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Author
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Topic: What video cam to use...
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Curt2u
Knows what it's all about
Member # 74
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posted February 01, 2003 05:39 PM
I've been considering doing some vid recording. I know Rich H does some. Any of you recommend a cam for this purpose? Are any more suited than the others? More durable?
Thanks in advance
Posts: 236 | From: NW | Registered: Jan 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted February 01, 2003 05:53 PM
Curt, I'm not up on current models. But my best advice is to get all the optical zoom you can, and ignore the digital zoom ratings. All the digital zoom does is blow up the image captured by the optical lens. Double the size, half the resolution. Extrapolate that to "500x" or whatever the big digital zoom number is, and you can imagine how uselessly bad the picture quality will be. Depending on exactly how you'll be using it, good true optical image stabilization is a big feature to look for too. Again, the true optical stabilization is a lot better than the digital stabilization, but in this case digital is better than none.
Oh, seems obvious enough I almost didn't mention it, but get mini-DV format.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted February 01, 2003 06:00 PM
Curt, I use a single-chip Sony digital, about $1000, my son uses a $300 Sharp. We both film at every stand and we get some pretty cool video of the same action from two perspectives at the same time. When viewing the video there is never any doubt which camera shot it. The Sony lens were made by Carl Zeiss and Sony is so proud of that fact that they stamp the name on the lens housing. The sound is much better on the Sony, very little wind hum, lots of it on Tyler's video. The Sony has SteadyCam feature which makes hand held shots much less shakey than Tyler's. I can film much longer than Tyler since the Sony has a Nightshot feature that magnifies the light several times. Plus it has infrared for total darkness, but the filming range is only about 15 feet with that feature. For what I require a camera to do, the Sony is just about perfect. If I were to make commercial videos I would spend another $1000-1500 and buy a 3 chip like DAA's which does just about everything but sell tickets to the completed film. (that may be a slight exaggeration)
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Curt2u
Knows what it's all about
Member # 74
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posted February 01, 2003 08:11 PM
Thanks much guys! That was very helpful. All I have now is an old B/W Handi-Cam that isn't going to cut it. LOL.
Appreciate the fast response.
Take care
Posts: 236 | From: NW | Registered: Jan 2003
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moses man
Knows what it's all about
Member # 76
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posted February 01, 2003 08:14 PM
Hey Bubba, ill shoot if you call and film LOL. No better make that , you shoot and call and ill film . yeah thats better . seriously , i have been wanting to do this for a long time lets get together and do it . after seeing the footage Muss shot a couple years ago , i have been very interested . tried to get the wife to do it , she keeps saying O,K, but never can get her in the field . J. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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Why dont they ever just come straight in ??
Posts: 26 | From: wash state | Registered: Feb 2003
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moses man
Knows what it's all about
Member # 76
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posted February 01, 2003 08:17 PM
Howdy guys thanks to Rich i found all of you . J .
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Why dont they ever just come straight in ??
Posts: 26 | From: wash state | Registered: Feb 2003
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Curt2u
Knows what it's all about
Member # 74
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posted February 02, 2003 10:42 PM
I've wanted to also Jerry. Shame to only get to see some of the action out there only once.
Rich, have you ever not had a response and then during editing or review saw an animal that went unnoticed? Neat to have the extra eye.
Take care, Curt
Posts: 236 | From: NW | Registered: Jan 2003
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Greenside
seems to know what he is talking about
Member # 10
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posted February 03, 2003 12:29 PM
Sorry Curt for getting off O.T.
I'm considering buying a digital camera. Wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. Are the $400-$500 types really any better than the $200-$300 ones.
Dennis
Posts: 719 | From: IA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Locohead
World Famous Smoke Dancer
Member # 15
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posted February 03, 2003 01:09 PM
One more tip Curt, Always video tape from a tripod. ALWAYS!!!!!! Get a good fluid head too!
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I love my critters and chick!!!! :)
Posts: 2219 | From: CO | Registered: Jan 2003
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted February 03, 2003 01:11 PM
With what little I have done, I had a surprise when I got home and played some footage. I had lost track of a coyote in heavy brush, but I kept the camera running, panning, but essentially blind.
I was very pleased with the results. The camera picked up a lot more detail than the naked eye, or what I could make out through the viewfinder. I expected pictures of bushes, didn't even recognize what I was looking at, at first.
Sure doesn't hurt to try, especially low light conditions; the camera sees more than you do.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 32363 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted February 03, 2003 01:31 PM
Hell, I was looking at some footage we shot last winter, intended as "setup" footage. Basically just showing me driving through some snow. Saw a coyote running by in the background that we had been totally oblivious to!
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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DAA
Utah/Promoted WESTERN REGIONAL Hunt Director
Member # 11
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posted February 03, 2003 01:39 PM
Dennis, depends totally on what you want to use the camera for. If you intend to have some of your pictures printed, a higher pixel count will have more value than if you simply want to post your pictures on-line. Some of the other features that cost, involve manual/creative control of your pictures, vs. "point and shoot". Another area where the money goes, is in a good lens. A decent optical tele lens is going to run up the price. A cheap camera will have a cheap lens.
- DAA
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"Oh yeah, they're gonna talk to you, and talk to you, and talk to you about individual freedom, but they see a free individual, it's gonna scare 'em." -- George Hanson, Easy Rider, 1969.
Rocky Mountain Varmint Hunter
Posts: 2676 | From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Jan 2003
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pup
Knows what it's all about
Member # 90
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posted February 06, 2003 08:22 AM
curt2u-
I have been using a Sony ccd-trv58, 10x optics with a digital zoom, as stated in another post the digital is blotchie as you go up, this model is also has nightshots, very helpful at low light. Mine has the flip out side view , which is alot easier in finding your target. I use a tripod, sometimes good and sometimes bad, depending where the dog comes up at. A word of caution on a tripod with the fluid head, the colder the temp the slower it pans an area, I am going back to the old style.
for what it is worth
later pup
Posts: 213 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Feb 2003
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Five O in ND
PAKMAN
Member # 95
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posted February 09, 2003 04:25 PM
Great ideas on the cameras guys. I'm new to the board but used to sell video cameras for a living and am impressed with all the knowledge. Want the best, drop $1500 on a 3 CCD Sony and you're set. Otherwise, take everyone's advice and get Mini-DV, good optical zoom and stabilizer if possible, side-view screen and so on. A lot of digital cammies sell for more because of features most don't need. As far as pixels go, most "video" in digital cammies is roughly the same quality. What varies is the quality of the still photo that it takes. Ask yourself if you need still photos and if you do, do you plan to print them. If you're like me, and just like to put them on the computer or e-maiil them to friends, 640X480 resolution is PLENTY for the computer screen. Also, in North Dakota where I live, it's darned cold and that can have a serious effect on electronics so get one that suits your climatic conditions as well. Not an expert, just some thoughts. Good luck.
Five 0
Posts: 9 | From: Fargo, ND | Registered: Feb 2003
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Curt2u
Knows what it's all about
Member # 74
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posted February 09, 2003 08:02 PM
Thanks very much for all the help fellas.
Rich, I'm living in Yakima 5 days a week, hence the new location in my profile. Really cramping my calling. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Thanks again, Curt
Posts: 236 | From: NW | Registered: Jan 2003
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Rich Higgins
unknown comic
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posted February 10, 2003 03:46 PM
Curt, this Sony has a Memory Stick feature that takes digital stills. The photos that DAA, Greenside, and Lance have posted for me on the various boards were taken with my camcorder. Concerning the tripod, I use it if I'm pretty sure I can set up facing the direction the coyotes will appear. Most of my stands are set up in the desert where the coyotes can and do pop-up anywhere and I have to hand-hold the camera or lose a lot of footage. If I sit still the steady-cam feature works well. If I crawl toward the coyote or move around to annoy the critter you can get a little seasick watching my video. I edit out any motion unless it has sound that is pertinent to what is going on in the video. I'm going to mount my camera on a 1022 stock and try that this weekend. Maybe that will help.
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Curt2u
Knows what it's all about
Member # 74
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posted February 13, 2003 06:14 PM
Hi Rich. Decided to play hooky tomorrow. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Sure appreciate you taking the time to provide the valuable info. I'm going to start saving my pennies now. Sounds like just the cam I'm looking for.
Thanks again, Curt
Posts: 236 | From: NW | Registered: Jan 2003
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