Video Camera Buying Advice
Discussion
Right, now that www.pistonheads.tv is up and running I'm going to need a video camera to film some road tests, track stuff etc.
I guess the important factors will be the need to strap it to a car occasionally and ease of grabbing the video back onto the PC.
What should I buy?
I guess the important factors will be the need to strap it to a car occasionally and ease of grabbing the video back onto the PC.
What should I buy?
MINI DV with DV IN/OUT for easy down/uploading and perhaps external mic inputs for keeping mics out of wind blast.
Mine is a JVC wih quality of 530 lines (broadcast quality is 640 lines) but you pays your money and takes your choice. May depend on quality required for Pistonhead.tv?
Editing software - PINNACLE STUDIO DV worth considering and is used by Steve Brazzi (of "Surrey run" fame - oh and me
Hope that helps!
Mine is a JVC wih quality of 530 lines (broadcast quality is 640 lines) but you pays your money and takes your choice. May depend on quality required for Pistonhead.tv?
Editing software - PINNACLE STUDIO DV worth considering and is used by Steve Brazzi (of "Surrey run" fame - oh and me
Hope that helps!
Ted
I bought a JVC from..
www.letsgodigital.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_JVC_3.html
Last year, not sure how competitiv they are but I would echo that if you can get DV in and out you should.
Also use pinnacle DV studio 8, very easy to use and includes the firewire card.
Adobe premier is what the semi pros use.
If you are doing a lot then use a decent desktop for rendering, lots of ram V fast CPU and two hard drives (one for the data) will help things along.
Good luck
D.
I bought a JVC from..
www.letsgodigital.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_JVC_3.html
Last year, not sure how competitiv they are but I would echo that if you can get DV in and out you should.
Also use pinnacle DV studio 8, very easy to use and includes the firewire card.
Adobe premier is what the semi pros use.
If you are doing a lot then use a decent desktop for rendering, lots of ram V fast CPU and two hard drives (one for the data) will help things along.
Good luck
D.
The Dax owners club are curently talking about the helmet cam from here
www.rfconcepts.co.uk
although it is really a bullet cam
www.rfconcepts.co.uk
although it is really a bullet cam
Hi Ted,
I bought a bullet cam a year ago to mount to my helmet for mountain biking and motorcycling. This plugs into the AV IN socket of my camcorder and means that I can stow the camcorder safely in a rucksack so that if I falll off it shouldn't get smashed up, where as if the bullet cam gets damaged it's only £100 compared to over a grand for the camcorder.
This might be worth considering if you wanted to do any external shots from the car e.g. low mounted on the front Rendezvous style! It also shouldn't be affected by vibration so much as I believe this can damage some camcorders. The website mentioned above sell a complete kit with everything you need. Highly recommended.
I bought a bullet cam a year ago to mount to my helmet for mountain biking and motorcycling. This plugs into the AV IN socket of my camcorder and means that I can stow the camcorder safely in a rucksack so that if I falll off it shouldn't get smashed up, where as if the bullet cam gets damaged it's only £100 compared to over a grand for the camcorder.
This might be worth considering if you wanted to do any external shots from the car e.g. low mounted on the front Rendezvous style! It also shouldn't be affected by vibration so much as I believe this can damage some camcorders. The website mentioned above sell a complete kit with everything you need. Highly recommended.
)....choice of lenses too, from mild zoom to wide angle, add an external mic placed behind driver seat and the quality should be excellent. Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff