Time is running out! Should I get a new camera or just upgrade my software?

[Zoe Elliott]

How’s this one?

I think this is the one I’d go for, but I want to be certain it’ll work first…

https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001BN7DY6/ciaouk-ce-21/ref=nosim

Zoe.

[Rafael Amador]

Hi Zoe,
I think this last one may be the best.
The HC 51 have a nice zoom but it lost to interesting features of the HC 35: The night shot and the “Advanced HAD Technology”.
This one that you points have everything.
The “Advanced HAD Technology” (never heard about before) allow you to work with lower light conditions and this is very important to get a good picture.
Cheers,
Rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
To quote myself from above:
[Paul Dickin] “The cheaper Sony DCR-HC51E doesn’t have the FW In mode, so can’t be used for monitoring during the edit. “
That applies to HC53E as well – a real limitation unless you plan to buy a DV deck as well.

[Zoe Elliott]

Oh right. Thanks for pointing that one out!

I’ve been thinking the Canon MD235 might be a better deal anyway, since it has an external mic jack (which will be useful for making documentaries). Here’s a link: https://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/5125676/Canon-MD235-Mini-DV-Digital-Camcorder/Product.html

What do you think? Does this one have “Firewire in mode”? I’m still not sure I know what that means….
I thought I’d just buy the camera, then buy a Firewire cable (probably 400, since that what my year-old MacBook Pro runs). But it sounds like that might be my stupidity talking again…

Thankyou so much for your continuing advice.

Zoe.

[Paul Dickin]

[Zoe Elliott-Shircore] “Does this one have “Firewire in mode”? I’m still not sure I know what that means…. “
Hi
No it doesn’t. That means you can’t record your edit back to tape (for back-up or archiving).
It also means you can’t use the camera to show your edit on a proper TV – you can only view your editing on the computer screen.

Since standard definition video is interlaced, its only on an external TV or video monitor screen that you can actually see how the interlace is working – without an external monitor you are in effect editing ‘blind’ to interlace problems.

[Zoe Elliott]

So what can I do?? What can I look for?

Zoe.

[Rafael Amador]

Hi Zoe,
Sorry last night I was tired and I couldn’t see the shortcomings that Paul pointed.
Go for the first one. the DCHR 35.
https://www.sony.co.uk/product/sdh-minidv/dcr-hc35e#pageType=TechnicalSpecs
It have FW IN/OUT and A/V out. so you can hook the camera to an external monitor or TV.
Rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Zoe Elliott]

Hi,

So (for future reference) which of these jack points should I be looking for?

Video In/Out,
S-Video In/Out,
i.LINK (DV) In/Out,
i.LINK (MICROMV) In/Out

I’m feeling really lost.

The DCR HC35E is an older model. Does its HC53E updated version have the right ports?

The only reason I’d thought the CANON was better was because it had an external Audio Jack and because a reviewer said the picture quality was better than the SONY’s and that the SONY hisses while it records.

Urgh. I dunno.

Z

[Rafael Amador]

[Zoe Elliott-Shircore] ” Does its HC53E updated version have the right ports?”
No. The most complete camcorder is the old one.
I’ve been having a look to the Canon specs but are not as clear as the SONY:
https://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Camcorders/Digital/md235/index.asp?specs=1
In TERMINAL says DV, Iguess that means FireWire (iLINK is call by SONY). It also say that have “AV”, that’s analog video/audio OUT. It says clearly that no A/V in, but you don’t need that unless you want to digitize VHS tapes or so.
In the end it have similar features than the SONY DCR-HC 35.
Is very difficult to tell you which camera to purchase. If we would be talking about more professional cameras we would have more information and more elements t compare.
And don’t think that a model may be worst because is older.
Rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Paul Dickin]

Hi
The trouble is that the camcorder manufacturers have moved on from Mini DV, to MPEG-2 DVD-R and hard drive cameras, or to AVCHD solid-state SD-card cameras.
Neither new format affords the ease of editing that Mini DV does.

The current Mini DV camcorders are regarded as low-end, and don’t have a full feature set for a serious user. That means buying an older better-spec model, if one can be found.

A Mic-in socket is pretty much essential for serious interview-type production.
iLink-In (or DV-in) is also essential for production that is going to end up on DVD (or tape) rather than the web.
S-Video or composite video-in is necessary for digitising older video recordings from VHS.

Ignore MicroMV, its a defunct MPEG-2 format.