Re: [ARSCLIST] Suggestions for small and tough and hopefully not too costly DV camera

[Don Cox <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 14/05/07, Robert Hodge wrote:

> I have serviced both Sony and Panasonic dv cam and dvc pro units. I'd
> give Panasonic the edge as when I encountered Sony malfunctions under
> warranty, they were less forward about admitting that there WAS a
> factory problem. Panasonic was VERY upfront when we encounterd
> something that fit that bill.
> 
> Not that any camcorder is easy to service, but Canon was the worst !

Are these devices still made by the companies whose brand names they
bear?

I thought most consumer items like this were now made by contract
companies who produce variant designs for all the main brands.

> 
> Bob Hodge   
> 
> Robert Hodge,
> Senior Engineer
> Belfer Audio Archive
> Syracuse University
> 222 Waverly Ave .
> Syracuse N.Y. 13244-2010
> 
> 315-443- 7971
> FAX-315-443-4866
> 
>>>> miriam+@xxxxxxxx 5/14/2007 3:27 PM >>>
> Well, we finally dove in and bought a Panasonic SDR H200.  So far we
> are 
> more than pleased with it.  It is unbelievably light.  It also truly 
> fits in the palm of your hand.  I am a very small person and I find it
> 
> comfortable to hold. My husband who is definitely larger, also finds
> it
> very comfortable. The screen has a nice resolution and the control are
> 
> all logically placed. I can stop, pause, play, and pretty much control
> 
> the camera with my thumb without disturbing the camera.  It takes 
> reasonable stills.  I think the audio is fine.  I haven't really had
> the 
> chance to push this camera's limits yet, but I hope to do that really
> soon.
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-SDR-H200-3-1MP-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B000M4KJV4
> 
> 
> This site is the only one I have found to show the rear of the camera
> 
> http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/498058675 
> 
> Miriam
> 
> 
> Roger and Allison Kulp wrote:
> 
>> I would be interested in this,too.I would eventually be interested in
> doing DIY news,and political activism shorts,and uploading them to
> YouTube,LiveLeak,etc.  .
>> 
>> 
>>                                    Roger 
>> 
>> Tom Fine <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Hi All:
>> 
>> Sorry for the cross-posts here.
>> 
>> I am looking to buy a DV camera to take hiking and other travels.
>> 
>> The requirements are:
>> 
>> 1. small and light, hopefully smaller and lighter than a digital SLR
> camera.
>> 2. rugged and needs to have reliablly long battery life.
>> 3. simple to use. I am no advanced videographer here. I just need
> something to take good video and 
>> not be hassle to use. As close to the equiv. of a point and shoot
> camera or fully-auto SLR camera 
>> would be great.
>> 4. cost is a factor. I do not need the latest greatest HD camera.
> Good, crisp NTSC is just fine 
>> unless HD stuff is cost-effective and as small and easy to use.
>> 5. either decent built-in sound quality or a jack for an external
> mic.
>> 6. digital output so I can load the video onto my hard drive and burn
> DVD's. Firewire and/or USB is 
>> fine.
>> 7. I'm assuming anything I'd want uses tape. The format would best be
> cheap and readily available.
>> 
>> In my experience, I tend to have a bias against Sony products, but
> I'd consider one if it were head 
>> shoulders better for the same cost. The problems I've had with Sony
> have always revolved around 
>> stupid design or, more often, crappy build quality and zero customer
> support. I very much like our 
>> little Canon point and shoot -- in fact it's what's gotten me keen on
> video. I love my Nikon D70 SLR 
>> but it is big and heavy and there are some situations where I'd
> rather shoot video to tell the whole 
>> story.
>> 
>> I don't see me making long "creative" "movies," more like short hits
> that are more about "this is 
>> what I see right now" visuals where the scenery is too big and too
> spectacular for my photographic 
>> skills to tell the story in a still image.
>> 
>> Hopefully, I'm describing what I need correctly. I don't know enough
> about digital video to say "I 
>> need these specific specs." That's what I'm hoping to gleen from your
> wise advice.
>> 
>> Thanks in advance for all help/suggestions.
>> 
>> -- Tom Fine
>> 
>> 
>>        
>> ---------------------------------
>> Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. 
> 
Regards
-- 
Don Cox
doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx