Which digital video camera?
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Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Baltimore
I have no idea where to start, but here's what I'm looking for:
- Quality digital video (at least as good as VHS?)
- Inexpensive media
- Can be transferred easily into MPEG files for upload
- Reasonably priced
Is that too much to ask?
- Quality digital video (at least as good as VHS?)
- Inexpensive media
- Can be transferred easily into MPEG files for upload
- Reasonably priced
Is that too much to ask?
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 395
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From: Greenville
I took this pic with my Olympus D460, bought at Amazon last fall for $400. They now have it cheaper and with a USB reader, which is a must (I paid $30 on Ebay for one).
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u...&p=40875037&f=0
I bought the Olympus because we have an Olympus 35mm that works almost identically and it was easy to get my wife to convert! I have not regretted it, but rechargable batteries are a must.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u...&p=40875037&f=0
I bought the Olympus because we have an Olympus 35mm that works almost identically and it was easy to get my wife to convert! I have not regretted it, but rechargable batteries are a must.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 955
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From: Dallas,
I justed ordered a Sony Mavica FD-90. It's got video capabilities. It's kinda big, but I prefer using the floppy disk rather then those smart cards. The jpegs/mpegs are easier to transfer from computer to computer without installing any software.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 962
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From: Vancouver
Cannon Elura 2
inexpensive and very small compare to my sony mini DV,
i bought it just a month ago and found that it's really easy to use with quality that similar to my sony.
I always take video of street Vtec-ing, I mount it right behind the windshield n record the sound of the vtec n how fast it goes in motion. Also take some video of my friend's cars going besides me. It's small compare to the sony so that I could mount it in my car.
check it out
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetai...626&catid=10577
it's in CND price
inexpensive and very small compare to my sony mini DV,
i bought it just a month ago and found that it's really easy to use with quality that similar to my sony.
I always take video of street Vtec-ing, I mount it right behind the windshield n record the sound of the vtec n how fast it goes in motion. Also take some video of my friend's cars going besides me. It's small compare to the sony so that I could mount it in my car.
check it out
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetai...626&catid=10577
it's in CND price
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 20,274
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From: Toronto, Canada
Buy a MiniDV video camera, not a digital camera with limited MPEG capabilities. Read this --> http://digitalorigin.media100.com/learn/default.html
It has good information about digital video.
It has good information about digital video.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 362
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From: Atlanta
mingster
Sounds like you are looking for Digital Video and that is VERY different than a digital STILL camera with "Quicktime" or "video" feature. (Lousy Video, {on broadcast standards but this IS what's "On the Net"- NOT EVEN CLOSE TO VHS quality} small files and "e-mail~able")
Keep in mind that a Digital VIDEO camera takes bad STILL shots by today's photographic standards but is convenient for e-mail... make sense?
You should look at the INVENTOR of Digital Video Victor Company (JVC)...They make the best and smallest on the market.
Res. on a VHS (you mentioned) is approx 300 lines and digital video is over 500 lines of (horz) res...
A "Progressive Scan" CCD is what you want and can get you to over 500 (horz.) and 480 (vert.)
(The GRDVL90 is lowest in the line of P.Scan) and is well over $1000.00.
OK - on a STILL camera, the best bar far and the WORLD leader is Olympus. Best photographic quality, lenses and they are "camera like" for that reason... "MJMSC" in his post above had it right, they are easy to use.
You need a 2 "Mega Pixel" camera to make a good 8X10, nothing more and WAY LESS for internet as screen res is low.
I would break down resolution like this:
ALL good for "web"
1.3MP GREAT 5X7 (not so good 8X10)
2.11MP GREAT 8X10 ("pushing it for 11X14)
3.11MP GREAT 11X14 and Good 11X14, even make it to 16X20
4.11 Only Olympus E-10 and it is a Pro-SLR camera GREAT Wall Photo's!
Nikon Will Have a 5MP camera in late summer @ $5000.00
Olympus Line Today
D460 Retail from "us" is $349.99 with free USB reader/writer 35mm-105mm lens
D490 Retail $449.99 free USB 35mm-105mm lens
C2040 NEW $499.99 FULL MANUAL control 35mm-105mm Ultra Fast F1.8 lens
C2100 A "Winner with 2.11MP and 10X OPTICAL 38-380mm F2.8-3.5 Lens
C3040 NEW 3.11MP 35mm-105mm Ultra Fast F1.8 lens
E-10 35mm-140mm Ultra Fast F2.0-2.4 ED Glass Lens
By the way, two camps on the Media.....
1) Smart Media - Smaller, Fastest Read/Write time, Solid State Memory (Non Volatile)....
1) Compact Flash - Larger and more capacity and more cost for same storage size...
Olympus is the ONLY manufacturer which uses BOTH in some models. Stick with Smart Media (again most widely used and sold worldwide)
Notice I did not mention Sony? They are the only ones using Floppy Disc and guess what? (No offence DeeGYM) it is DEAD. Why? Because the file size on even a 1.3MP camera is to large in Full Photo Res. to fit on a 1.44MB floppy. So what is the answer? Well, most of use would use USB connections for speed anyway (Or, on a laptop and PCMCIA adapter) but Smart Media is the ONLY memory you can use a Floppy Adapter (so now you would have up to a 128MB Floppy!) It IS slow, transfers at about 200K per sec and USB is about 1 MEG per sec. Got a 128MB card, YOU
do the math! It takes a long time! 
Following me?
Sound biased?
I worked for Victor for many years and now work for Olympus so if you need help, let me know via e-mail.
Sounds like you are looking for Digital Video and that is VERY different than a digital STILL camera with "Quicktime" or "video" feature. (Lousy Video, {on broadcast standards but this IS what's "On the Net"- NOT EVEN CLOSE TO VHS quality} small files and "e-mail~able")
Keep in mind that a Digital VIDEO camera takes bad STILL shots by today's photographic standards but is convenient for e-mail... make sense?
You should look at the INVENTOR of Digital Video Victor Company (JVC)...They make the best and smallest on the market.
Res. on a VHS (you mentioned) is approx 300 lines and digital video is over 500 lines of (horz) res...
A "Progressive Scan" CCD is what you want and can get you to over 500 (horz.) and 480 (vert.)
(The GRDVL90 is lowest in the line of P.Scan) and is well over $1000.00.
OK - on a STILL camera, the best bar far and the WORLD leader is Olympus. Best photographic quality, lenses and they are "camera like" for that reason... "MJMSC" in his post above had it right, they are easy to use.
You need a 2 "Mega Pixel" camera to make a good 8X10, nothing more and WAY LESS for internet as screen res is low.
I would break down resolution like this:
ALL good for "web"
1.3MP GREAT 5X7 (not so good 8X10)
2.11MP GREAT 8X10 ("pushing it for 11X14)
3.11MP GREAT 11X14 and Good 11X14, even make it to 16X20
4.11 Only Olympus E-10 and it is a Pro-SLR camera GREAT Wall Photo's!
Nikon Will Have a 5MP camera in late summer @ $5000.00
Olympus Line Today
D460 Retail from "us" is $349.99 with free USB reader/writer 35mm-105mm lens
D490 Retail $449.99 free USB 35mm-105mm lens
C2040 NEW $499.99 FULL MANUAL control 35mm-105mm Ultra Fast F1.8 lens
C2100 A "Winner with 2.11MP and 10X OPTICAL 38-380mm F2.8-3.5 Lens
C3040 NEW 3.11MP 35mm-105mm Ultra Fast F1.8 lens
E-10 35mm-140mm Ultra Fast F2.0-2.4 ED Glass Lens
By the way, two camps on the Media.....
1) Smart Media - Smaller, Fastest Read/Write time, Solid State Memory (Non Volatile)....
1) Compact Flash - Larger and more capacity and more cost for same storage size...
Olympus is the ONLY manufacturer which uses BOTH in some models. Stick with Smart Media (again most widely used and sold worldwide)
Notice I did not mention Sony? They are the only ones using Floppy Disc and guess what? (No offence DeeGYM) it is DEAD. Why? Because the file size on even a 1.3MP camera is to large in Full Photo Res. to fit on a 1.44MB floppy. So what is the answer? Well, most of use would use USB connections for speed anyway (Or, on a laptop and PCMCIA adapter) but Smart Media is the ONLY memory you can use a Floppy Adapter (so now you would have up to a 128MB Floppy!) It IS slow, transfers at about 200K per sec and USB is about 1 MEG per sec. Got a 128MB card, YOU
do the math! It takes a long time! Following me?
Sound biased?
I worked for Victor for many years and now work for Olympus so if you need help, let me know via e-mail.
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 362
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From: Atlanta
Sorry I forgot prices on the last three
C2100 A "Winner" with 2.11MP and 10X OPTICAL 38-380mm F2.8-3.5 Lens $799.99 with $100.00 Accessory rebate thru 4-30-01
C3040 NEW 3.11MP 35mm-105mm Ultra Fast F1.8 lens $799.99
E-10 35mm-140mm Ultra Fast F2.0-2.4 ED Glass Lens $1999.99
Oh and on the Sony, they developed "Memory Stick" and it will handle the larger files as Sony themselves phases out the floppy but again.....not a great concept and ONLY Sony uses it (will fit in Floppy Adapter)
Just got Greg "hooked up" on a Very Low End JVC Digital VIDEO for Ashville. See what he likes and does not like when he gets going on it.
C2100 A "Winner" with 2.11MP and 10X OPTICAL 38-380mm F2.8-3.5 Lens $799.99 with $100.00 Accessory rebate thru 4-30-01
C3040 NEW 3.11MP 35mm-105mm Ultra Fast F1.8 lens $799.99
E-10 35mm-140mm Ultra Fast F2.0-2.4 ED Glass Lens $1999.99
Oh and on the Sony, they developed "Memory Stick" and it will handle the larger files as Sony themselves phases out the floppy but again.....not a great concept and ONLY Sony uses it (will fit in Floppy Adapter)
Just got Greg "hooked up" on a Very Low End JVC Digital VIDEO for Ashville. See what he likes and does not like when he gets going on it.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 142
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From: Lynchburg
No the D460 does not have video, my daughter has one and its a great all around camera that will fit many needs, but not the video. My latest digital cam. that I have bought is the Olympus C2100, it has video, but I'm not overly impressed with the still picture quality, its not as good as my Nikon coolpix 950. I love the zoom lens of the C2100 which is why I got it in the first place, but if I want better pictures I use the Nikon. The Olympus is around $770.