What is the best camcorder for loud concerts/shows?

Q. I want a small camcorder to take to concerts/shows. I need something that will work well in the dark and that will record good sound. I go to a lot of hardcore shows so I need something that can stand that kind of sound. I have been looking at the flip Camcorders and the RCA Small World camcorders but I dont know if they are good. My budget is $200.

A. The audio recording device for shows will require manual audio control. Without manual audio control, the loud audio will over-saturate and clip - and the result will be a very bad, muddy sound. This is because the auto-mic gain circuit cannot handle really loud audio.

Te best mics in the world cannot prevent this on their own - you must have manual audio control... There are two wayd to do this:

1) Use a camcorder that has manual audio control. The least expensive camcorders - of which I am aware - that have manual audio control are the Canon HV30 and the Sony HDR-HC9. They also happen to have a 1/8" stereo mic jack.

2) Use any miniDV or flash memory camcorder AND an audio field recorder - like those from Edirol, M-Audio, Tascam, Sony, Zoom, Marantz and several other manufacturers - they all have manual audio control and many of them have built-in mics. When you edit the video, just replace the bad audio that was captured with the video with the audio captured by the field recorder.

You do not want to use a hard disc drive based camcorder with loud audio - the hard drive has a vibration sensor that will park the heads in an effort to protect the hard drive and you will not record. You can try disabling the drop sensor, but you will risk the audio vibration crashing the heads into the platter and the camcorder hard drive will fail.

You do not want to use DVD based camcorder because record time is short and video quality is poor... and they typically do not have manual audio control.

For $200, I do not believe you will be able to do what you want. Save your money. At concerts, without permission, your camcorder can be confiscated. That, combined with the likelihood of poor audio captured, does not sound like a very good idea.

Original Question

Where can I find a good camcorder for legal concert video taping?

Q. I am looking for a video camera that can have good sound at loud concerts and preferably a jack for a microphone and is at a reasonable price ($500 or below).

A. The Sony DCR-HC96 *might* work. The problem on audio for most camcorders is the low-end does not have manual audio control so the loud band noise makes the audio muddy. The HC96 has a menu selection for "Normal" or "Low" - in "Low" mode, the auto audio leveling circuit can handle loud noises a lot better than "normal". You can use Sony mics in the proprietary "active interface" shoe, or you can get http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/479976-REG/Sony_VMCK100_VMC_K100_Microphone_Adapter_Cable.html and use pretty much any mic. B&H is the only place that carries this adapter.

The best way is to use manual audio control either internally (the only consumer camcorders I can find that have full manual audio control are the Canon HV20, HV30 and Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9... and they are more than you want to spend). The other option is to get a Canon ZR800 AND a BeachTek DXA-6vu... and you need to use XLR mics with that XLR adapter...

And since miniDV tape provide the best available video quality... you should be good to go.

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What is the best camcorder for loud concerts/shows?

Q. I want a small camcorder to take to concerts/shows. I need something that will work well in the dark and that will record good sound. I go to a lot of hardcore shows so I need something that can stand that kind of sound. I have been looking at the flip Camcorders and the RCA Small World camcorders but I dont know if they are good. My budget is $200.

A. The audio recording device for shows will require manual audio control. Without manual audio control, the loud audio will over-saturate and clip - and the result will be a very bad, muddy sound. This is because the auto-mic gain circuit cannot handle really loud audio.

Te best mics in the world cannot prevent this on their own - you must have manual audio control... There are two wayd to do this:

1) Use a camcorder that has manual audio control. The least expensive camcorders - of which I am aware - that have manual audio control are the Canon HV30 and the Sony HDR-HC9. They also happen to have a 1/8" stereo mic jack.

2) Use any miniDV or flash memory camcorder AND an audio field recorder - like those from Edirol, M-Audio, Tascam, Sony, Zoom, Marantz and several other manufacturers - they all have manual audio control and many of them have built-in mics. When you edit the video, just replace the bad audio that was captured with the video with the audio captured by the field recorder.

You do not want to use a hard disc drive based camcorder with loud audio - the hard drive has a vibration sensor that will park the heads in an effort to protect the hard drive and you will not record. You can try disabling the drop sensor, but you will risk the audio vibration crashing the heads into the platter and the camcorder hard drive will fail.

You do not want to use DVD based camcorder because record time is short and video quality is poor... and they typically do not have manual audio control.

For $200, I do not believe you will be able to do what you want. Save your money. At concerts, without permission, your camcorder can be confiscated. That, combined with the likelihood of poor audio captured, does not sound like a very good idea.

Original Question

Where can I find a good camcorder for legal concert video taping?

Q. I am looking for a video camera that can have good sound at loud concerts and preferably a jack for a microphone and is at a reasonable price ($500 or below).

A. The Sony DCR-HC96 *might* work. The problem on audio for most camcorders is the low-end does not have manual audio control so the loud band noise makes the audio muddy. The HC96 has a menu selection for "Normal" or "Low" - in "Low" mode, the auto audio leveling circuit can handle loud noises a lot better than "normal". You can use Sony mics in the proprietary "active interface" shoe, or you can get http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/479976-REG/Sony_VMCK100_VMC_K100_Microphone_Adapter_Cable.html and use pretty much any mic. B&H is the only place that carries this adapter.

The best way is to use manual audio control either internally (the only consumer camcorders I can find that have full manual audio control are the Canon HV20, HV30 and Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9... and they are more than you want to spend). The other option is to get a Canon ZR800 AND a BeachTek DXA-6vu... and you need to use XLR mics with that XLR adapter...

And since miniDV tape provide the best available video quality... you should be good to go.

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What is the best camera to use for photography and video recording at concerts?

Q. I really want to buy a camera that's really good for taking pictures at concerts, (probably outside) and recording. I have some FujiFilm 14 mega pixels camera now, but I mean I want a REALLY nice camera. I was looking into Nikon and Canon cameras but I don't know which one would be good for video recording too. I'm not really too concerned about the price, but under 4,000 would be cool!

A. First of all, you may not be allowed to bring a camera into the venue, I'd check first.
You might get away with smuggling it in, but personally I hate the possibility that I might either have my camera confiscated, or I won't be allowed inside.
Next problem is that concerts are a low light situation, usually also coupled with much movement as well as a fair distance from the subject.

All up, that makes it EXTREMELY challenging. The only hope of half decent concert photos are good DSLR cameras and even for those you need very good and very FAST lenses.

Small P&S cameras have tiny little sensors, so they don't do well with low light situations.
Concert photos are often blurry because there isn't enough light, so the shutter speed is too slow to hand-hold it, even worse when you add the movement of the performers to it.

You could try raising your ISO, but that will add noise to your photos.
You could try using your little flash, but it can't reach very far, and won't do you a whole lot of good other than lighting up the back of the heads directly in front of you.

I'm afraid there are a number of good reasons why the pro's carry around huge, expensive cameras, lenses, and lights.
It would be lovely if a tiny camera could do it all, but the reality is that small P&S's just can't handle concert situations very well. Some places do allow small P&S cameras (but no DSLRs). The reason for that is because they KNOW you will never get any decent shot with a little P&S.

However, I do realize that some of us a lot easier to please than others, so perhaps what is totally unacceptable to me might be fine in YOUR eyes.
If you can't have a good camera with you, at the very least make sure you learn how to you use what you have, so you can make the most out of it. Read your manual several times, attend a class, read some books on photography - it will help a lot.
If you're not interested in learning much, at the very least learn how to turn off the flash. Those tiny on-camera flashes only reach a few feet, so all you do with it is illuminate the bodies in front of you.

As to sound - there is a good reason why the audio pros carry around a lot of very big and very expensive gear. Even a good camcorder can only do so much in that regard - let alone a little P&S still camera! Don't expect miracles - don't even expect anything you'd ever want to listen to again.

Original Question

Is the sony ericsson vivaz pro HD recording good for concerts?

Q. Previous phones and cameras i've used at concerts to record, the sound comes out very bad. I can't even recognise the song that was being played. Does HD quality do a better job with the loud music recording?

A. Whatever your purposes in converting an AVCHD camcorder video, you can get the method here, so just know how to do it.

you can google Aunsoft Sony Camcorder Column to get it.

http://www.aunsoft.com/camera/sony.html

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What is a good camera for taking pictures at concerts?

Q. I go to a lot of concerts and I like to take pictures of the bands. The camera I have works decent, but a lot of the pictures turn out blurry or just not good. I'm not looking for anything too pricey (definitely less than $200) and I'm not doing any professional work so I don't need anything too fancy, but I would like to have more than a few good photos from a concert.
Thanks! :)

A. What ever camera you take to a concert is going to be a compromise. I love my music, but I find that if I take the DSLR then it gets in the way of me enjoying myself (could be the fact that the music I enjoy is well.. energetic). If I take my compact, it's really not that good in low light conditions.
So If I have to take one, and I can get permission from the artists/venue I use a camcorder that I have. It's only 6MP, but it has a decent lens with a large aperture (the flash is useless but I try to use the available light), it's smaller than the DSLR but take great photo's in low-light (oddly I wouldn't rank it's photo's in normal lighting conditions).

Original Question

What is the best digital camera for concerts?

Q. I'm thinking about buying my very first camera. I don't know any technical terms for what I want...just that it should take awesome concert pictures. I attend a lot of rock concerts where lights are always flashing and people are always rocking out. So I need something that will work well without flash and that will capture moving objects well. I would also like for it to be compact. Sometimes venues don't allow cameras so I need it to be small enough to hide. I would also like it to have video capabilities and a decent zoom. Thanks in advance for any replies.

A. what ask for doesnt exist

u want video and small so no slrs

the fuji f30 or f11 if you want something cheaper are prob your best bets...but since you dont want to use flash your prob not gona get the results your looking for

a mini camcorder with 0 lux might be a better idea for what your asking

Original Question

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What is the best camera to use for photography and video recording at concerts?

Q. I really want to buy a camera that's really good for taking pictures at concerts, (probably outside) and recording. I have some FujiFilm 14 mega pixels camera now, but I mean I want a REALLY nice camera. I was looking into Nikon and Canon cameras but I don't know which one would be good for video recording too. I'm not really too concerned about the price, but under 4,000 would be cool!

A. First of all, you may not be allowed to bring a camera into the venue, I'd check first.
You might get away with smuggling it in, but personally I hate the possibility that I might either have my camera confiscated, or I won't be allowed inside.
Next problem is that concerts are a low light situation, usually also coupled with much movement as well as a fair distance from the subject.

All up, that makes it EXTREMELY challenging. The only hope of half decent concert photos are good DSLR cameras and even for those you need very good and very FAST lenses.

Small P&S cameras have tiny little sensors, so they don't do well with low light situations.
Concert photos are often blurry because there isn't enough light, so the shutter speed is too slow to hand-hold it, even worse when you add the movement of the performers to it.

You could try raising your ISO, but that will add noise to your photos.
You could try using your little flash, but it can't reach very far, and won't do you a whole lot of good other than lighting up the back of the heads directly in front of you.

I'm afraid there are a number of good reasons why the pro's carry around huge, expensive cameras, lenses, and lights.
It would be lovely if a tiny camera could do it all, but the reality is that small P&S's just can't handle concert situations very well. Some places do allow small P&S cameras (but no DSLRs). The reason for that is because they KNOW you will never get any decent shot with a little P&S.

However, I do realize that some of us a lot easier to please than others, so perhaps what is totally unacceptable to me might be fine in YOUR eyes.
If you can't have a good camera with you, at the very least make sure you learn how to you use what you have, so you can make the most out of it. Read your manual several times, attend a class, read some books on photography - it will help a lot.
If you're not interested in learning much, at the very least learn how to turn off the flash. Those tiny on-camera flashes only reach a few feet, so all you do with it is illuminate the bodies in front of you.

As to sound - there is a good reason why the audio pros carry around a lot of very big and very expensive gear. Even a good camcorder can only do so much in that regard - let alone a little P&S still camera! Don't expect miracles - don't even expect anything you'd ever want to listen to again.

Original Question

Is the sony ericsson vivaz pro HD recording good for concerts?

Q. Previous phones and cameras i've used at concerts to record, the sound comes out very bad. I can't even recognise the song that was being played. Does HD quality do a better job with the loud music recording?

A. Whatever your purposes in converting an AVCHD camcorder video, you can get the method here, so just know how to do it.

you can google Aunsoft Sony Camcorder Column to get it.

http://www.aunsoft.com/camera/sony.html

Original Question

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