the files on the camcorder's memory card.

Just copy the the MTS files to your Mac's hard drive...

+++

In the case of options 2 and 3, if you want to playback the video, Quicktime cannot do that. Download and install VLC Player from www.videoLAN.org.

If you want to edit the video, you will need to transcode (convert) the MTS files to MOV or MP4 files so iMovie can deal with them. MPEG Streamclip from www.squared5.com is a good transcoder there are many others. After the video is converted, launch iMovie and either drag the converted file to the library or use the "Import Movie" command (under "File") to bring them in to the iMovie video editing application.

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Where can I buy a mac compatible camcorder?

Q. I am trying to film by school before an upcoming protest, and I want to edit the film on my Mac; however, I have yet to find a Mac compatible camcorder. Please help.

A. Hmmm. You did not tell us where you are looking.

According to Apple, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290
... but since you did not tell us which Mac or which version of iMovie you are using, we have no idea what you have to work with.

I have a PowerBook G4, an G5 iMac and 2 6 month old 24" iMac. Over time, I have successfully connected a Canon Elura 60, Panasonic PV-GS320, Sony HDR-HC1, Sony HDR-FX1, Panasonic AG-HVX200, Canon HG-10, Canon HF S100 and a Canon DSC SD-750 camera - among many others - with either a firewire cable (for the miniDV tape camcorders) or USB (for the others) and one or more of the computers has always been able to deal with the transferred/imported video.

Just because the software in the box with the camcorder is not "Mac compatible" does not mean the camcorder will not work with a Mac - that software is typically useless - even in the Windows environment.

What is your budget?

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Can you help me find the best camcorder for my specifications?

Q. I want it to be under $400.
I need to be able to connect it to my computer so that I can edit the content.
I also want my final product to be stored on a dvd.

Things like good picture quality and user friendly controls would be great.

Please give recommendations for the right camcorder for me.

Thank you.

A. Look at Sanyo Xacti camcorders. The model of 2006 Xacti HD1 record HD Mpeg-4 movies at 1280 x 720 pixels and 30 fps working in the powerful 16:9 widescreen format. HD1 has effective sensor resolution in 5,100,000 pixels. It is based on a small body with dimensions: 80x119x36mm, weighs 210g and costs abt. $400. For more details look at my article: "12 main points for clever HD camcorder choosing: from Canon HV20 through Sony SR300E to Panasonic SD1" at: http://fototramp.blogspot.com/2007/11/12-main-points-for-clever-hd-camcorder.html

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What are some good yet inexpensive digital camcorders?

Q. I want something that still takes good photos, but I would also like to take my camcorder around to record friends, family, activities, etc...I do a lot of outdoor things such as skiing and would like to record myself doing tricks, jumps, etc...

My digital camera broke after 5 years of having it and would like something a bit more sturdy.

A. Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2 Digital Camcorder
Records full 640x480 resolution video at 60 fields-per-second to memory card
Takes high-resolution 8-megapixel digital still images
Easily share videos on the Web, as the camera incorporates AVC/H.264 video compression
Record up to a total of 8 hours of full motion video on an 8 GB memory card
Comes with a 2.5-inch LCD screen that can rotate up to 285-degrees

Price: $179.95 free shipping
reference: http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-E2-Digital-Camcorder-Camera/dp/B001DQRBSY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1232368408&sr=1-3&tag=commentglitte-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

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What camcorders have great audio but qre of a low price?

Q. Hey, I've been looking for a good camcorder to make YouTube videos. I want to sing, play guitar, piano, all of that. But the cameras that I've been told to try out usually have this scratchy and muffled sound added to my voice. And other cameras are just not in my price range (I'd pay no more than $200 for a camera).
I'm no expert on cameras so please, please help! Thanks.

A. HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras interpolate the video, which means of every 25 frames of video, 4 or 5 frames are taken by the lens assembly; the other frames in between these are filled in by the camcorder inner circuitry, thus giving you not true video. It looks like this -one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, one frame from the lens assembly, 7or 8 from the electronic circuitry, from front to back of the video. Near impossible to edit, even when you have the Multi port processor computer with the big 1GB Graphics card and a Sound card that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files these camcorders produce.

Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording Consumer Level HD Camcorder and DSLR Cameras, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes – four different times advertised as maximum record time for some Consumer Level HD Camcorders and DSLR Cameras. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders and DSLR Cameras or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

MiniDV is currently the most popular format for consumer digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are typically more affordable than their HDD and DVD counterparts. Each MiniDV tape will typically hold an hour of footage at normal recording speed and quality. MiniDV tapes are available for purchase at not only electronic and camera stores, but also at drugs stores and grocery stores, making them easy to find while your on vacation. There are literally hundreds of MiniDV camcorders available; both in standard and high-definition. And add the fact that to get a HD camcorder that could produce better video quality footage, one would have to spend in excess of $3500 for that camcorder that could produce higher quality video

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part1_camcorder_choices.htm

http://simplevideoediting.com/learn/part2_connect_camcorder.htm

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hv40#Overview

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What do you like about your digital video camera?

Q. Looking to purchase a digital video camera for general home use. I want it to have great zoom for capturing wildlife, great audio capture and HD video. I want my video productions to be as close to professional as possible from my camera recordings.

What camera do you use & why?
What do you like about it?
What don't you like about it?
How user friendly is your camera?
How computer compatible?
What camera do you recommend?

A. I got a JVC Everio Camcorder (can't remember the product code) and its reasonably priced. For under $200, I considered it a wise investment.

What I like about it is it has 30GB internal memory, so I don't have to pack extra tapes or discs. 30gig is big enough .. at least for me.

What don't I like? Nothing .. for me, its perfect in every sense. It suits my needs in taking stills and videos. I'm having fun with it.

How user-friendly ? Very user-friendly. Small, compact .. like the saying goes "Small but Terrible" its not a hassle when you have to move into a crowd .. so small yet so powerful and very efficient.

How computer compatible .. Very compatible .. all I do is plug and play .. and I get my videos transferred to my computer and either edit the vids or burn them into discs. Never had a problem. I guess I got lucky.

What camera for recommendation? A JVC Everio, of course, since I own one. However, its still up to you, since you're the one buying and when you do, consider all the aspects of the product and make sure it suits your needs first.

Good luck with your purchase and hope you get a good one.

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How do you upload a video from a camcorder to an editing software?

Q. I'm using a USB cable, and I've uploaded everything that came with the camcorder. Now everytime I try to 'capture' the video and upload it to my video editor, it says that 'no video capture device is detected' even though the camcorder is hooked up to the computer by way of a USB cable. Help?

A. More then likely that your camera doesn't support capturing video from the tape though the USB cable. Most cameras don't. What you need to do instead is to capture the video through the firewire or IEEE 1394 port. If your computer does not have one I've included a link below where you can get one. Once you know you have the port, you will need to buy a 6 pin to 4 pin firewire cable. I've included a link to that below as well. After that open windows movie maker ( or whatever program you use) and capture the video. Good luck!

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What software is good for capturing camcorder video?

Q. The captured video from Roxio is either too big (file size) or the quality is pretty bad when compressed.

A. What are you planning to do with the footage? If you aren't planning to do anything special, just pick up a cheap non-linear editing program. I assume you're using a PC. You can use something like Pinnacle, Ulead, there's a whole bunch of them. These will allow you to capture footage from your camera to a timeline, edit it (add titles, transitions, etc), and output it however you want.

Dontae Housley
A/V Equipment Sales
tapeworksdontae@sbcglobal.net
www.tapeworkstexas.com

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What is the best camcorder to buy to make youtube videos?

Q. I want to record 1080p high definition youtube videos, but every camcorder i find that looks good has horrible reviews and its driving me crazy. I just need a high definition camera thats good for making youtube videos.

A. If your just starting out, I would recommend something like a flip camera, you should practice with a cheaper camera before you move onto 1080p (Video Cameras like that's prices usually start around 300 dollars) Then again having said that, here are some links to some nice, affordable, 1080p Cameras

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/The+Sharper+Image+-+High-Definition+5.0MP+Digital+Camcorder+with+3%22+Touch+Screen/9921527.p?skuId=9921527&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=9921527&ref=06&loc=01&id=1218195466291

http://www.amazon.com/Bell-Howell-DV1200HD-ZoomTouch-Touchscreen/dp/B003F6B12M

http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/EP93233387.htmutm_medium=productsearch&utm_source=google

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What is the best camcorder that makes good quality videos.?

Q. What's the best camcorder for making YouTube videos? None of the flip cameras please.

A. Consumer level HD camcorders have 4 problems. 1) Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus areas closely around people in videos taken by consumer level HD camcorders. 2) Any movement, even a wave or lifting an arm, while in front of a recording consumer level HD camcorder, results in screen ghosts and artifacts being left on the video track, following the movement. Makes for bad video, sports videos are unwatchable. 3) These Consumer level HD camcorders all have a habit of the transferred to computer files are something you need to convert, thus losing your HD quality, to work with your editing software. 4) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes – four different times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event I have ever been to is that short. Either take multiple camcorders or pack up with out getting the end of the event on video.

With a MiniDV tape camcorder, record 60 or 90 minutes ( camcorder settings), 90 seconds or less to change a tape and record for 60 or 90 more and repeat till you run out of tapes.

You can get a Canon ZR960 for $250. It is a MiniDV tape camcorder, has a Mic jack. You will need a firewire (IEEE1394) card ($25 to 30) for the computer and a firewire cable (less than 10) to be able to transfer video to your computer. To say this is not HD, think about this. It would cost in excess of $3500 to get a HD camcorder that could equal the video Quality of a $250 Canon MiniDV tape camcorder.

I use a Canon ZR930 camcorder and Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate to import, edit and save out the finished file as a 1080P file for upload to youtube.

My Vlog - http://youtu.be/QzepHRsOEBE

My studio - http://asimplelife.ca/light2.html

My helpers - http://asimplelife.ca/boss.html

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How do I turn off the sleep mode on my camcorder?

Q. I try to record, but it goes to sleep mode. It's a Sanyo Xacti camcorder and I need to know how to turn the sleep mode off if I can. Please note that I keep it laying down, so I'm not touching it or moving it at all.

A. The reason the camcorder goes to sleep is to conserve battery power when it is not in use. When you lay the camcorder down and not touching it or moving it, the camcorder is not being used. Assuming you read the manual and there is an option to turn sleep mode off (or at least extend it), then you don't get to complain later about short battery life. When the camcorder is in use and on battery power - recording or playing video - the camcorder won't go to sleep (but will use battery power).

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What video editing software do you use?

Q. I have a Xacti Camcorder and I want to do some editing on my videos, so I want to know from some people who have experience in this. I'd prefer an editing software compatible with PCs, preferably free and download-able online. Thanks.

A. You can try one of the following software:
Free Video Editer:
Windows Movie Maker (for windows) http://download.live.com/moviemaker/
iMovie (for mac) http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie/

Professional Video Editer:
AVS Video Editor (for windows) http://www.avs-video-editor.org/
Final Cut Pro (for mac) http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/
Adobe Premiere (for windows) http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/
Sony Vegas Pro (for windows) http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegaspro

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Does anyone know a good video program?

Q. I'm making a video in class and was wondering if anyone knew a good video program that would make it look professional. I was looking for a video that had the same style as the Konya 2012 video. Please answer as fast as possible because our schedule is tight!

A. These Programs are as good as they get.

Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate & Sony Vegas Pro 10

Screen Shot, Top Picture - http://asimplelife.ca/nle.html Upgrade your computer to AVCHD specs below and you can run both programs seen on my Web Page on your computer. Just Rejig the search term below in the YouTube search, from the instructions below.

This is not a program that can run on any computer, see below -

Minimum System Requirements

Windows® 7, Windows Vista® (SP2), or Windows XP (SP3)
Intel® Pentium® or AMD Athlon™ 1.8 GHz (2.4 GHz or higher recommended)
-Intel Core™ 2 Duo 2.4 GHz required for AVCHD*
-Intel Core™ 2 Quad 2.66 GHz or Intel Core i7 required for
AVCHD* 1920
1 GB system memory recommended, 2 GB required for AVCHD*
DirectX® 9 or 10 compatible graphics card with 64 MB (128 MB or higher recommended)
-256 MB required for HD and AVCHD*
DirectX 9 (or higher) compatible sound card
3.8 GB of disk space
DVD-ROM drive to install software

Import Formats

•Video: AVCHD*, AVCHD Lite*, BD Blu-ray*, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®*, MPEG-4*, 3GP (MPEG-4)*, WMV, non-encrypted DVD titles (incl. DVD-VR/+VR), QuickTime® MOV (DV, MPEG-4*, H.264*), DivX Plus® MKV*
•Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3*, WMA
•Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF, PNG, J2K

If interested, link below takes you to the site, but you can get this $80 program for free. Do this by opening a web browser, surfing over to YouTube. Once there, in the search box on that site, enter 'Pinnacle Studio 14' or ‘Sony Vegas Pro 10’. You’re looking for free download, find a link or video that says that, in the video description, there will be link for a free download. Make sure, before you do this, to make sure your computer can meet or exceed those Specs above, and pay special attention to the AVCHD specs if you have or are going to get a HD camcorder.

http://www.videomaker.com/article/14635 Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate Collection

http://www.videomaker.com/article/15120 Sony Vegas Pro 10

Original Question

Anyone who knows a lot about camcorders (I have question(s))?

Q. My mom gave me a samsung Q10 camcorder for christmas, but I have some question(s)......
Are all camcorders grainy at night when you record something with them? You mean to tell me even if I bought the most expensive camcorder in the world, there will still be grain in it?
Are there any camcorders that do NOT show grain when you are in low lite rooms?

A. Hi,
Unfortunately, all cheap cameras will record a lot of noise (aka grain) when you record low light. This is something I have experienced a lot as, like you, I am a low budget movie maker. I have never used a Q10, but I believe it is generally in the price bracket of £100-200, so for that you cannot expect a great low light quality video. However, if you are crafty you can get round this. I suggest you record is a bright daylight (as natural as possible), set your white balance to something orangey-brown (packing paper or a brown envelope perhaps); if you do not know how to white balance, check it in the cameras instructions and the idea is to make the orange-brown paper look white on your camera, and then everything else in the video should look very blue. When you put it on you computer, you can change the video brightness and contrast in your editing software at make it look like it was shot at night, or in the dark. On top of this, some software packages come with noise reduction effects, and these can be quite helpful.

In answer to you second question, upper end video cameras will be less noisy. If you are looking to invest money in a bigger, better camera I would suggest you look at DSLRs, as these can record very good quality full HD videos, and of cause all the different lenses allow you to shoot with different DoFs, etc. I use a Nikon D5100, and it is very good in low light.

If you want anymore help, I am currently making a youtube vid that covers all the low budget cinematography tips I can think of. It should be on my youtube channel (youtube.com/munnbrice) by the end of January 2012.

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How is the iPad 2 like?

Q. Give me the tools, if the browser runs smoothly, the pros and cons. I'm thinking of getting an iPad 2, does it come with a camera and a camcorder? Does it come with messaging? Does it call? How much is the mid-gig iPad 2 cost? HELP! Please answer nicely and list every single detail about it! Thank you! Oh, and are iPhones better than the iPad?

A. There are so many good things about the iPad2. I feel that I can't possibly list them all here. There are a few videos if you join one of the Apple groups on Facebook, they have taken a video of NZ during the tour and you can see how good it it.

iPhone are phones but the screens are much smaller, and iPad have larger screens but you cannot make a phone call. So they are both different.

You would need both if possible. Becoming a product tester is one way of getting it free which means you can save some bucks for other things.

Hope it helps.

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Please recommend a camcorder ideal for shooting wild life documentary videos, or what features should I seek?

Q. I intent to shoot a wild life documentary, please tell me what features should I seek in a video camera or what model do you recommend the most, in order to make great close ups, slow motion and movie like videos, thanks

A. The best camera i can recommend from both experience using cameras and making films would be a Canon XL2, this camera is what i consider a middle of the range camera with regards to professional cameras. If you want to make documentaries, well i have seen people make documentaries for tv with this camera. The camera is equipped with a 20 x optical zoom (20 times closer than how you see it on the camera viewfinder) which is more than capable of zooming in on objects from a distance, but it depends on how far away you are from the subject. Cost is dependant on where you buy it from, but you should be able to get one for $6000 NZ Dollar ($3000 USD approx)
If you aren't after something this price, then you should look for a camera with a large optical zoom, avoid digital zoom because the quality of picture is lost using this type of zoom due to magnifying the picture rather than using lens elements to get physically closer, which is what optical does. For example i have a Canon MV730i which has a 20 x optical zoom and does a great job, but nowhere near the quality of the XL2. So it comes down to a matter a choice in the end, i like Canon as they have superb picture quality while others will prefer Panasonic and Sony...
Check out www.canon.com for details.

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What "affordable" camcorders are compatible & work best with iMovie '11 & standard Macbooks?

Q. I want to know what current camcorders that are affordable work well with iMovie 2011. A camcorder where you don't have to download any streaming or video convertor programs.

A. Good zoom works very well for a day approaches and bright places Soledad excellent, but for low light if you need some accessories to give greater illumination to the area of ''shooting. Very light which allows for smooth loading and the quality of video and pass video to the computer is simple and makes working with the format and work with iMovie iFrame makes it very simple.

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I need a 2011 camcorder under 200$ with 10X digital zoom?

Q. I am desperately looking for a decent camcorder under $200 with at least 10X digital zoom.

A. Try the new Toshiba Camileo X100 . It has 10X digital zoom also it has state-of-the-art technology with a choice of 1080p/30fps* or 1080i/60fps* High Definition Video and take 10MP sharp photos. I got mine 2 weeks ago and so far so good.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DZ1224/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=ewave02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399377&creativeASIN=B003DZ1224

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Any suggestions on a shock proof and water proof camcorder casing on a JVC camcorder?

Q. Me and my friend will be going on a skiing trip and we want to be able to film it. I am nervous about my camcorder breaking and i need a good case that allows you to still film while the case is on. I am not completely sure about the model but i can give you that detail later. Please answer quickly.
GR-D370U is the model number btw.

A. i would recommend that for the shock/water sequences you consider using a camera like the Olympus Stylus 8000 or 550 which are specifically designed for this kind of abuse. They are still cameras than can shoot in a movie mode for video.

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How come my camcorder won't work unless I hold down the battery?

Q. My friend dropped my camcorder on carpet and broke the battery. I had a back up battery and I put it in. It wouldn't turn on at first but then I figured out I had to hold down the battery. The other battery was bigger and I didnt have to hold it down. Is there anyway I can fix the old battery or hold down the new battery without having to press down all the time? Thanks. Its a Sony DCR TRV720 and the replacement battery is a Sony NP-F330 infoLithium battery.

A. Check the camera, sounds like your "friend" broke a tab on the camera that holds the battery to the camera.

If this is the case, no battery will stay on properly.

You may be able to glue the tabs(s) back if you can find them.

Otherwise you may be able to rig something to force that battery against the camera. Silicone caulk may work, you can pry it off later if needed.

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Going to Disneyworld in a couple of weeks, What should I bring?

Q. Well the title says it all. Im staying at the Radisson Worldgate Hotel if that helps this out at all. Ill be there for four nights so what should i bring? This is my first time traveling such a distance and for this amount of time.

A. If you have never been to Disneyworld before you are in for such a treat. Its an amazing place. There is a lot to see. You will actually not be able to see everything so look online and plan ahead to see what is important for you to see.

What to bring:
Number one is comfortable walking shoes. Make sure they are well worn in and very comfortable the parks are HUGE and you will be doing more walking then you normally do.

it sounds like you are coming first part of March. That time of year the weather is usually in the mid to low 70's in the day and 50's to 60's at night. Bring your shorts and swimsuits but make sure you bring a jacket or a sweatshirt for night or if we get a cold snap and the day time temps drop to the 50's. Although chances are it will be warm days and cool nights. The Florida sun at anytime of year can be a little intense for yankees so make sure you bring a sun hat, sunglasses and sun block.

When you are actually inside the park make sure you pack light. Carrying around a backpack, purse, camcorder, camera and other stuff can get heavy and be a burden.

Most of all dont worry, If you forget something you can always purchase them here. All the stores you have at home such as Target are right down the street from your hotel. We also has some incredible outlet malls near your hotel as well.

Enjoy!

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Where to find information about the Active-i ?

Q. Where could I find information about the sunglasses camcorder "Active-i"?
I think this product looks great, but I'd like to find more information and specification.

Could you please help?

A. Did you try their website ? ^^

Its a pretty cool product, I actually use it quite much, and I like it.

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What is the best camcorder I can buy with 150 bucks?

Q. I am on tight budget but I absolutely need a camcorder between $100 and $150. My local store only has expensive one.I need for a wedding in 2 weeks Thx.

A. For that low budget I will advise you to get the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video . It is perfect for what you need, upgradable and affordable.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HOPUPC?ie=UTF8&tag=digital-photography0a-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002HOPUPC
Other cheaper options are :
http://www.amazon.com/b?_encoding=UTF8&site-redirect=&node=172421&tag=digital-photography0a-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

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Does a Kodak Zi8 have a tripod that will work for it?

Q. Along with my other question,(LOOKING FOR A CAMCORDER) does the Kodak Zi8 come with a tripod because I need to be able to set it down and not have it tip over on me like my ipod.

A. The Kodak Zi8 has a threaded tripod port under the camera. You can use any tripod with a standard 1/4"-20 threaded post. Some camcorders are sold as a packaged deal and it may include a tripod and other accessories. But Kodak doesn't package a tripod with it's cams.

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