I can't resist a virtual shopping expedition for camcorders. So if I understand the needs and the budget these are some of the candidates. At this price point 2 out of 3 ain't bad or you can't always get what you want at under $130. This is what I found:
At TigerDirect: Creative Vado 2nd Generation C44-4412 $119 You get 720 HD and if you are a Mac person it is supposed to work on OS X. On the audio side it is built-in Mic so...yeah. Kodak ZI8 HD Pocket Video Camcorder $149 k23-4418 Killer video quality and yes, you can hook up external Mic. After shipping is tacked on it might be out of your price range. Look around the brick and mortar stores, some of them are selling it for $149 or less. Flip Ultra Pocket Camcorder - Black, 120 Minute Video Capture, 640 x 480 $69.99 P229-1050 Standard Def video and built-in Mic. If all you really want to do is record in an office AND you know that you will have to have additional light sources this could do it. If you are prepared for the limitations. Overstock.com Be careful, there is muck in the camcorder category. There is one camcorder that records in PAL format. If you are Europe, no worries. If you are in the US, nope, walk on by the Toshiba Camileo S20. Kodak ZI6 1152537 Black HD Pocket Video Camera (Refurbished) $90 I've own this camcorder and it was sweet. Loved it. If I hadn't taken the "I am not to buy another camcorder until the end of the year pledge" I'd get this again. Downside is built-in audio and a quirky control panel on the front. Those are buttons, not icons. Resist the temptation to buy junk cheap camcorders. Deep breaths. Oh, you do know you'll need a tripod and some lights right? Happy Hunting, Gena http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com http://createvideonotebook.blogspot.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Tom Dolan <tomjdo...@...> wrote: > > Hi Julian, > > I've saved the email that you wrote as a reference for the future. It > was the most considered and considerate response I got, and well, the > future rushed in the door this past weekend. Right off the bat, I'm > apologizing for this surprise email and if it's too much trouble to > answer, and it may well be, I am not offended. I do have a Skype > account w/video capability so if that's an option, I'm available at > your convenience. Here's the reason for this rushed if not frantic > communique, > > A non-profit org. where I volunteer, heard about a Training program > I've been developing. At one of their events this past weekend their > CEO requested that I run a couple of these workshops for their staff. > Although it came as a surprise, for all the right reasons I said... > Yes. Which brings this email to you. > > I know I'll need a video camera as that's part of the training > regimen. The main issue is $$. I really want to do the training but > the camera need couldn't have come at a worse time financially. > Nevertheless, what is, is. So I re-read your email, below and > consolidating all the suggestions I've read, I figured that I should > wait to buy a camera with an audio-in for an xternal mic. But, that > feature raises the camera price substantially as other features are > added also or upgraded. > > The training will take place in a conference room or office. One > person at a time. Camera on a tripod, maybe 10-15' away. I will record > the person speaking, then plug the camera into a handy computer, > theirs, watch it and comment, then move on. That's it, no iMovie > editing, no saving on the camera. So I need some advice if you could > be so kind. > > Under the described conditions, do you recommend an xternal mic or > would the built in mic suffice, and remember this is about speaking. > Does the video format matter if I'm simply recording to view on a > computer, mac or pc, not to edit? > > As a result of this request, I've been frantically investigating > alternatives on the web. I went to ebay and found a VPC-HD 1000, USED > up for bids. Takes an xternal mic, which I may/may not need. Cruised > amazon. Found a simpler xacti CG10 on sale for $124. but no xternal > mic. Than I began looking at the newer digital point-n-shoots from > Canon, Sony, Nikon that are both pic & vid with audio. Priced at > around $150 w/vid capability, if they work and they might, that's the > top end of my budget right now. Would prefer around $100-125 actually. > I could go on, but out of respect for you, I'll stop. > > OK, so if you have anytime this week to address this or if you think > using Skype would expedite this or make it easier for you please advise. > > If you've read this far, you're a gem of a person, and > > Thank you, > > Tom Dolan > tomjdolan.com > > > On Jan 26, 2010, at 2:52 AM, Julian Seery Gude wrote: > > > Hi Tom, > > > > You mentioned the Sanyo's and their Xacti line is a big hit with > > many on this list and I'm one of them. > > > > To get an external mic you can go with the VPC-HD2000 which has a > > street price of $500 new (I think they listed for around $800). I > > really am a huge fan of the Xacti pistol grip format and I've used > > their entry level 720p offering the VPC-CG10 (sorry, no ext mic) to > > great satisfaction. Just last week I picked up an older VPC-HD1000 > > (does have ext mic) for $255 off eBay with lots of nice accessories > > (like a wide angle lens). > > > > I know a lot of people love the Canons. I believe Flash based units > > like the Canon Vixia HF200 are very good and in the price range of > > $550 street. > > > > Which leads me to a follow on question for the group. These HD > > videocameras need nice fast SDHC cards. Which ones have worked best > > for you? > > > > Theoretically any modern Flash based HD camera should be shooting > > through a Class 6 or better card. I've read lots of good things > > about Class 10 cards and after pouring through reviews settled on > > the Patriot LX series. The 8GB unit is only $26 but really hard to > > find in stock. 16GB in the Patriot goes for $46 and is widely > > available. I hear that the Patriots compare very favorably with the > > Sandisk Extreme's which go for over double the price. Any > > experiences with Class 6 and Class 10 SDHC cards to share? > > > > /julian > > > > --- > > Julian Seery Gude > > jul...@... > > {561} 584-9088 or {skype} exceler8 > > LOCALNa8ion.com and exceler8.com > > On the web: http://www.google.com/profiles/JulianSeeryGude > > > > On Jan 25, 2010, at 11:43 PM, Tom Dolan wrote: > > > >> Hey Vid-folk, > >> > >> I had an interesting idea and I want to run it by you. A local but > >> large pro camera shop might take in trade, a complete Pentax 35mm > >> outfit. Xcellent condition, lenses, motor, etc... towards something > >> else. I won't get what I think it's worth but I might be offered enuf > >> to let it go. Now, > >> > >> Here's the conundrum: at different price levels starting lo and > >> ending > >> at about $6/800..(OK so I'm optimistic), what would you suggest I > >> consider? It's got to work with iMac-iMovie'09, have an external mic, > >> and I prefer flash memory over tape/hard-drive. BTW, I was surprised > >> to see a Sanyo model mentioned here several times. I don't see them > >> featured on the review sites, usually the same canon/sony/pana/etc > >> stuff. My 1st 16mm camera was a Sanyo and it was pretty good. > >> > >> So what video cameras would YOU trade the 35mm system for? and I'm > >> not > >> into the Flip style camera for now. > >> > >> Go for it...and Thanx. > >> > >> Tom Dolan > >> tomjdo...@... > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > Tom Dolan > tomjdolan.com > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >
