Kaido's 2009 Camcorder Guide

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: degeester
Thanks Kaido, I just bought the HF10 bundle @ Costco for 549. Comes with carrying case, and a Dane-Elec 4gb card. Now to start looking for a good 16 or 32GB card.

Awesome! In addition to Youtube HD, be sure to check out Vimeo if you're not familiar with it:

http://www.vimeo.com/

 

[leglez]

Just wondering about how much space does 1 minute of 1080p footage take up on an SD card when recording with the Canon HFS-100? What about 720p?

 

[francisA]

Originally posted by: leglez
Just wondering about how much space does 1 minute of 1080p footage take up on an SD card when recording with the Canon HFS-100? What about 720p?

If I'm not mistaken, on the highest setting (FXP; 1920x1080;17Mbps), I can record 1hr2min on an 8GB card so that's roughly 129MB/min

Edit: Nevermind, just realized you were asking about the HFS-100 and not the HF-100. Sorry. But from Canon's website, HFS100 @ 24Mbps will do 2hr55min on a 32GB card, so that's about 183MB/min

 

[santuitman]

Hi
I just thought I'd let you know we picked up the Zi6. We got it at Target with a slight sale and a 20 gift card so it was ~150. My wife liked the looks and was worried about the smaller screen of the newer model plus the onboard usb was a good thing for us whereas HDMI out didn't matter. They really should warn you about getting a memoery card at the same time but thanks to your guide ans some reading we knew what to expect ~ 30 sec of on board video. I musat say you can get it pretty smooth video if you're patient. My wife has already fallen in love with it!
Thanks Kaido!!!!!

 

[AUMM]

I just placed an order for the Creative Labs Vado HD for $129 from Amazon.com

you have to order from Amazon and not one of the other sellers, here is a direct link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

and use this code at checkout: I4PQ9E3S

It is out of stock until April 11th but you can still order it now.

Thanks for all the info Kaido! :thumbsup:

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: AUMM
I just placed an order for the Creative Labs Vado HD for $129 from Amazon.com

you have to order from Amazon and not one of the other sellers, here is a direct link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

and use this code at checkout: I4PQ9E3S

It is out of stock until April 11th but you can still order it now.

Thanks for all the info Kaido! :thumbsup:

That...is an insanely great price! If I had the cash I'd totally pick one up! At this price, you can't say no to a pocket cam, haha.

 

[lolabunny087]

which brand is the best for HD handycams .. sony, jvc , canon , samsung ... I heard sony has got a lot of problems with their handycams ... especially lenses.. is it true ?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: lolabunny087
which brand is the best for HD handycams .. sony, jvc , canon , samsung ... I heard sony has got a lot of problems with their handycams ... especially lenses.. is it true ?

I haven't heard anything particularly negative about any of them, but I'm not really into the handycam-style of camcorders. If your budget allows, check out the HF-100 for $530. Canon has a reputation for great picture quality and the HF-100 is a real winner in that regard, especially for the price.

What exactly are you looking for in a camera?

 

[leglez]

Originally posted by: AUMM
I just placed an order for the Creative Labs Vado HD for $129 from Amazon.com

you have to order from Amazon and not one of the other sellers, here is a direct link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

and use this code at checkout: I4PQ9E3S

It is out of stock until April 11th but you can still order it now.

Thanks for all the info Kaido! :thumbsup:

Where did you find that coupon? I am looking to get the Vado for cheap, but that coupon is expired.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez

Originally posted by: AUMM
I just placed an order for the Creative Labs Vado HD for $129 from Amazon.com

you have to order from Amazon and not one of the other sellers, here is a direct link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obi...ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

and use this code at checkout: I4PQ9E3S

It is out of stock until April 11th but you can still order it now.

Thanks for all the info Kaido! :thumbsup:

Where did you find that coupon? I am looking to get the Vado for cheap, but that coupon is expired.

They've got NIB Vado's on eBay for about $157 shipped (plus whatever Live Cashback is right now).

 

[leglez]

I am looking to get a cheaper camera for not to start doing video reviews with until I can afford a full Cannon setup. Can you take stills with the Vado? Right now thats the one thing holding me back from it.

I am not sure if I want the Vado, the Zi6 or the Zx1. I like the video quality of the Vado better, but I like that you can supply your own memory cards for the other two.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez
I am looking to get a cheaper camera for not to start doing video reviews with until I can afford a full Cannon setup. Can you take stills with the Vado? Right now thats the one thing holding me back from it.

I am not sure if I want the Vado, the Zi6 or the Zx1. I like the video quality of the Vado better, but I like that you can supply your own memory cards for the other two.

For top quality, I'd go with the Vado. For convenience, I'd go with the Kodak. My sister has the Zi6 and it's super convenient for her, because the batteries and memory cards are swappable. But the Vado's picture quality looks better to me, plus you get the benefit of a wide-angle lens.

 

[leglez]

Is there supposed to be any change in picture quality with the Zx1?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez
Is there supposed to be any change in picture quality with the Zx1?

Mostly the same, although the Zi6 looks a tad better to me (color-wise), and this guy thinks the mic is better on the Zi6: (perhaps due to the additional weather-protection on the Zx1?)

http://www.vimeo.com/4109443

 

[Kaido]

Flip Video Ultra HD unboxed: ($199)

http://www.engadget.com/2009/0...al-debut-gets-unboxed/

+ HD
+ HDMI
+ 120 minutes record (previously was 60)
+ Removable/rechargable battery
+ Support for AA batteries (in a pinch)

 

[Kaido]

Free Windows Video Editing software!

http://devrexster.googlepages.com/mmk

Portable Movie Maker:
+ Based on Windows Movie Maker 2.1
+ Works on Windows XP, Vista, and 7
+ Portable (run it from a flash drive, if you want)
+ Extra transitions and effects added

* Does not support HD export

 

[Kaido]

Hot hot hot! Canon HFS-100 for $989 at B&H! (add to your cart to see the price)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...s&Q=&sku=597440&is=REG

This is THE high definition camera to get right now!

 

[leglez]

Just picked up my Vado HD tonight for $135 brand new. Which Gorrillapod works best for the Vado? The original?

Also Kaido what App did you tell me to get the other day to encode video for it? I remember you saying something but I forgot what it was.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Kaido
Hot hot hot! Canon HFS-100 for $989 at B&H! (add to your cart to see the price)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...s&Q=&sku=597440&is=REG

This is THE high definition camera to get right now!

That's quite a d-e-a-l...

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez
Just picked up my Vado HD tonight for $135 brand new. Which Gorrillapod works best for the Vado? The original?

Also Kaido what App did you tell me to get the other day to encode video for it? I remember you saying something but I forgot what it was.

The Gorillapod Original holds up to 11.5 ounces, the VadoHD looks like it's less than 4 ounces. You can get it in a bunch of colors too:

http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/original/

I'd also recommend getting a Compact Ballhead to slap on top of the Gorillapod. Here's one for $18:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/...mpact_Ballhead_60.html

The ballhead gives you rotational capabilities and adds to the flexibility of the Gorillapod - I added one recently to my smaller Gorillapod and it's really slick because I can slap the Gorillapod on a fence, then rotate the camera anywhere I want! On my bigger Gorillapod, I actually got a full pan/tilt tripod head since the bigger ones can support the weight

Here's the encoding software:

VoltaicHD (for PC & Mac)

 

[leglez]

Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for! I am going to go ahead and order the gorillapod, and test it out and after I play with it for a bit I will decide if I need the ballhead. Also is there anything to protect the lens? Some sort of cap or anything?

Just ordered my Gorillapod, got the grey color since it matches the case of the Vado. If anyone is ordering you might try the coupon code "SMUGMUG" I just used it and got the original Gorillapod for 20% off, $17.56.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: Kaido
Hot hot hot! Canon HFS-100 for $989 at B&H! (add to your cart to see the price)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bn...s&Q=&sku=597440&is=REG

This is THE high definition camera to get right now!

That's quite a d-e-a-l...

Yeah I'm awfully tempted at that price, but I just ordered a D90 for my wife and want to see how the video recordings on that turn out. If they're good I'll just use that as my "digital" camcorder, but boy oh boy is that sub-$1k price on the HFS-100 tempting!

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: leglez
Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for! I am going to go ahead and order the gorillapod, and test it out and after I play with it for a bit I will decide if I need the ballhead. Also is there anything to protect the lens? Some sort of cap or anything?

Just ordered my Gorillapod, got the grey color since it matches the case of the Vado. If anyone is ordering you might try the coupon code "SMUGMUG" I just used it and got the original Gorillapod for 20% off, $17.56.

I haven't really seen too many aftermarket products like lens caps for the Vado, mostly just cases and stuff. Nice job with the discount! Sub-$20 is a great price...it's a beast of a little tripod! If you're creative with the Gorillapod, you can pretty much aim it anywhere you'd like, so a ballhead isn't a "must", just more of a convenience item so that you don't have to reposition the tripod itself every time you want to get a different angle from the same position.

 

[theblackbox]

amazon had it at that price too.

i just ordered a gorillapod slr zoom for my hf s10 and my 20d, so i needed a little heavier model.

 

[Kaido]

Whoohoo, the D90 just arrived! Played around with it a bit - AMAZING videos! It's no camcorder, but with a little creativity you can make some really killer movies! Adding this to the "to do" list of guides