Video cameras....

[HeliMix]

Hey folks, I am looking at picking up a video camera. I am not going to be going into business with this, is it just for personal usage. I do not care about high def or any of that. I just want something I can shoot video with, preferably with a memory stick. Name brands I could really care a less about since a lot of this technology has equalized (to an extend). I just want a cheap affordable camera. Any one out there picked up a camera that you wondered how good it would be, but it has turned out to be a great purchase?

If you have any ideas at cameras I should look at it, I would greatly appreciate a link etc.

[LockMD]

Mike, I have this one: http://www.raidentech.com/24ghzmiwicoc.html

but you want something self contained the only thing I know of is flycamone and its not all that good records to a SD card.

[HeliMix]

For the heli, I am considering either the RadeinTech one or the flycam2 (new one they came out with). The camera I am asking about now would be to record flights, how to's etc. I found one on Craig's List. Not sure if it is a good deal for I am just now learning about cameras. Spent my lunch at BestBuy and Circuit City and am more confused now than when I first went to the stores. LOL The details for the camera I have found used are here.
A post here in another thread (http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=72250)

[LockMD]

I have seen videos with the new one flycamone2 as well and they dont look much better then the original version. If you do find a self contained one for the heli let me know.

[otto975d]

Hi Mike,, I am telling you now if you do not get a HDD camera you will be sorry . The one with the memory cards or mini disc or even the full DVDs are a pain in the butt. You being an IT guy should really like the hard drive type of camcorder I have a Panasonic SDR-H18 it was only $349.00 I got it at circuit city... watch for sales that's what I did.( it might be discontinued now) Which is cheap for a HDD but well worth it. no bells and whistles just as simple as can be. just consider it first. think of it this way you are all set to record some awesome flight and you lost your memory card or you ran out of recording discs ,or the last pack you bought you just found out are the wrong ones LOL Just my two cents. if your budget doesn't allow that price range then try and be patient and save up for it .It will be well worth the wait. I hope this just gives you something to think about.

[HeliMix]

Otto, what about one like this? Link at CircuitCity (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/JVC-Everio-G-GZ-MG155US-Hard-Disk-Camcorder-with-Docking-Station-GZ-MG155US/sem/rpsm/oid/171438/catOid/-13063/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do#availability)

Or like this one? Another option @ CC
(http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Panasonic-SDR-S7S-SD-Card-Camcorder-Silver-SDRS7S/sem/rpsm/oid/202555/catOid/-13063/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

[otto975d]

I can tell you the JVC with the docking station is a real good deal When I was looking at camcorders I was going to get the JVC ( I don't know if it was the same model # but it was an Everio ) The JVC was $429 without the docking station The Panasonic was on sale that day for $349 so I bought that instead I think they where discontinuing that model # They might be doing the same with the JVC that's why its such a good price but who cares its a good deal.

[HeliMix]

:lol: too funny. Was just coming back up here to say never mind, I'm on my way to CC for the Everio. :WOW

[otto975d]

:lol: too funny. Was just coming back up here to say never mind, I'm on my way to CC for the Everio. :WOW
I think youll like it ( I HOPE) LOL

[HeliMix]

WAHOOO :happyd I am the proud owner of a new digital camcorder. Now if I can just figure out how to use it, and also to find a cameraman.. person. :lol:

[LockMD]

or at the very least set her up on a tripod and fly in front of it :)

way cool......my heli addiction is not letting me afford it :(

I want one, but will have to settle with what I have for now (its a panasonic with the mini dvd discs) HDD is the way to go.

Cant wait to see the quality of your vids.


Edit: 19MPH wind with 31MPH gusts.......I know stupid but I have to feed the addiction I fly (hover/recover) anyhow :) gonna try my newly arrived e-flite carbons now....

[otto975d]

WAHOOO :happyd I am the proud owner of a new digital camcorder. Now if I can just figure out how to use it, and also to find a cameraman.. person. :lol:
:bananaThat's great you'll figure it out no sweat. Can't wait for the first video

[HeliMix]

Ok now, this wise man once told me, don't get cocky. He is a smart guy. Bet his is a great locksmith. ;) Good luck on your flight. Not to jinx you, but don''t come back with bad news... Ok?

Well Lock, you have a camera. I did not. Well, the web cam, but that cannot travel. Now, no matter where I go, I can document flights. To me that is great. Plus, I can make a vid inside and it won't be green like my web cam does. :lol:

Now, to eat dinner and read manual while it charges (1.5 hrs). Then, fly on the sim. misse dmy flight after work today, went chasing down a camera. Oh, and I went to the wrong CC at first. Took an extra hour. Doh! :arggg:

Cannot wait to share videos! Of course, I cannot crash for a few weeks as I cannot afford to fix the heli if I do. It was like buying a second heli.

[LockMD]

No bad news went as well as expected in these winds....they track well but have vibrations on the skids will have to balance them.

WHAT! you waisted fly time on the camera? SHAME on you! you could've flown then went for the camera at night or at work (no I never do road trips on company time ;)

Good for you Mike, cant wait to see the quality of your new vids........infact if its that good I will have to buy a better cam too........man you are costing me money! I could fly you out here for all these costs....LOL excited for you!

[HeliMix]

....man you are costing me money! I could fly you out here for all these costs
That is basically what I was telling myself standing the store. "Are you crazy? You must be crazy. Dang heli. How much you spent this month on that thing?" No regrets baby, no regrets! :thumbup:

But it was you all and your videos that got me started on the webcam, so really, it is you'alls fault. :lol:

Awesome on the flight! You record it? :)

[HeliMix]

Thanks for the advice folks. Ended up buying a new JVC... harddrive type. I am pleased. Thanks again!

[LockMD]

That is basically what I was telling myself standing the store. "Are you crazy? You must be crazy. Dang heli. How much you spent this month on that thing?" No regrets baby, no regrets! :thumbup:

But it was you all and your videos that got me started on the webcam, so really, it is you'alls fault. :lol:

Awesome on the flight! You record it? :)


No vids.....but to tuuuut my own horn I am getting pretty darn good at keeping her in the air in these winds went way above the fence line......hey its not pretty but I did not crash gonna do one more batt before bed........cant wait to see your new cam vids

[HeliMix]

...cant wait to see your new cam vids
:pukeI'm gonna start crashing now you watch. Already nervous that the camera can follow me. :lol: Cya's tomorrow!

[LockMD]

spoke too soon, last flight landed on my stand went to take off again and it did not slow start spun up so fast the heli spun to the left and the skids fell off the platform :( didnt even check the damage just put her up and went to bed will have some fixing to do when I get home :(

[skigolfmike]

I've got a Sony HVC-48 Mini-DV Handicam. I got an inexpensive tripod and I also picked up a wide angle lens, which helps with doing videos of the kids in band and guard. Also, the wide angle works well when I'm skiing behind the kids video taping.

If you put the camera on a tripod and video, the wide angle will help keep the heli in the picture and give a little room to fly it around. Just remember with the wide angle the heli gets small pretty fast.

[HeliMix]

spoke too soon, last flight landed on my stand went to take off again and it did not slow start spun up so fast the heli spun to the left and the skids fell off the platform :( didnt even check the damage just put her up and went to bed will have some fixing to do when I get home :(

:DOH Sorry to hear.

Well, I had a disappointing evening myself. Looks like the software for the camerea will onky work with XP. Will be calling JVC and checkig the web to see what I can find out. That would stink if so. Am not ready to concert my PC over to XP. On Win2000 still. Some stuff I have I do not think will run on XP. Praying there is another way.

[LockMD]

:DOH Sorry to hear.

Well, I had a disappointing evening myself. Looks like the software for the camerea will onky work with XP. Will be calling JVC and checkig the web to see what I can find out. That would stink if so. Am not ready to concert my PC over to XP. On Win2000 still. Some stuff I have I do not think will run on XP. Praying there is another way.


yeah there is always a way arround software stuff (most times) or you can just send it to me. I have XP :YeaBaby:

[otto975d]

:DOH Sorry to hear.

Well, I had a disappointing evening myself. Looks like the software for the camerea will onky work with XP. Will be calling JVC and checkig the web to see what I can find out. That would stink if so. Am not ready to concert my PC over to XP. On Win2000 still. Some stuff I have I do not think will run on XP. Praying there is another way.
Sorry Mike didn't even think of that. I had a PC game Halo3 that would only play on VISTA. but I downloaded a patch to play on XP. I am sure there is a patch out there you can download or maybe on the JVC website I am sure you are not the only one with this problem.

[HeliMix]

Well, I called JVC. They said it requires XP. I looked at their website, and most of their stuff is XP, Vista, or Mac OS X (I have a Mac too, OS 9 though). So, I then called CircuitCity 800 number. They were a great help (man, their customer service is really impressing me too). The guy took a ton of time, went through different options, he even went to mfg's websites and read detail (while I was reading it). Found out that Panasonic makes one, almost identical to mine, bigger HD (mine is 30, Panasonic is 40) and it also has a better zoom (JVC 32x Panonsonic 42x). Looks like I will be going back to CC to exchange the camera.

I thought about trying to work around it Otto. Did a couple of quick searches this morning to see if I could find others with the same problem, no luck yet.

I tried to install the software last night anyways. Sort of worked, but sort of didn't. Instead of messing around and wasting a ton of time to figure something out, just going to go get the other camera.

Joy, joy, joy. And I thought I had asked enough questions.

[LockMD]

yeah that would be a quicker way to go, sometimes those work arounds can take hours/days and then they never work 100% you prob better off. How much more will you have to shell out?