J D Webster

I need to upgrade my camcorder. I had a VHS camcorder that was so ancient the patent number was only 3 digits long. Ok, that's a stretch, but it was way outdated and the boy I gave it to was just enthralled with it. At least I found it a good home.

I am looking for a relatively recent camcorder that has good sound qualities, and can record clips for YouTube, the website, and footage for local TV commercials. I am helping with a County Commissioner election campaign and everything our little group has is way too old, way too cranky, or produces images that are too small to be useable for TV Commercials.

And did I mention that my budget is .... tight? My budget is in the $600 to $800 range. Any recommendations??

daplight Loc: Kansas

What kind of a DLSR do you have? The Nikon 5100 has video capability, has a mic input, and produces a HD 1080 video. I know this is a new realm, but it presents excellent options. If you go the camcorder route- I would make sure it has a mic input. Good lighting and camera handling are always critical.

J D Webster

Nikon D60. Ans I appreciate your input.

BigBird Loc: Arlington, TX

JD I have been using a Sony HandyCam for several years with great results. It is the DCR-HC32 and record in wide screen. Here is an example of a video that I uploaded to YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zk-oughpNo

Ken

Paw Paw Bill Loc: d

For Youtube or the website, most home versions will do.

Your problem is the TV commercial. I produced a 1 hour program each week for several years. When I began I was using a commercial camera that cost nearly 3 thousand. After cameras got cheaper and better, I tested my camera against new technology. The difference was dramatic, gave away the other. I am not active today in its production, but still advise and help my successor.

Final outcome is that in your price range, you can not get a camera to produce a commercial that would view well unless you were 20 yards from the TV. You need at least a 1/2" cmos sensor and preferrably a 3 sensor unit. Sound from the camera mic won't work. You will need a wired lapel mike at the least (hide the wires). A cordless mic system is better, but it alone exceeds your budget. The system you need at minimum may possibly be purchased used for a couple thousand.

Actually the sensor on a DSLR could produce a video of acceptable quality, but again, you will spend bucks for the lens needed, mic needed and the camera itself.

Sorry, all bad news. Best advice is to stick to the other venues. The system I ended up with ran 40,000 and it still did not compare to the 4,000,000 one that I used for another project after that.

J D Webster

Thanks, Ken. Sony has a great name in audio and video, and I have looked at their current product line. My only problem is the difference between want and afford. I also am aware of how quickly these products become obsolete. I am tending towards the hard disk cams, but the flash card memory cams are more affordable. And I have to know whether the output is .flv or .mp4 or yada yada. And the manufacturers do not volunteer what I consider pertinent info.

What type of memory does your Sony have/require and what type of file does it create? I am trying to formulate a Manufacturer/memory type/file created spreadsheet just for my reference.

I appreciate your help.

BigBird Loc: Arlington, TX

JD it uses a mini DV tape for 1 hour of recording.

J D Webster

Bill,

Thanks for your comments. I have been trying to do too much with too little, and have figured out that your conclusion is almost inescapable. I guess being able to make a YouTube video is going to be our highest in-house possibility. Any suggestions for a camcorder with good audio? Or capable of great audio if using a "mini boom" mic?

I am an old mudman and I like the picture of that rig at dusk. Nice shot!

JD

Paw Paw Bill Loc: d

Sorry about the delay in responding, but LSU was giving Arkansas a lesson in proper football play.

First, the audio capability of any digital camcorder will be equal in the recording from an external mic. The mic is in control. Using the on-board mic is where the problem arises. Just be sure that the unit has facility for audio input. You do not need a stereo input for the things you plan, so don't attempt to use a two mic arrangement.

As to the camcorder itself, I can't really address that since I am not really familiar with the current state of the art in the size that your budget allows. I had to get 57 minutes of finished video to fill the time requirement for the TV broadcast that I supervised, so I was not concerned with tape or mini DVD. I recorded via fire-wire to an outboard recorder that could give me two hours at DVD quality. Most camecorders use 1/4 inch sensors. If you can find a 1/3 inch in your price range...grap it. It will be worth it and will fill your needs. Otherwise, I am partial to the Sony product line.

I first walked onto a mud pit in 1952. The purple dispersion lines of a quebracho mud appealed to me. Back in the 70's I worked for the 5th largest mud company in the world. I was the Senior Engineer over the entire mud engineering dept. and mud school. I wrote most of the mud programs (4-5 a day) and did a good job on each. The advertisements from the company billed our programs as the best in the industry. Anyway, I now oversee the technical operations on a company that is production related. I am the primary chemist in developing products and blends that we use. I have a few customers that insist that I handle their drilling engineer and/or mud engineering work. To that end I am doing both on a well right now. I only drill 2 to 4 wells a year and they have to pay a premium to get me, but they do. Where are you?

J D Webster

Bill, Panama City Beach is home now. I worked for Delta Mud in 77, 78 & 79 and trained in Houma. I lived from 77 to 99 in Midland, Texas, and eventually worked my way around to Landman and Independent Operator. I worked quite a few oil muds and polymer muds on deep holes, but only worked quebracho muds in LA and Southeast Texas. In 1954 & 55 we lived in Amarillo and picked up a mud cup somewhere. My mom used it for serving milk. I identified it as a mud cup when I saw a picture in an old Baroid handbook in 78 or so.

Thanks for the ideas. I am contacting all of my photographer friends and searching for a newer Nikon to buy. I will then find a "boom" mic and should be set.

Thanks, JD

Paw Paw Bill Loc: d

Spent 10 years with Delta before moving on to bigger things. They offered me a VP job, but that was not what I wanted. I was long gone by the time you came in. It was Chromalloy Drilling Fluids by the time you got there. Best of luck with your endeavor!