> From: Ronda Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Is anyone using a Hard Disk Camcorder? > If so, what are your impressions please? > > Yesterday I purchased a JVC HDD GZ-MG37AA Camcorder. It has a 30GB HD.
Rhonda, we've been using the earlier 4GB JVC GZ MG50 Everio HDD camcorder to record lectures at our Margaret River campus for uploading into Curtin's iLectures system and we've been reasonably happy with it. It is great just copying the video files off the camera's hard disk over USB 2.0 onto the Mac at much faster than realtime speeds, but it is a pain having to convert the muxed MPEG-2 video file into a format Quicktime based programs like Discreet Cleaner, FCP or iMovie etc can understand. With Apple's MPEG-2 playback codec, the video shows up fine, but the AC-3 audio doesn't work. Hello silent movies. :-( We use MPEG Streamclip to convert the files into other Quicktime formats which works well but is an extra step though still a fair bit faster than real-time digitisation of DV footage over Firewire. We¹ve been irritated that none of the currently shipping JVC HDD cameras have an external microphone input option meaning you have to use the built-in mic which is not nearly as good as having a lapel on a lecturer's shirt. The new 3-CCD JVC GZ-MG505 due in July does have an external mic input at last though. We're currently about to purchase the new Sony DCRSR100 (Aus$1799): http://www.sony.com.au/dis/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=30727# This HDD camcorder has the option of an external Bluetooth microphone for Aus$349 which eliminates all of the time-consuming setup of a traditional separate wireless lapel microphone and receiver. Just what the doctor ordered for simple setup by lecturers. :-) * 30GB hard disk 21hrs of ³DVD quality² video at lowest quality setting * 3 megapixel digital still camera with flash * HD widescreen recording * analog audio and composite & S-Video video in and out * Super NightShot (not sure how this compares to the JVC though) * 2.7² wide Touch screen LCD * 10x optical zoom * USB 2.0 Optional Bluetooth Microphone and hot-shoe mount Receiver (Aus$349): http://www.sony.com.au/dis/catalog/product.jsp?id=ECMHW1 * 30m range * The bluetooth lapel mic records the centre channel out of a 5.1 channel surround sound signal so the other 4.1 channels would be captured using the omni-directional surround-sound mic on the camera. Good for capturing classroom discussion closer to the camera as well as the high quality sound from the lecturer * Supplied with Neck Stap, Arm band, Shirt Clip & Carry Pouch > High Reliability using High Speed Frequency Hopping to avoid interference Unfortunately this camera also records footage in muxed MPEG-2 so we¹ll still have to convert it using MPEG Streamclip, but it looks pretty good. I¹ve been meaning to have another look around for a codec for Quicktime that works with muxed MPEG-2 and AC3 sound as it would eliminate this extra step (if anyone knows of something off the top of their head I¹d love to know). I wish these HDD cameras used MPEG-4 AVC, but no doubt real-time H.264 compression is still too big an ask in a small consumer device like this. -Mart -------------------------------------- Martin Hill email: mart "at" ozmac.com homepages: http://mart.ozmac.com Mb: 0417-967-969 hm: (08)9314-5242 > From: Ronda Brown <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 13:22:24 +0800 > To: WAMUG Mailing List <[email protected]> > Subject: JVC HDD Camcorder > > Hi WAMUGers, > > Is anyone using a Hard Disk Camcorder? > If so, what are your impressions please? > > Yesterday I purchased a JVC HDD GZ-MG37AA Camcorder. It has a 30GB HD. > It comes with software 'Capty MPEG Edit EX' so you can convert the > MPEG-2 (Muxed) file to DV Stream for Editing in iMovie HD. > It also comes with Mono DVD for Everio, if you don't use iDVD. > If you don't want to edit, you can connect the camera to a DVD Burner > (sold separately) & dub the video files in the camera to a DVD disc. > > One reason I purchased it for is it's ability to shoot in bad light. > It has a LED light that you set to automatically turn on when > shooting in insufficient light conditions. JVC is the only Camcorder > (I understand) to have this feature. > It also has 'Nightscope' for recording with little light in dim > locations. > > I've kept my Sony DV Camcorder DCR-TRV320E as it has DV In/Out. > The JVC HDD is USB 2 connection. > > <http://www.jvc-australia.com/products/ > _products_sub_group_details.asp?ID=1528> > > I've only shot a few minutes in different light conditions, but so > far I'm quite impressed with it. > I don't think the quality is as good as DV tape .... but, I haven't > produced a DVD yet! > > I would be interested in anyone's views on Hard Disk Camcorders as > opposed to DV Camcorders. > > Cheers, > Ronni > Car'n The Pies
