Video Cameras

[MitchellD]

I am looking for a video camera to buy. But don't really want to spend more than $350. But probably more around $200 I want to use it to film rehearsals, performances, for internet sketch videos, and for other fun random stuff.

I want one that is:
-HD
-Digital Memory
-Holds at least 2 hours of memory - at least 8gb
-Has good battery life.
-Possibly used with a mini tripod.
-Good quality, not shaky,
-Responds well in low light situations.
-Doesn't overexpose easy
-Rechargeable

I was looking at flip cameras and it seems kinda good. However I'm not sure what the battery life is like or if it can hook into mini tripods.

I dunno. What do you think? What do you use? I know a lot of improvisers use flip cameras.

[jillybee72]

Flips do fine on Tripods and have two hour life and nice battery. Google "Flip Camera Frozen" if you'd like to learn about the downside. I had one have a permanent freeze-up on me, but they're so cheap I just replaced it, because I'd been happy up until them.

It's crap under stage lights unless you find a way to get it onstage or in the front row. I like it for sketch stuff.

[hujhax]

I'm in the same boat as Mitchell.  Right now I'm using my iPhone 4 for show taping, but that has some annoying drawbacks.  I'm looking to spend $250-$350 on a used camcorder that can let me set focus/exposure/WB manually, and can record HD for up to two hours.  Any recommendations?



--
peter rogers @ work | http://hujhax.livejournal.com

"Rated PG-13:  Millions of people die, but nobody swears, copulates, undresses or takes drugs."
      -- From A. O. Scott's review of The Day After Tomorrow

[MitchellD]

I'm in the same boat as Mitchell.  Right now I'm using my iPhone 4 for show taping, but that has some annoying drawbacks.  I'm looking to spend $250-$350 on a used camcorder that can let me set focus/exposure/WB manually, and can record HD for up to two hours.  Any recommendations?



--
peter rogers @ work | http://hujhax.livejournal.com

"Rated PG-13:  Millions of people die, but nobody swears, copulates, undresses or takes drugs."
      -- From A. O. Scott's review of The Day After Tomorrow

I did a bunch of research and finally decided on this one. It's pretty cool, though it won't have a 2 hour battery life (1 hour per battery) but you can get $20 replacement batteries, which I am getting.

This is a pocket camera with 1080p -30 fps, 720p - 60fps, 720pm -30 fps, image stabilization, external mic input (found one for $20), has a filter (70's film filter with orange greenish tint) which can allow for good shots in low lighting, hold sd cards (up to 32gb) so you can get a ton of hours of video, video sharing (usb to computer -straight to youtube type stuff), it's small and lightweight, cheap, and some other stuff.

Downside is auto focusing (which can be nice sometimes) and 4x digital zoom.


*Kodak PlayTouch Video Camera (Black)
http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-PlayTouch-V ... B003VTZE4Y
$142

Transcend 32 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS32GSDHC10E
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Class-F ... rhf_shvl_3
$55

Transcend 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC10E
http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-16GB-Cl ... =pd_cp_e_3
$27

Flexible Leg Table top Tripod
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new
$3

Kodak Wide Angle Lens
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new
$20

*Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... rhf_shvl_4
$20

*Kodak Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery/KLIC 7004
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... dition=new
$20


$287 - $212

[hujhax]

Excellent!  Let me know how that setup works out for you!

(And also, lemme plug the the AIC vimeo channel, should you want to upload show vids.)



--
peter rogers @ work | http://hujhax.livejournal.com

Sometimes, exhausted
  with toil and endeavor,
I wish I could sleep
  for ever and ever;
but then this reflection
  my longing allays:
I shall be doing it
  one of these days.
      -- Piet Hein, poet and scientist (1905-1996)