Looking for a professional video camcorder for independent film making?

Q. I'm looking for a professional video camera that can be used for an independent feature film. I want image quality that I can be proud of so that I can send my work off to a Film Festival. My budget is between $2000-3000 and don't want to go over $5000. The camera MUST have a place to plug in an external microphone and must come with a lens (hopefully a detachable one). I'd like for the camera to be used on multiple brands of tripods and dolly equipment.

A. My definition of "professional video camcorder includes:
Lens filter diameter 70mm or larger
Imaging chip (preferably 3CCD, though 3CMOS is acceptable)

When you find the camcorder with these attributes, all the other stuff is included:
audio input
manual audio gain control
separate manual focus and zoom rings on the lens barrel
XLR audio connectors
lots of other stuff.

An interchangeable lens system can be found on the low end using dSLR cameras and a few prosumer camcorders... or *really* high end camcorders. Your price range is the low end of pro-grade camcorders and includes the prosumer Sony HDR-FX1000 and pro Canon XHA1. We don't know which tripods or dollys you'll be using, but generally the standard 1/4" thread mount is available and standard.

A person with experience, skill and a compelling story can provide great results. A person with no experience and skill generally won't - it does not matter how good the equipment is.

Tip: You should be recording the audio externally - not depending on the camcorder's audio recording subsection (other than for synching the external audio)...

Depending on the Film Festival you plan to enter, it is very possible your "competition" is using equipment like the Red Epic or something from Silicon Imaging.

Original Question

is the canon rebel t3 a professional camera?

Q. I'm going to a concert soon at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This is what the website said about cameras, "Still cameras (non-professional) are allowed at sporting events, including Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Dream games. Professional cameras and any audio and video recording devices are prohibited at all events." and I have a Canon Rebel T3. Am I allowed to bring this camera to the arena, or a I not? HELP PLEASE!

A. As Crim previously stated, the T3 is not a professional camera, but security guards generally classify any big looking camera as "professional." They might even consider a Powershot a professional model... Just take a little point & shoot or use your cell phone

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What's the best budget/business user digital camera for video blogging?

Q. I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I'm a novice at best, but want something with professional looking photos and a good video recording capability (Audio is a must also.) What are your recommendations?
I'm leaning towards the Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS. Thanks in advance!

A. The Canon 300 HS is a fine choice. If you like it, then stick with it. I'd also suggest going to a nearby camera/electronic store to try out some for yourself though.

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Small digital camera that records HD video in WMV format?

Q. So I bought a Canon SD1400, which records 720p video in MOV format. I don't like MOV, b/c I can't open multiple files as a playlist like I can with WMV movies. So I want a good, small digital camera that records HD video in the WMV format. Any ideas?

A. Well the facts are as stated, there aren't any that shoot in wmv. Hey, I don't like mov either but that's what my eos t1i does. I like the camera and the brand enough that I was willing to sacrifice a little convience for the sake of high quality.

I'm using an editor by Roxio called Creator. It includes a converter that does my work in getting to
wmv. It also maintains the quality which, by the way, the cheap download programs won't do. I know I've tried and the quality goes straight in the trash. Retail for Creator about $100.

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What cheap camera to buy that has autofocus while you record?

Q. Hey I would like a nice cheap compact digital camera that can autofocus while you record a video. Im not looking for any HD ones just a cheap normal one.

A. As a professional, I have to say that you should definitely go with Nikon, Canon, or Olympus, they have the best quality and performance.

If you want a good camera for under $100, I recommend this one. It has a great video feature.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PKEJYM?ie=UTF8&tag=petodorem-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001PKEJYM

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I'm looking for a 12 mp minimum, HD video recording digital camera?

Q. I'm looking for a digital camera with HD video recording capability.
I want it to have a descent optical zoom, a minimum of 12 mega pixels and good recording capabilities at night time (and photo).
What kind of camera/make should I look for? Any suggestions?

A. Megapixels means nothing these days.. do you print out on A2? No? Good then you don't need more then 8 Megapixels

Right that said a good lens does matters. Good glass is so nice to have! And of course looking for image quality always important sometimes it is better to invest in a more limited model with better image quality because.. well you want the best right?

Night time recording? What is your budget? The point is that the laws of nature don't change to make a picture or a video you need LIGHT! Raising ISO' s will only get you so far..


I guess a DSLR could, it has a nice big sensor so low noise and coupled with the right lens [in your case a wide aperture prime] it would give relative noise free images and video at night. Do buy one with an external sound jack though because the in build microphones are usually pretty good at catching wind noise.

So most basic DSLR with HD video + Prime Lens + Tripod [really you are going to need it] and the basic set of memory cards and batteries. Oh and of course an external Microphone.. mmm $1100?

You know a HD video camera is cheaper.. but won't make as nice still shots ;)

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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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Best choice point and shoot ($300-$450)?

Q. I am looking for a good camera for indoor pictures. I have 3 little kids and take a million shots indoors, but the little $100 camera I have doesn't take decent pictures. I've looked into it a bit and have found a few with good reviews and decent picture quality. The few I've looked into:

Olympus TG-1iHS 12 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (2012 Model)
Nikon COOLPIX P310 16.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4.2x Zoom NIKKOR Glass Lens and Full HD 1080p Video
Nikon COOLPIX L810 16.1 MP Digital Camera with 26x Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and 3-inch LCD (Red)
Fujifilm XF1/Blk 12MP Digital Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Black)
Olympus XZ-1 10 MP Digital Camera with f1.8 Lens and 3-Inch OLED Monitor (Black)
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Image Stabilized Zoom 25mm Wide-Angle Lens and 1080p Full-HD Video (Black)
Panasonic DMC-FZ150K 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom (Black)
Nikon COOLPIX P510 16.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 42x Zoom NIKKOR ED Glass Lens and GPS Record Location (Black)

I was wondering if anyone had one of these or a decent knowledge of them and could advise me on which would be best for what I'm looking for. Or another suggestion of a camera that takes good indoor pictures. I work a lot in low light and with fast kids. I'm not expecting a miracle - point and shoot cameras can only do so much, but... Any help would be appreciated!

A. None of the above.

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-compact-camera-for-less-than-450-is-the-panasonic-lx7/

I have the LX3 and I love it. I also have an older and current generation dSLR and a bunch of high quality lenses. If you are mainly shooting the kids indoors, you want to have a fast lens (that relates to aperture, not autofocus) and you want something that is meant for wide to slight zooms, so you don't need the 20x zooms. Also, with most of these cameras, the small sensor size means that chasing megapixels is fool's gold. Plus, how big are you going to print something?

The Panasonic has a great lens, lets you work in lower light than most of the competitors, and takes great photos. It is pretty much the same camera as the D-LUX line which is easily twice as expensive, with a little different case design and some slight changes to the software.

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canon DSLR best model of 2012?

Q. I'm looking into getting one , just wondering if there's a good model that can take a good quality videos and cameras

A. One of the best model should be the EOS Rebel T3i. Featuring Canon’s newest DIGIC 4 Image Processor and an 18.0 Megapixel CMOS Image Sensor plus cutting-edge technologies like Full HD video recording, Live View shooting, Wireless flash photography and even a Vari-angle 3.0-inch LCD monitor, this camera has everything you need to get great results if you know what you're doing.

If you're looking to the basics of photography from aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to lighting and color quality, this is a great beginning camera.

For more information about this camera you can go to http://www.canoneosrebelt3ireview.net/.

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What's a good camera for recording video and taking pictures?

Q. I want a fancy camera that isn't over $600. I want it to be digital and have an amazing zoom and close up picture ability. I also want it to be able to record video too.

A. With that price your fancy camera could actually become one of the digital SLR cameras.

One is $40 above your budget but real great is Nikon D3000
http://bestnikondslrcamera.buycameraprice.com/2011/05/28/best-price-best-nikon-dslr-camera-nikon-d3000-10mp-digital-slr-camera-with-18-55mm-f3-5-5-6g-55-200-af-s-dx-vr-nikkor-zoom-lenses-this-week-only.html

but if you want to save budget, actually these $100-$300 cameras will do the tasks just fine for amateur photography.
Check out the list at http://buycameraprice.com

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What is a good hd recording video camera thats around 100 to 150?

Q. It has to be from the year 2011 or preferably 2012 but either works so yeah thanks in advanced

A. There really isn't anything "good" for that money. You'll get adequate but not good. Good is more in the $500 range and up.

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How do you make the camera recording effect on Windows Movie Maker?

Q. I'm making something and I already have the video but I want to put the recording symbol at the top. Can I do this on Windows Movie Maker? I have the Vista version by the way.

A. Good thing you have the Vista version. Its still the best version of Movie Maker in my view.

Luckily I found this blog where you can download a lot of enhancement packs for the Vista version of Movie Maker (Windows Movie Maker 6.0). Here's a custom camcorder overlay for WMM 6.0. Just choose the right version if you're on 32 or 64 bit.

http://movies.blainesville.com/2011/06/custom-camcorder-overlay-title-for.html

And here's a selection of other custom overlays you can try as well.

http://movies.blainesville.com/search/label/overlay


Good luck..

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What would be a starter video camera for my budget?

Q. I'm looking into film-making / movie making and I have a starter budget of $200. I need a video camera for action films that involve the night time, with preferably HD recording, that connects to a PC via USB, and looks a bit professional. Any suggestions.

A. Hi Dean:

I know that $200 sounds like a lot of money to a 14-year-old, but your budget is pretty low for anything professional-looking. And at that price "low-light" sensitivity (for night-time shots) won't be very good.

Hollywood films actually use a lot of artificial light (carefully placed at certain angles) for many night-time shots. Watch several old movies on Turner Classics (especially film-noir B&W movies like "The Maltese Falcon" or "D.O.A.") for night-time lit scenes like this one:
"To Kill a Mockingbird": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FROgIia2cb8
[For more about film-noir lighting, see Mark Apsolon's excellent video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1gMxT2R9z4#t=31s ]

Here's a good night-time interior from "Bladerunner": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwJEb3vJvWY

And a more-recent one from "The Dark Knight": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c_H45kt1_8

You'll notice that almost all the lighting is from the extreme side(s) or a strong backlight (for a silhouette effect). Sidelighting and backlighting creates strong shadows, which enhance the feeling of "night", even though the subjects' edges are brightly lit.

For an actual camcorder recommendation, try one of Canon's factory-refurbished models, to save you some money and stretch your budget: http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/subCategory_10051_10051_-1_17252

One of the cheaper Canon Vixia HF-series (HF-R300) or the Canon FS-400 should be in your price range, refurbished or new, if you shop carefully.

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

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How can I stop erections from happening during sleep?

Q. I seem to always get erections during sleep. For the purpose of quantification, I set up a video camera to record myself as I slept naked. I watched the playback the day after and it seems that from the time I appeared to fall asleep to when I woke up, I had about four erections during the night. How can I get them to stop?

A. You don't. If you don't get erections during the night, that is abnormal.
Let nature be.

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What camera should be good for recording at night?

Q. Hopefully, something that's not too demanding on the money. Basically, I want a camera that can record during night; something that I can record to a hard drive/memory stick (maybe about 8 hours of continuous recording). I want to do this to monitor my premises as there are vandals that come along every now and then, who are deliberately targeting me.

A. You want a surveillance camera with infrared and a surveillance/security DVR located in a different place.

While it is possible to use a hard drive based camcorder that can record multiple hours, you will need to have power run to it as there are no batteries available that last that long. Assuming there is power available, the built-in infrared emitter that the Sony cameras have (with "SuperNightShot" mode) have only about an 8 foot throw to effectively see anything in low light. Camcorders were not designed to remain outside 24/7.

The better option is to use 2 or more surveillance cameras - wired or wireless (though even wireless ones need a wire for power) that feed video to a multichannel surveillance digital video recorder.

Fry's Electronics (and other sites) have a good selection of this stuff... For low-end consumer gear that may be enough for your needs, Swann, Clover and several other manufacturers have complete kits - with weather tight housings, cables, monitors and even computer network connectivity for monitoring over the internet.

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What is the best video camera for making low-budget YouTube movies?

Q. I am on a very low budget and plan on getting something a higher quality video camera later, but right now I can't really spend more than $500. What advice do you have?

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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How do I show a instant replay while projecting a live recording stream?

Q. I'm using 3 cameras and a video mixer unit to project the live telecast of an event on to a projector screen. It's a sports event and I'd like to show instant replays during the event. How can it be done? Is it possible with Adobe Premier Pro?

A. It requires you to buy a small electronic box (generally called something like A/V delayer), which you can plug in the AV Composite cable from your camera to the box, then run a second AV Composite cable out to a monitor/projector. I am aware that a company called Allen Avionics, Inc make one that can replay up to 2 mins quite cheaply. Take a look at their website for more info: http://www.allenavionics.com/GPDL/AVDL.htm

Just use a AV splitter cable to run one of your cameras, or the output on your video mixer, into the input on the box, then run the output into an additional camera input on your mixer. You may need to practice using it, as it can get quite fiddly when you are under the pressure of your live audience.

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What kind of video camera should I get ?

Q. What kind of video camera should I get? Look, I'm a craft person here, I make things out of polymer clay , resin , and other stuff. So... I wanted to make videos of me doing this and me doing that.You know, like I want to teach them how to make resin charms and stuff ! Please HELP!!! Can't decide!!
Thanks!

A. HD camcorders 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 processor computer with the big Graphics and sound cards that is required to edit, view, watch and work with the files a HD camcorder produces.

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.

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://www.canon.ca/inetCA/products?m=gp&pid=1017#_030

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How can I capture live video from a camera into PC at 300 FPS?

Q. I have a camcorder and a camera which can be connected to the PC. Is there a software that allows me to capture live video from the camcorder directly into my PC at 300FPS? Adobe Premiere allows 30FPS max.
Thanks.
The reason I need this is because I want to record myself performing a golf swing. The club will be traveling at over 100mph and I will playback the video in ultra slow motion.

A. sorry, you're going to need a high speed camera first. consumer cameras don't have the frame rate to do what you want.
check out the link below it's just up your alley as it demonstrates capturing a golf swing... plus it records onto a memory card easily transferable to pc..

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how can i make high speed videos better?

Q. I just got a casio high sped camera. it had three modes of high speed recording' 210, 420, and 1000 frames per second. As the frames per second gets higher, the quality goes way down and the amount of light required to record goes way up. Any advice on that?
and also, any advice in general? I film only 2 things really; my golf swing and some cool airsoft stuff.

thanks a lot!

A. Give them Rocket shoes and a D to go with that H.

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Can you dub a disc from a Hard Drive or Flash Card Camcorder?

Q. I need to recommend a new camera for my coach to use. He likes to dub the video from the camera to a DVD. I'm pretty sure he does this by hooking up the camera to the TV or DVD recorder and then playing back the video. Our current camera uses mini discs. Can a camera that uses a Hard Drive or Flash Cards do the same thing? And if so, what kind of ports does it need?

A. Hi Ronald:

The short answer to your Question is "yes": HDD and Flash Card video files can be copied to DVD for review & archiving.

The downside is that most consumer HDD and SD Card storage camcorders use high-compression of the video information (to save space), so individual frame detail is lost in the process. And for fast pans (following a football) and quick-action footage, compressed-video can have annoying "motion artifacts" where the frame-to-frame detail is "interpolated" (mathematically guessed-at).

These 2 types of camcorders typically use USB ports to connect to a computer for transfer & editing. MiniDV tape-based camcorders use lower-compression (more frame & pixel detail is stored), but transfers have to be in "real-time", so a 2-hour game takes 2-hours to transfer. MiniDV camcorders require a FireWire port on the computer or DVD recorder. Digital video files (from HDD and cards) can be just "dragged & dropped" to copy. The files are huge, so it still takes some time (especially over USB), but it's quicker than tape transfer.

I shoot a lot of "sports combine" review videos (like on Yahoo!Sports' Rivals.com), as well as live game action; and coaches & scouts almost exclusively want MiniDV-based footage because of the motion capture quality.

There are pro-level and "prosumer" (semi-pro) cameras & camcorders that use high-speed CF-cards and/or FireWire based external hard drives (FireWire is faster than USB) as well as tape storage. These typically run (new) in the $1500-$3000+ price range, but are ruggedly built (Sony HVR-Z1 thru Z7 series are a good example).

Having the option of "solid state" memory or HDD external storage gives you the speed of quick file transfers & editing for review. The TV pros call this "DTE" for Direct-To-Edit workflow.

If your coach has a lower budget (his mini-DVD camcorder was originally around $1000 or less, like the $1100 Sony HCR-DVD300), he'll need to make a compromise between frame-detail (especially when reviewing in slo-mo or still-frame) and price. Features to shop for include variable shutter-speed, Slo-Mo "burst" record mode (for things like gymnastics or golf-swings), and pre-record mode (actually captures the video just-before you hit Record, so you get all the action).

Feel free to update your Question with exactly what sport or sports your coach deals with, which can make a difference in feature choices, and what his price range is (which makes a big difference in model selection).

hope this helps,
--Dennis C.
 

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What is the best mini camcorder/recording method for college lectures?

Q. Some type of small HD camera that has pretty good battery life as well as memory. Also if there is a feature where the camcorder could be attached to a desk or something while I take notes. The cheaper the better but my options are open.

A. With 1080p video, 5-megapixel still image capture, and more features than we've seen in any other pocket video camera, the Zi8 follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, earning our Editors' Choice.

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would a flip video camera work well for college lectures?

Q. the professor talks too fast, and i cannot take good notes. he also uses a powerpoint presentation, and he moves this too fast as well. do you think the flip camera thing would work well? they are pretty cheap now too.

A. you'd have to get permission to record the professor first or you can get in a lot of trouble.

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What kind of camera to use for math lecturing?

Q. I am planning to solve math problems on a piece of paper, record it and post it to the web for my students to view. What kind of camera should I buy?

A. It would cost in excess of $3500 to get a HD camcorder that could equal the video Quality of a $300 MiniDV tape camcorder.

Consumer level HD camcorders have 3 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) Mandatory maximum record times - 1 hour, 30 minutes, 8 minutes, 3 minutes - all times advertised as maximum record time for some consumer level HD camcorders. No event i have aver 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 second 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 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.

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Does HD video on a regular digital camera compare to a Flip camera?

Q. I don't want to lug around a still camera and a pocket HD video camera. Is the video recording on the new digital point & shoots comparable to the Flip and it's competitors, or is a dedicated video camera better?

A. the video quality of most digital point and shoot cameras is about equivilent to the quality of the flip video. it may be even better if the digital camera will shoot HD Video (720 or 1080)
Neither of these will compare to the quality of the better traditional video camera's which are available today.
Another thing you may want to consider is a Digital SLR which has HD Video shooting, such as the Canon T1i or T21 or the Nikon D5000.
These will take video that is superior to anything but professional HD video cameras, for a very reasonable price.
The user interface will take some getting used to, since the camera won't auto focus while shooting, and the zoom function will be performed by rotating the zoom dial on the lens, but I can attest that the video quality is supurb.

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How do I know what model of Digital SLR camera to buy?

Q. I'm going to get a Digital SLR camera for my birthday, but there are so many different models! I want a Nikon, and it has to have recording and picture options, good quality, manual focusing, ect. Basically the main functions of SLR cameras. I don't want it to be too expensive, but also not so inexpensive that there is poor quality or not enough features. I take some photography and I would like to use it for that. Thanks for your help!

A. Good question. Depending on your level of comfort NIKON has several choices that do both photo and video capture. If you are newer to dslr then a good option might be the NIKON d3100. Does 1080p video with a nice sensor for image capture. While it affords the ahooter with manual capabilities its also equipped with preset modes that you might find helpful.
I personally have the NIKON d300 and bought a NIKON d7000 for my girlfriend. NIKON has an excellent range of glass to select from. Odds are however if you get the kit lens it will do everything you need. As your skills improve you can opt to upgrade glass for better quality images based on composition.

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Can you get still images from video recorded from a DSLR?

Q. I'm wondering if it is possible to get still images from a HD video that was recorded on a digital SLR camera. Thanks in advance.

A. Yes, but you won't get anything beyond 2 MP because HD is just that.

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How do I choose a family camcorder (video camera)?

Q. I don't know much about them and the info out there doesn't really break it down from the basics to the advanced. All I know is what they have at the local stores. How do I choose a good family video camera? Of course budget is a factor, but remove that and tell me what to look for/where to look/how to differentiate.

A. DVD camcorders are never a good choice! Since it's a family camcorder I'll make a couple of assumptions - you'll want to keep the video for a long time and it needs to be fairly robust. Look for an entry level MiniDV camcorder - they record to tapes which can be kept for years and, while you can't use them as footballs, they're able to stand some rough treatment. Don't get too hung up on the specs - get something that feels right, with the controls where you expect to find them, and that's within your budget. Don't bother about how much optical zoom a camcorder's got - they're all adequate, and ignore digital zoom completely. I'd avoid camcorders with touch screen controls (sticky fingers!) and look for something with a viewfinder so it's easier to use in bright sunlight.

You'll see a lot of (usually cheap) camcorders that record to memory cards. These are great for recording a few minutes of the kids playing and then watching the results straight away - they're not so good for the long term, though.

90% of the video that's shot is crap! That's not me being snotty, it's a law of nature (you should see MY 90%)! If you want something that people will watch more than once you'll need to edit it. You'll need to capture the video via firewire - if your PC hasn't already got one you'll need to install a firewire card. They're cheap, easy to install and readily available. You'll also need a firewire cable. You can then edit the video using Windows Movie Maker.

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How do I record with a video camera and watch at the same time?

Q. I coach football and I would like to hook a camera up to a laptop to allow me to re-watch plays while someone next to me continues to record the game. Is there any software of hook-up that would allow me to do that?

A. Video servers of the type used in broadcast television stations sometimes have the "playback while still recording" option. Not laptop class equipment. try google to get vendors for video servers.

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In movies and music videos what kind of camera?

Q. In movies and music videos what kind of camera do they use to film it. I noticed the picture is so clear, and I wanted to know if they used a speacial kind. And how much would one cost?

A. The other posters are correct - but for a little more detail... typically, the professionals do not use consumer-grade camcorders. Even if it looks like they are using a consumer camera, that video is not used - it is typically captured by a pro-grade camera and the video is made to look like it was captured by a consumer cam.

If they even use a camcorder, at the low-end, check out the Sony HVR-Z1U, HVR-Z5U, HVR-Z7U; Canon XH and XL series or the Panasonic HVX200 series. Remember, this is the low end. The Sony HDCAMs and XDCAMs are more common at the mid and high end as are the Panasonic DVPRO systems.

Please note than NONE of these records to the highly compressed consumer-grade MPEG2 or AVCHD that consumer hard disc drive, consumer flash memory or consumer DVD camcorders capture. But many of them do record to DV (standard definition) and HDV (high definition) which is the same at that used by ALL miniDV tape based camcorders whether consumer or professional grade. DV/HDV can also be store to external hard drives connected to miniDV tape based camcorders (like the FireStore drives from Focus Enhancements) or, certain flash memory (like the P2 cards used by the higher end Panasonic camcorders. Then there are the special high capacity DVDs used by a few of the high-end Sony pro-grade HDCAM and XDCAM systems...

If they are working in a studio, it is likely they are not using a camcorder, but regular broadcast cameras... watch your local news or Jeopardy (the game show) or any professional football game - they usually have a shots of the the huge studio broadcast cameras at some point...

Are they "special"? Yes, they all have much larger lenses and imaging chips that consumer camcorders do not have. They are nearly ALWAYS on some sort of steadyting device (tripod, shoulder-mount Steadycam/Glidecam vest and articulating arm system, camera crane, etc... and NEVER just handheld. The camera itself is usually a few thousand. The lenses can be as much or more than the camera and the steadying system can also be as much or more than the camera...

In the movie environment, most large budget movies still use film cameras. Check out Panasonic's VariCam, Sony's CineAlta, Arri or PanaVision cameras... A few are moving to digital cams like the Red Scarlet... These systems can easily be $100,000 or more per camera.

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What is a good video camera for recording loud music without distorting the noise?

Q. I'm in a rock band, and we would like to record us playing, so we can put it on youtube. We are looking for a VIDEO camera that can shoot good videos, but we want better sound quality. Budget is $200 or less. This, or a camera that has a "USB IN" thing so that i can plug a rockband mic into it

A. To get the very best sound quality for a music video, you should ALWAYS record the video and the music separately. Then merge and synchronize the music using a good audio/video editor and sequencer like Pro Tools.

But, if you insist on recording them together, you need to have a digital video camcorder that has an external microphone input so that you can plug in your own studio quality microphone. Better still is to have more than one microphone running through a mic preamp that feeds into the camcorder. The music should also be balanced correctly by running the entire band through a mixer and then recording the audio off of the mixer in stereo to the camcorder.

If your music is too loud, it's going to sound bad anyway. You can turn down the music and it not only sounds better, the people listening to won't have to shout at each other to comment on it and the musicians won't go deaf at an early age from damaging their ears with a constant barrage of excessive decibels. http://www.abelard.org/hear/hear.php#loud-music

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What is a good camera for recording bands?

Q. Hi im lookinig for a cheap camera thats good for recording bands play live nothing to exspensive please thanks!

A. Flip Video-- About $120 for the good ones, $100 for the crappy ones.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&id=pcat17071&type=page&ks=960&st=Flip+Video&sc=Global&cp=1&sp=&qp=crootcategoryid%23%23-1%23%23-1%7E%7Eq466c697020566964656f%7E%7Encabcat0400000%23%232%23%23j&list=y&usc=All+Categories&nrp=15&iht=n

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I need a good quality, cheap digital video camera for recording live band performances & uploading to youtube?

Q. My bf plays for a band and I record with my kodak zd15. The sound sucks really bad. I need a nice camera that video records and has good audio for live band performance. I looked into the Mino HD 8GB Flip, I really liked the upload your own photo thing but it has a lot of downs.
Is the cannon sd1000 a better choice?
I need help.

A. Consumer-grade camcorders don’t record audio very well especially music. Most have omni-directional microphones that tend to pick up all sound around the cam, like sound bouncing off walls, etc. And some are not even stereo mics. If your Kodak ZD15 is okay with the video imagery, then use a separate audio recorder which is the best way to record for music video projects. You did not state your budget but something like a Zoom H1 digital recorder ($99.00) and used with a quality microphone is the cheapest option. But better yet, something like the Zoom H4n or Tascam DR100 (both around $290.00). They can use two mics (and the two on-board mics) and the ability to balance up to 4 channels. The important part is the microphone and for a way to adjust the gain, as music will peak and fall throughout the performance, and each instrument has its own unique sound waves. Using ear-muff style headphones will allow you to listen more accurately what the mic(s) is picking up. You may be able to rent a recorder and try it out to see if it will work for you. Check with your local music instrument stores. If you still are leaning towards another camcorder, just make sure it has an external microphone port and headphone port.

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Whats the best video camera for recording live music?

Q. Whats the best video camera, for under $500, that i can record good live music and have a pretty good image quality?

A. Get a camera with a microphone input. Then go get one of these http://www.asimplelife.ca/mixer.html and hook it to the mic input on your camera, that way you have control of the volumes of 4 microphones. If you cannot use mics(going to a concert) you are out of luck, any video shot at a concert, unless the crowd is deathly still, never works, audio is unusable

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If you record a live concert using a stereo mic why does it not sound as good when played back at home?

Q. I recorded a live concert and when I played it at home the low frequencies are not how the sounded at the concert. The bass is fuzzy and not powerful. Would it help if i played it through really big speakers rather than normal hifi ones? Your advice would be appreciated. Also can you recommend good mic to use when recording a concert? 10 points for most informative response.

A. Your problem can be seen all over youtube. Many people record concerts with video cameras and such and get horrible results. The reason that your microphone doesn't sound like a Professional one is because of many things.

First, your microphone is probably not professional grade. And when I mean professional, I mean shure and other major company branded.
However, even that probably won't compare to a pro recording because your recording probably has a lot of background noise of people screaming and such.

Lastly, in professional recordings of concerts, everything is balanced through equalizers, mixer, and all other equipment. They have the capability of changing single channels to record what they want to hear. This means that every different audio source has its own volume and such. For example, say we have a guitar, piano, and a mic. With multichannel's, we can lower the volume and the guitar while keeping same volume for the piano and mic. All of these sources get put into mixers and exported to three places, the audience sound system, the on stage sound system, and a computer which records everything.

Also, your mic probably has a specific range it records at. Most like it does not record long ranges. The Manuel's of professional grade mics have diagrams of which areas around the mic are recorded at optimal performance.

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How to lessen bass when recording live concerts with a digital camera?

Q. I often record videos at concerts, using my Panasonic DMC-TZ15 digital camera, however, the sound is often harsh and full of bass from being too close. I don't want to move back, as that will diminish the visual aspect. I've heard of perhaps partially covering the microphone? Any details would be extremely helpful.

A. For good sound, you have to use good microphones.

The built in microphone is good for the mid frequencies and the bass (low freqencies) can cause square waves spoiling the sound. This will overload the electronics and reduce the clarity of other frequencies too including any vocals.

There's nothing you can do for the bass other than buying a camera with external microphone attachment or using camera for video and a different setup for recording the sound.

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Is it illegal for store security cameras to record audio?

Q. Most stores have some sort of security system that involves video surveillance. But is it illegal for the cameras to also be recording audio - and the employees monitoring those cameras thus listening to private conversations? Or are customers foregoing such rights to privacy once they enter the store?

A. Yes, in some states it is illegal to record ANY person's voice without their consent. This is the law in Massachusetts, found under the wiretapping statutes. It doesn't matter if you're in public, on private property or in the back seat of a police car; recording your voice requires your consent (implied if not actual).

If there are signs or other notices specifically warning you, in your language and in Braille, that your entry into the store constitutes consent to be recorded, then they can raise that as their defense to criminal charges.

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How do i record audio from a microphone?

Q. Hello it would be great if any of you can help me with this "Problem" our church has, we are trying to record the audio from the microphone our Pastor(speaker) Is using. He is using the http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr130/Mexican_Mafia_2008/photo1.jpg,
SE50 - Headworn Condenser Microphone

We want to record what comes out of the microphone.

We have a Video Camera, but the microphone is to sensitive to the noise around it! since its a church its very loud, we film from the back of the church and you can hear everyone who comes in, so we want the audio recorded from the microphone so we can just hear our pastors voice. The Video Camera we have is the Canon XF100, i tried changing the setting so there would not be so much noise but it is still doing it.

We do have an audio mixer board, and 3 receivers but I don't if we can use does to do it?

MIXER:
http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr130/Mexican_Mafia_2008/photo4.jpg
http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr130/Mexican_Mafia_2008/photo2.jpg

Reciver:
http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr130/Mexican_Mafia_2008/photo3.jpg

If you guys can help ill be so great full! God bless and thank you!

A. How about trying a digital recorder?

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What is the best vintage video camera?

Q. Ok so I'm looking for a vintage video camera. Something out of the seventies. What is the best video camera to record short movies? What are best stores/websites to buy them from? What accessories should I buy? I'm looking for video cameras that use film, not a camera to take pictures. Thanks for all the help I'm new to this sort of stuff. Thanks.

A. a video camera from the 70s would be tubes, because the CCD was not invented until about 1982. same goes for the camcorder, it would be a camera with no recording device. a 70s video recorder would use 2 inch wide tape, require an air compressor to operate and weigh several hundred pounds.

video cameras don't use film, a motion picture camera uses film. a Super8 movie camera would qualify as 70ish. for accessories you need to get an audio recorder, because film is silent.

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How can I record video directly on mac, using an external camera?

Q. I want to use a photo camera with video recording capability, to record a video, but I want to control the recording, and save it directly on my mac. This way I don't have to be behind the camera to start and stop the recording, and I don't have to transfer the video files afterwards.

Which cameras would work for that?

A. any camera now days better if have a memory card though not many that have not then simply put into the mc slot or use an extender and edit :) if honest a little unsure on your exact question but also there are many softwares available and though i use windows there are loads of recording softwares to record using webcam too

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I need a good quality, cheap digital video camera for recording live band performances & uploading to youtube?

Q. My bf plays for a band and I record with my kodak zd15. The sound sucks really bad. I need a nice camera that video records and has good audio for live band performance. I looked into the Mino HD 8GB Flip, I really liked the upload your own photo thing but it has a lot of downs.
Is the cannon sd1000 a better choice?
I need help.

A. Consumer-grade camcorders don’t record audio very well especially music. Most have omni-directional microphones that tend to pick up all sound around the cam, like sound bouncing off walls, etc. And some are not even stereo mics. If your Kodak ZD15 is okay with the video imagery, then use a separate audio recorder which is the best way to record for music video projects. You did not state your budget but something like a Zoom H1 digital recorder ($99.00) and used with a quality microphone is the cheapest option. But better yet, something like the Zoom H4n or Tascam DR100 (both around $290.00). They can use two mics (and the two on-board mics) and the ability to balance up to 4 channels. The important part is the microphone and for a way to adjust the gain, as music will peak and fall throughout the performance, and each instrument has its own unique sound waves. Using ear-muff style headphones will allow you to listen more accurately what the mic(s) is picking up. You may be able to rent a recorder and try it out to see if it will work for you. Check with your local music instrument stores. If you still are leaning towards another camcorder, just make sure it has an external microphone port and headphone port.

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What Digital Cameras Can Allow Zooming During Video Recording?

Q. I go to a lot of concerts and record them on camera. I was wondering which cameras allow zooming during video recording. I'm looking for something not too expensive. $300-400 max price. Thanks.

A. I have a Samsung L200 and it's great. 10 megapixels, zooming while video and its only 200.

If you're doing a lot of video, invest the money for the Canon HG20. $600 from amazon.com, i have one, trust me, its the way to go.

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what is a high quality camera for recording music?

Q. what is a high quality camera for recording music (singing, piano, electric guitar, drums)?
how can you make music videos smooth and professional sounding? i don't have a studio either.

A. Well, you don't say what kind of budget your have but, you want high quality so, start with this article - http://www.videomaker.com/article/8243/ - Now, that you understand a little about what's involved, here is one of the least expensive high quality cameras. The average price if a high qualtiy camera is around $10,000.

However, for recording live sound, if you want the highest quality, you need to record it with Pro Tools recording software directly off the mixer that the band plays through and you then need to sync your video with the Pro Tools audio using Pro Tools.

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Rock Band 2 How do people record for Youtube?

Q. How do people like SSblind72 and azuritereaction record their drumming videos for Youtube? What camera do they use/how do they make it so u can see them and then their drum chart appear on the same video?
Any help would be great, Thanks!

A. azuritereaction made a video on how he capture videos on Rock Band.
Video link is here-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKcYiXU9ol8&feature=channel_page
All the imformation you need to know is in there.

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What is the best way to record drums without drum mics?

Q. im goin to be shooting music videos and stuff on my hd camera for a local band and friend of mine but drum solos first how can i record drum solos without drum mics

A. Best answer would be an H2 zoom, me and my friend use one when we jam and even in a small room it can come out sounding at least good enough.

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I'm looking for a 12 mp minimum, HD video recording digital camera?

Q. I'm looking for a digital camera with HD video recording capability.
I want it to have a descent optical zoom, a minimum of 12 mega pixels and good recording capabilities at night time (and photo).
What kind of camera/make should I look for? Any suggestions?

A. Megapixels means nothing these days.. do you print out on A2? No? Good then you don't need more then 8 Megapixels

Right that said a good lens does matters. Good glass is so nice to have! And of course looking for image quality always important sometimes it is better to invest in a more limited model with better image quality because.. well you want the best right?

Night time recording? What is your budget? The point is that the laws of nature don't change to make a picture or a video you need LIGHT! Raising ISO' s will only get you so far..


I guess a DSLR could, it has a nice big sensor so low noise and coupled with the right lens [in your case a wide aperture prime] it would give relative noise free images and video at night. Do buy one with an external sound jack though because the in build microphones are usually pretty good at catching wind noise.

So most basic DSLR with HD video + Prime Lens + Tripod [really you are going to need it] and the basic set of memory cards and batteries. Oh and of course an external Microphone.. mmm $1100?

You know a HD video camera is cheaper.. but won't make as nice still shots ;)

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What's the best budget/business user digital camera for video blogging?

Q. I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I'm a novice at best, but want something with professional looking photos and a good video recording capability (Audio is a must also.) What are your recommendations?
I'm leaning towards the Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS. Thanks in advance!

A. The Canon 300 HS is a fine choice. If you like it, then stick with it. I'd also suggest going to a nearby camera/electronic store to try out some for yourself though.

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How do I use a digital camera as a web cam on my pc?

Q. I have a good digital camera, that is able to video record. I also have a way to hook it up to my pc and transfer pic & vids to my files. I would like to use this camera as a web cam, my old one is pretty cheap & doesn't work so well. Does any one know how to hook up a digital camera as a web cam?

A. I really don't think you are able to do this with most modern digital cameras. The USB connection is used to transfer pics and video between PC and camera, not to stream live video. You can get a descent web cam for around $30 though!
Good Luck =)

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How to adjust the lighting on a digital camera video recording?

Q. So I recorded a video on my digital camera, unfortunately the lighting was not the greatest. Is there anyway to enhance the video to make it brighter?

A. There is hope.

First off, the great thing about digital is that it's easier to get a good image from a dark one than it is from one that's overblown. The reason being is this: the sensors on a digital camera only soak up so much light before they turn to white. If a pixel is recorded as white (blown out, zebra striped, etc.), there is absolutely no way of bringing it back down to a color.

When shooting film, the exact is opposite. A bit off topic but good to know.

So, unless what you shot is completely black, and even if it is, there's sure to be some data in those pixels, and data in pixels is a good thing! Having data in a pixel means it recorded the image. However, finding that image requires the proper software.

A basic editing program with decent image control is Final Cut Pro. I would assume Windows Movie Maker and most video editing programs would have the most elementary of controls as well. What you want to look for is:

1.) Levels - If you have the option of working with levels, you can bring the blacks / shadows up to a visible range, while leaving the midtones and highlights relatively untouched.

2.) Brightness / Exposure - If you have the option of working with brightness or exposure, you can boost the blacks / shadows up to a visible level, but keep in mind anything that looks good now will become overblown or white.

3.) Saturation - If you have the option of adjusting saturation, this may be a good step after adjusting the light levels of your image. Usually when you boost the 'brightness' of an image, it also becomes more washed out, which can be countered by boosting the saturation until you get a natural look.

4.) Noise Reduction - This adjustment would be the icing on the cake. When you boost those shadows, you'll quickly notice that they're very grainy. Noise reduction helps to lower than grainy look, but also tends to slightly blur an image. Worth a try at the very least.

In the future, there are a few things you can do to avoid a repeat. Look for these settings on your camera:

-F Stop - rare for low end cameras, but if you have control of the F stop, you can adjust the brightness and depth of field (area of picture that's blurred or clear) by increasing or decreasing the numbers. The smaller the number, the brighter the picture. Also, the smaller the number, the less depth of field you have. This is also known as aperture.

-ISO / film speed - Film speed or ISO is how quickly the sensor records the image. This affects the amount of light necessary to light a scene. A lower ISO (200) is slower to absorb light, but will give you less grain or noise in your video. A higher ISO (1600) will be easier to light with little light, but will also be much more grainy (noise).

Hope that helps!

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I'm looking for a 12 mp minimum, HD video recording digital camera?

Q. I'm looking for a digital camera with HD video recording capability.
I want it to have a descent optical zoom, a minimum of 12 mega pixels and good recording capabilities at night time (and photo).
What kind of camera/make should I look for? Any suggestions?

A. Megapixels means nothing these days.. do you print out on A2? No? Good then you don't need more then 8 Megapixels

Right that said a good lens does matters. Good glass is so nice to have! And of course looking for image quality always important sometimes it is better to invest in a more limited model with better image quality because.. well you want the best right?

Night time recording? What is your budget? The point is that the laws of nature don't change to make a picture or a video you need LIGHT! Raising ISO' s will only get you so far..


I guess a DSLR could, it has a nice big sensor so low noise and coupled with the right lens [in your case a wide aperture prime] it would give relative noise free images and video at night. Do buy one with an external sound jack though because the in build microphones are usually pretty good at catching wind noise.

So most basic DSLR with HD video + Prime Lens + Tripod [really you are going to need it] and the basic set of memory cards and batteries. Oh and of course an external Microphone.. mmm $1100?

You know a HD video camera is cheaper.. but won't make as nice still shots ;)

Original Question

What's the best budget/business user digital camera for video blogging?

Q. I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I'm a novice at best, but want something with professional looking photos and a good video recording capability (Audio is a must also.) What are your recommendations?
I'm leaning towards the Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS. Thanks in advance!

A. The Canon 300 HS is a fine choice. If you like it, then stick with it. I'd also suggest going to a nearby camera/electronic store to try out some for yourself though.

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how can i live broadcast my meetings with my camera?

Q. i have a pc and a camera. Just wondering if i can use my camera to record my services and upload them to the web immediately?

A. Sure. Just record a video of the service with the camera, then connect the camera to your PC and copy the files over, or remove the memory card and put that into a USB reader for your PC and copy the files over. From there, you can upload the video files to YouTube or something.

This assumes that you have a camera that records on a memory card or in internal memory. If it records on tape, things get more complicated, because you have to run the video through a converter or special graphics card to get digital files that you can upload onto the PC.

Having a video editing program helps, too. Windows Movie Maker can let you do simple editing that can improve the finished video a lot.

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Is there a market for supplying people with portable covert conversation documenting video cameras? #Security?

Q. Well it would be nice to (yes this is kinda creepy) have proof of intellectual property whilst discussing private business plans with a mentor. Some of my money ideas have been stolen and used but I would have had no way to prove it. Anyways, is this a technology? And could I provide it to people if I could learn how to build the covert portable cameras?

A. Covert cameras for personal use are seen as fun little toys but if you could market it to business owners or high end business professionals that could use some sort of documentation when in meetings then you might have something. NOW with that said it is illegal to record audio without the consent of one or all the parties involved so that will be a hurdle. To give you some ideas of covert cameras I have put in some links to a few I found with demo video so you can see them in action.

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is it illegal to record a conversation with your boss?

Q. i live in california and had a meeting with my boss regarding a disciplinary matter; i recorded the conversation without my boss's knowledge just in case they tried something later on. is it legal to that and use in court just in case anything ever does come out from it?

A. Here is your answer. Very easy to find on the internet.

California Recording Law
Note: This page covers information specific to California. For general information concerning the use of recording devices see the Recording Phone Calls, Conversations, Meetings and Hearings section of this guide.

California Wiretapping Law
California's wiretapping law is a "two-party consent" law. California makes it a crime to record or eavesdrop on any confidential communication, including a private conversation or telephone call, without the consent of all parties to the conversation. See Cal. Penal Code § 632. The statute applies to "confidential communications" -- i.e., conversations in which one of the parties has an objectively reasonable expectation that no one is listening in or overhearing the conversation. See Flanagan v. Flanagan, 41 P.3d 575, 576-77, 578-82 (Cal. 2002). A California appellate court has ruled that this statute applies to the use of hidden video cameras to record conversations as well. See California v. Gibbons, 215 Cal. App. 3d 1204 (Cal Ct. App. 1989).

If you are recording someone without their knowledge in a public or semi-public place like a street or restaurant, the person whom you're recording may or may not have "an objectively reasonable expectation that no one is listening in or overhearing the conversation," and the reasonableness of the expectation would depend on the particular factual circumstances. Therefore, you cannot necessarily assume that you are in the clear simply because you are in a public place.

If yo

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I want to record a church service using multiple cameras. Any ideas how can I can do this and software to use?

Q. I am using a Mac.
Basically, I want to use multiple cameras to record a church service, all connected to my Mac, and control it from here.
It's going to be a very low budget film.
I've heard of Premiere Pro, and have used a little bit of it.
But any other ideas?
How to connect the cameras to each other, if possible how to connect the church sound system?

Thanks.

A. forget the mac

you need PTZ cameras, these can be remotely aimed (Pan-tilt) and framed with the zoom. since you don't need to change all cameras at the same time, only one controller is needed.

next you need a video mixer. any of the Panasonic WJ-MX series will work. The WJ-MX50a is made for 4 cameras. These mixers also have audio so you can mix additional audio sources, such as the church PA. mixer also has a "preview" output so you can see how you are adjusting the camera before you "take" it on the program out.

finally, record live on a DVD-R recorder/player. that way you are ready to make copies even as the echos of the last song are fading away.

Original Question

What would be a good camera to record my church services?

Q. I am looking for a good camera that I can use to record my Sunday Morning church services. We have elderly member who can't make it to the services any longer, but we would like to record it and send it to them? We're looking for a camera with the price range of $400.00. We need it to be good video quality and sound quality. Also, the precher wears a clip-on microphone. Is there anyway to pick that up clearly. Any help at all would be much appreciated.

Thank you

A. I would suggest JVC Everio GZ-MG630 60GB Standard Def Camcorder.60 GB HDD for up to 75 hours of recording
40x Dynamic Zoom with Konica Minolta lens
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OMH1LE?ie=UTF8&tag=computer0bd-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001OMH1LE

Original Question

What video cameras will stream live to an HDTV through HDMI?

Q. My church has an HDTV in the basement. We would like to stream the service to this TV. Looking for a video camera that will output a live feed via HDMI.

A. You should go with 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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I have a video/camera with a button tht says share to fbook? 10 points?

Q. I have a camera/video recording from christmas, and im going on vacation with my boyfriend and his family and so i want to put pictures up. I take a photo and their a share button so i click it and than check off the fbook one, but it doesnt do anything? How do i send it to my fbook?

A. You will need to plug in a USB cable to a computer it then will prompt you to sign on to Facebook then follow instructions.

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What is a good camera to buy for video recording?

Q. Hey, I'm looking for suggestions on a camera to buy that has good quality video recording so that I could upload videos easily unto youtube. Please help me out, I am not a millionaire and can not afford a $200 dollar camera. Thanks :)

A. If you also want a waterproof, shock proof and dust proof camera, you can buy a Nikon S30 camera for under $120

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What is the best phone for recording video, particularly in loud environments?

Q. I need a new mobile phone, preferably one with a good camera and video recording facilities, particularly when its loud such as concerts and things so it doesn't sound all distorted. I have been looking at the Sony Ericsson C905, but is there anything that is great for that purpose out there? The last video recording phone with great sound I had was the Samsung D600 way back...

Thanks in advance

A. Hey! I have a way how to get Iphone 3G -8gb Version for free without any contract or what so ever , Delivery is free as well! Send me Email to pauktom@yahoo.com and I will let you know how you can get it! Just one thing-You must be over 18years old, Send me email to pauktom@yahoo.com If you want to Get Iphone Like I got ;)

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What would i need to wirelessly send audio from sound board to camera about 100 feet away?

Q. I record church services on Sunday and need to get an audio feed from the sound board. The camera is typically set up about 100 feet away. i don't want to run a cable. Is there a way (similar to wireless mics) to attach a transmitter to the sound board and a receiver on the camcorder?

any suggestions on specific device? Thanks!

http://miltizme.blogspot.com
Forgive me for not providing all of the necessary details.

Currently, we use a consumer-grade, single-CCD digital camcorder, but we will be getting a prosumer 3-CCD camcorder with XLR mic inputs. The sound board has XLR outputs. This would facilitate following "the_dude's" suggestion.

i also use Adobe Premiere Pro for editing so, i could record the audio right at the board and synch it on the PC later, which is "jimbob92065's" answer.

I would need to record the audio from six mics, a drum set and a Conga drum so, a shotgun mic wouldn't acomplish all that with the sound quality i'd need. thanks all for your answers...

A. There are a few ways to accomplish what you would like to do. However, without knowing the specifics of your board and your camera, it's a little difficult to offer advice.

I assume you're looking to get the audio onto the tape (or whatever media your camera uses) while you record the service?

That being the case, you can easily use any wireless transmitter and receiver (Shure manufacture great product, as does Samson) as long as you have compatible output from your board (1/4 TRS or XLR is most common) and feet it to the transmitter.

The receiver would need to connect to an audio input on your camera; without knowing what sort of camera you have, I can't tell you whether or not this is possible. If you have any sort of TRS input (most folks call this a "phono plug") you can purchase adapters to accomodate difference in size (most likely you'll have a 1/8" input if any)

If you have the neccessary inputs/outputs, you could even use a wireless guitar setup.

The other option you have is to record straight from the board and sync the audio with the video using relatively inexpensive software and your PC. This method will offer you the most flexibility, as you will be able to mix levels at your convenience, rather than "on the fly"

I am a certified audio engineer, so I know a litttttttle about this stuff. (sarcasm!) If you would like to contact me, feel free.

Original Question

Webcam or Video Camera for recording/broadcasting live church service on ustream.tv?

Q. I want a webcam or video camera that will plug into a computer USB port and be able to record and broadcast live using upstream.tv. It will be used from the balcony of a church, about 25 yards from the pastor. Under $100 please. It needs to have good sound quality and good video quality. If there is something you know of that is a little more expensive but worth the price feel free to post it. Thanks!

A. Webcams are just not designed to get good video or audio from 25 yards away. They are designed to be used more like 25 inches away! From 25 yards away, the audio will be quiet and echo-ey, and the video will make the pastor look like a flyspeck (or, if you use digital zoom instead of optical zoom, like a checkerboard).

Assuming you already own a camcorder, the solution is to use a video capture device on your computer (such as a Pinnacle Dazzle -- see link below) and the A/V output cable from the camcorder. I'm going to assume that's what you are going to use in the instructions below...

Video: Put the camcorder on a tripod and zoom it in. Now (by using the camcorder's optical zoom) your pastor won't look like a flyspeck or a checkerboard, and the tripod will keep your audience from getting motion sickness. Connect the Dazzle's video input (yellow) to the camcorder's video output (also yellow).

Audio: Sound quality from the camcorder's built-in mic will be somewhat better than the webcam's built-in mic. But for better sound quality, you need an external mic (a shotgun mic would be best type), and still better would be a feed from the church sound system. If you are using the Dazzle unit below, your can tell the church A/V expert that the kind of feed you need is a line-level unbalanced RCA connection with a "y" adapter. Connect the Dazzle's audio inputs (red and white [sometimes red and black]) to either the camcorder's audio output (same colors) or to the church audio feed (whatever the church provides). I would also recommend using headphones to monitor the sound instead of the computer's speakers.

So, assuming you already own a camcorder and tripod, your investment is the A/V capture unit below (list price $80 but street prices from about $50!) and some face time with the church AV person -- and your results will be superior to using a webcam. You will need internet access at the church, but I assume you know that. Good luck!

Original Question

Anyone know of a board that can control multiple camcorders?

Q. My church is about to purchase 3 camcorders to record services with. Our main problem is how to merge the 3 feeds. I know we need a controller board to do that with, but I don't even know what they're called. My only media training was on an old SEG board from the 80's. And we're looking for something relatively cheap (under $400.00). Thanks in advance.

A. "Video Mixer".

Beware going cheap... you get what you pay for.

http://www.edirol.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=385

bhphotovideo is a good, reputable and trustworthy source.

Camcorders were not designed to be used as "studio cameras". I *strongly suggest you check with someone knowledgable about what you want to do.

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What would happen if i was caught masturbating on camera?

Q. Today I parked my car at a park in the back of a trailor (broad daylight). I was going to the park to relax and get ready for my shift. Well as usual, I pulled out my phone and sent a few text messages to friends. A couple minutes passed by, I made the worse mistake possible; I viewed an adult site on my phone and became completely aroused. Next thing I know, I'm unzipping my pants, pulled out my penis and start stroking it for a for 5 minute or so. Yes, I reached climax and ejaculated in a cup. Remember that trailor? Well, I looked forward and on top of the back of the trailor, I see a camera. I'm not sure if the camera is recorded 24/7 but if it did, it would see my every move.. I freaked out and my heart was beating fast, so I drove away quickly. If the video get sent out to fbi, what you think would happen? I don't care if it was posted on the internet for a laugh, but I'm scared I would be registered as a sex offender. Yes, the park has children, but I am not sick. I just happened to be very horny. How long should I wait around before l knowing I'm in the clear. I've been thinking about it all day.
Lol, I can't blame you for thinking I'm a troll. But this scenerio was very much real. :(

A. As long as you were not in a public place menacing people then you should be fine. It's public exposure that the police and judges crack down on.

Besides, think about this, what are the chances anyone was even looking or will look at the tape. Cameras are on 24/7. It takes a lot of manpower to sit and review those tapes. If no one in person saw you then I wouldn't worry. The police go after those who are harming others and you harmed no one if no one saw you.

Original Question

Digital camera that's also a video camera that records sound?

Q. I really like the cameras that can take pictures, and record videos with sound, but look like a regular digital camera. I want one that you can easily rewiew the videos you made (and pictures). I know most of them are expensive, like my friend has one and it's exactly what I want, except it was $150, but I will just have to save up my money for one. I have a mini child's camcorder already, but it's weird and cheap and barley works. Thanks!

A. they have a kodak one that is 100 dollars and u can buy it from costco, target, and also circuit city

Original Question

Are small video cameras allowed inside the Q for the Cleveland Cavaliers games?

Q. Are small video cameras allowed inside the Q for the Cleveland Cavaliers games? I am going for the playoff game tomorrow and was going to take a small vid camera just for pregame and team introduction vids at the Q. I know you can take a small handycam/vid camera inside the Browns stadium, I wonder if that holds true for Cavs games too?
Thanks in advance

A. Quicken Loans Arena policiies prohibit video recorders:

What you are not permitted to carry into Quicken Loans Arena

* No video recorders, audio recorders, or other similar electronic devices
* No laser pointers or weapons
* No backpacks, large bags, sealed packages of any kind (including gifts for performers)
* No bottles, cans, coolers
* No outside food or beverages. Exceptions are made for medical reasons, baby food and reasonable children’s snacks (crackers, raisins, juice boxes, etc.)

http://www.theqarena.com/arenainfo/policies/

Small cameras are permitted for Cavs games:

Camera Policy
The camera policy is determined by each show, and therefore varies from event to event. Cameras are permitted for Cavaliers games. If allowed, cameras will be inspected at designated turnstiles and must be no more than 6 inches in length and 4 inches wide across the lens. Anything greater than this is considered professional equipment and is not permitted in The Q. Call Event Information at (216) 420-2200 or toll free (800) 332-2287 to find out the camera policy for other events.

http://www.theqarena.com/arenainfo/policies/

Obviously, some smalll cameras and even cellphones can record short video clips. I don't know if security would confiscate such devices if they thought the user was making a video recording.

Go Cavs!!!

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Whats a good camcorder or video cam to record good dance videos on youtube?

Q. i've seen people use camcorders or something on youtube to record dance videos. i want to use the kind of slim kinds or sometin. to let it stand and i just record my feet movement or my whole me. what kind of video camera is the best for like a beginner or somethin? cost is like between $100.00-250 or somethin like that

A. Best Buy online has a bunch on sale right now in the $100 range that record straight to flash memory.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcat17080&type=page&qp=crootcategoryid%23%23-1%23%23-1~~q70726f63657373696e6774696d653a3e313930302d30312d3031~~cabcat0400000%23%230%23%23dh~~cabcat0403000%23%230%23%231j~~nf408%7C%7C243530202d202439392e3939&list=y&nrp=15&sc=abCameraCamcorderSP&sp=%2Bbrand+skuid&usc=abcat0400000


The other way to go is to use a webcam and capture straight from youtube (but this usually looks pretty jittery if you are making fast movements).

Original Question

What camera should I buy to record myself dancing?

Q. I am looking for a cheap camera to record myself dancing. Any suggestions?

A. I have a cheap little sanyo that my parents got me that is a point and shoot camera that does hd video up to 620i and it was under 100 and the videos come out pretty good. I use my good Nikon for longer videos and I also have a little video only camera that looks like an ipod and probably cost around $50 that also works well. So my suggestion is go to walmart or kmart and pick up a point and shoot that does video and you should be covered.

Original Question

What kind of video camera would be good for dancing videos and not get all blurry?

Q. I just need a camera that has good quality, can upload onto a computer & still have that good quality, & to be under $500. I'm gonna use it to record dances so it needs to be able to not get all fuzzy with the music & keep up so it won't get blurry. Any ideas or comments on anything, please :]

A. ugh... everyone needs under $500
one with good frame rate (low blur) is $800
the Canon HV-20

http://www.plasmaproductions.co.nr/
includes our use of the camera. We have increased in quality and it is getting better. It is an amazing camera but its expensive. I'm an amateur film maker so I have some form of experience, being that we have NO money. lol

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