should I get a blu-ray camcorder?

[ulri4651]

My wife and I are expecting our first child this September. As a result my wife has mentioned that she would like to get a video camera before her due date. So I did a quick search online and I see that there are actually a few blu-ray camcorders! I'm not very tech savvy so I'm wondering, are they worth it? I really don't want to spend more than $1000 and most of the HD camcorders I found are much less than that. But if its worth it to go blu then I would consider it. Anybody able to reccomend anything? Like I said, I'm not much of a tech guy so I would really just have to take your word for it. Thanks in advance!

[FilmFiend]

I have the Panasonic HDC-SD5 and I really like it. I don't need reference quality movies so the fact that it only goes up to 1080i is fine with me (although it is 1920 x 1080, which is full hd). Looks amazing on my plasma.

The reason I got this one is that it is solid state, no moving parts. No hard drive, no discs, it just uses SDHC Flash Memory cards. 1gb is 10 minutes of 1080i and I think you can get up to 16gb cards now. I have 3 8gb cards which cost me about $25 a piece and I can record 240 minutes of HD. Its just like a digital camera, when the card is full swap in the next one. Oh yeah, I really wanted a small and light video camera, cause I hate lugging around heavy things when I'm on vacation, so that was another plus for me with this one.

I think the best thing about this camera is how easy it is to burn dvd's. Just plug it in the the computer and the software that comes with it lets you do the rest. You have 2 options, burn a standard dvd or burn a AVCHD dvd (which is blu-ray quality and will only play on blu-ray players).

The only crappy thing is since you are limited to burning on dvd's you can only have a max of 40 min on a standard dvd or 80 on a dual layer. It's not bad though considering how cheap dvd media is and you will be able to watch blu-ray quality movies on dvd's. Once blank blu-rays are cheaper, you will be able to burn on them (with a blu-ray writer of course).

http://panasonic.ca/english/audiovid...der/HDCSD5.asp

Hope this helps.

[Chevypower]

No, only Hitachi currently have one, and it's not that great. I recommend the Sony HDR-SR11 or SR12, the only difference between those two is the hard drive space. They also have a Memory Stick slot too, so you can record either to the hard drive or to flash media. They use a large CMOS imaging sensor through a Carl Zeiss lens and record in full 1080 in AVCHD at 16mb/s - the quality is fantastic, the camera is compact, it does 5.1 audio and 10.2 Megapixel still shots. It is really easy to use. Just like FilmFiend says you can burn the AVCHD uncompressed straight to Blu Ray before or after editing, and play it in a Blu Ray player later on. Hope this helps.

[terjeber]

Originally Posted by ulri4651

So I did a quick search online and I see that there are actually a few blu-ray camcorders! I'm not very tech savvy so I'm wondering, are they worth it?

No, they are not. For camcorders at less than $1000 tape is still king. There are two reasons. The former is that you want to edit the movie once you have shot it. Just a little bit perhaps, but you don't want to show off daddy's little girl in hour long raw shots. If you want to keep your friends. Editing AVC HD is a royal pain right now, and it is going to continue to be for a while.

The other reason is even more practical. You can buy a tape in any drugstore in any part of the world for not a lot of money at all. That is not the case with Blu-Ray based camcorders or with hard drive or memory card based camcorders. Imagine your little squirt out on the first outing with her soccer team. You are going to shoot it and grab the camcorder as you run out of the house. As soon as you get there you realize that you forgot to change the disc. Do you think the local newsstand has a BD-RE disk for you? Not in the next few years, and probably never.

Finally - Blu-Ray camcorders are a fundamentally bad idea since the media currently is rather expensive, and long before the media becomes less expensive you will have far better memory card and hard drive based solutions.

If your kid is on the way, go out and buy a Canon HV-20 if you can find it, or a Canon HV-30. Excellent quality for most purposes, and they look great once you burn them to Blu-Ray and show off to your friends on your big screen TV.

Oh, and btw, once you go tape, they are going to try to sell you special HDV ready tapes. It's a ploy, any old Mini-DV tape is perfectly fine for HDV shooting.

[Jackeroo75]

Just buy a cheap TAPE camcorder, because most people don't even edit there video. It takes way too much time and effort to show your friends. Also, I will not get a new camcorder until they have image stablizer.

[ESUNintel]

I really want a BD camcorder, since not only does the disk hold a lot more than the little DVD's, but it'll also look a lot better on an HDTV, plus I could take advantage of my BD drive on my laptop. Only thing is I'm not willing to spend so much on one, plus there aren't any that are that good out. I do plan on getting one when Sony releases a really good one that's between $800 to $1200 (depending on specs too). For now I find hard drive camcorders to be amazing, especially the Sony ones, the night vision feature is amazing, and so is the touch screen, not to mention the space available and ease of connecting it to an HDTV and making DVD's or even BD's on my PC (Since my Mac lacks a BD drive ...sad ).

[jw]

Just get a HDD camcorder that way down the road you could get a BD burner for the PC and transfer the files that way and have the best of both worlds without the extra cost

[tntkain]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1204332008907
This one is not Bluray, but does record 1080p pn sd cards, which you can put on bluray if you have a bluray burner in your pc. Its not very expensive, and very compact. The picture looks great on our tv

[rogman]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

No, only Hitachi currently have one, and it's not that great. I recommend the Sony HDR-SR11 or SR12, the only difference between those two is the hard drive space. They also have a Memory Stick slot too, so you can record either to the hard drive or to flash media. They use a large CMOS imaging sensor through a Carl Zeiss lens and record in full 1080 in AVCHD at 16mb/s - the quality is fantastic, the camera is compact, it does 5.1 audio and 10.2 Megapixel still shots. It is really easy to use. Just like FilmFiend says you can burn the AVCHD uncompressed straight to Blu Ray before or after editing, and play it in a Blu Ray player later on. Hope this helps.

I was looking at the Hitachi BR camcorder this morning. I'm a little leery about Hitachi. They're not exactly a big name in consumer electronics. Does anyone have an HD camcorder that they'd recommend? I'm looking for one with a hard drive that I can eventually burn blu-ray discs from (to keep the hi-def format). I need to do something by this Summer for a big Disney trip.

I've looked at Canon, JVC, and Panasonic. I want to stay away from Sony, despite their dominance. I have two failed Sony camcorders (a Hi8 and a Digital 8) that I'm stuck with. Need to find a way to transfer about 40 hours of video to something else. Otherwise all the baby video and kid bdays are gone forever.

[molarkid]

Originally Posted by FilmFiend

I have the Panasonic HDC-SD5 and I really like it. I don't need reference quality movies so the fact that it only goes up to 1080i is fine with me (although it is 1920 x 1080, which is full hd). Looks amazing on my plasma.

The reason I got this one is that it is solid state, no moving parts. No hard drive, no discs, it just uses SDHC Flash Memory cards. 1gb is 10 minutes of 1080i and I think you can get up to 16gb cards now. I have 3 8gb cards which cost me about $25 a piece and I can record 240 minutes of HD. Its just like a digital camera, when the card is full swap in the next one. Oh yeah, I really wanted a small and light video camera, cause I hate lugging around heavy things when I'm on vacation, so that was another plus for me with this one.

I think the best thing about this camera is how easy it is to burn dvd's. Just plug it in the the computer and the software that comes with it lets you do the rest. You have 2 options, burn a standard dvd or burn a AVCHD dvd (which is blu-ray quality and will only play on blu-ray players).

The only crappy thing is since you are limited to burning on dvd's you can only have a max of 40 min on a standard dvd or 80 on a dual layer. It's not bad though considering how cheap dvd media is and you will be able to watch blu-ray quality movies on dvd's. Once blank blu-rays are cheaper, you will be able to burn on them (with a blu-ray writer of course).

http://panasonic.ca/english/audiovid...der/HDCSD5.asp

Hope this helps.

Are Memory Cards Standard Definition Cards vrs. High Definition Cards? I can't find any HD Smartdisk cards for $25.00.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by ulri4651

My wife and I are expecting our first child this September. As a result my wife has mentioned that she would like to get a video camera before her due date. So I did a quick search online and I see that there are actually a few blu-ray camcorders! I'm not very tech savvy so I'm wondering, are they worth it? I really don't want to spend more than $1000 and most of the HD camcorders I found are much less than that. But if its worth it to go blu then I would consider it. Anybody able to reccomend anything? Like I said, I'm not much of a tech guy so I would really just have to take your word for it. Thanks in advance!

I've been researching hi-def camcorders for a while now, and I agree with others' advice to avoid Hitachi's BD camcorders (which at the time of writing are the only ones on the market). A sub-$1000 camcorder isn't going to be very good, so if you can afford more, go for it. After all, how many times will have the opportunity to film your first child? (Are those cheaper "HD" camcorders really 1080i, or are they just 720p/i?)

The best of the current generation seems to be the Canon HX30(?) and the Sony HDR-SR11 (for a bit more cash you can get the SR12 which is exactly the same, except it has twice the storage capacity). Beware everyone's 2nd generation HD camcorders (the current generation is 3rd), because they're susceptible to artifacting due to low bit rates (hrm, sounds like HD DVD!).

For my preferences, the Sony camcorder has the edge, because it has a built in view finder (I despise using LCD monitors as a view finder, and it kills battery life), and is a HDD/memory stick hybrid. I don't like the hassle of dealing with tapes, and memory sticks have a too small capacity for my liking to be the only medium. Being a hybrid means I can use the HDD to record as much as I want, then use the memory stick for ease of transport/durability if I want.

[rogman]

Originally Posted by molarkid

Are Memory Cards Standard Definition Cards vrs. High Definition Cards? I can't find any HD Smartdisk cards for $25.00.

The "SD" has nothing to do w/standard dev vs. hi-def., it's just the type of memory card. The data stored on it is just that- data. If you shoot in hi-def, it's stored in hi-def (1920x1080).

The only thing you may run into is w/a hi-def camcorder, you can't burn it to a DVD to play in a DVD/Blu-ray player in hi-def because DVDs don't support hi-def. Max resolution is 480P.

Hope this helps.

[Grand Bob]

I recently bought a Sony SR11 high definition camcorder. It can record either on its hard drive or a memory stick. Once you shoot a video, it is easy to connect the camera to your computer with a (supplied) USB cable and burn blu-ray format video on a standard blank DVD-R. The DVD will play in your blu-ray player. The quality of the video on playback is amazing.

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by rogman

I've looked at Canon, JVC, and Panasonic. I want to stay away from Sony, despite their dominance. I have two failed Sony camcorders (a Hi8 and a Digital 8) that I'm stuck with. Need to find a way to transfer about 40 hours of video to something else. Otherwise all the baby video and kid bdays are gone forever.

It's too bad about your negative experience with Sony. From all my experience (I have only ever OWNED Sony video cameras from Video 8, Hi 8, Mini DV, I have experience with PD100, PD150/170, PDX10, DXC-327 -old dockable 1/2inch, HVRZ1, and used the PMW-EX1 and HDR-SR12 now) Honestly, never had a problem, except for if they have been dropped. I have sold more Sony's than other brands. I have also had less Sony's come back for repair than any other brand. JVC's I have sold not very many, they arent very popular, yet they are the ones I have had mostly come back. I would see the same customers come back, saying it still isnt working... I would avoid JVC. Panasonic would be my 2nd brand, and Canon being the 3rd to get, but I tend to only by Sony cameras.

Originally Posted by Jackeroo75

Just buy a cheap TAPE camcorder, because most people don't even edit there video. It takes way too much time and effort to show your friends. Also, I will not get a new camcorder until they have image stablizer.

Stay away from tape now. It's based on Mini DV, which i have used for years now, and HDV is 1440x1080 mpeg 2 recorded on the same 6mm tape (so dropouts are even more noticable!). You get dropouts and not even full HD. Tape mechanisms are the most unreliable part to video cameras. Broadcast is moving away from tape also. Tape also has the contamination issues, that optical and flash media do not have. Camcorders have had digital and/or optical image stabilizers for years and years, so I am not sure I am with you on that.

Seriously, the Sony HDR-SR12 is the best little consumer camcorder out there. I have used it, it is fantastic, have a bit of a play with one. I don't normally get excited about consumer camcorders at all, but I just love the SR12.

[jono1414]

I am a bit confused from some of the posts...

Can you use your HD camcorder to transfer the recordings to your computer and then burn those recordings onto a DVD-R which will play in HD on a PS3?

I am researching video cameras and am trying to understand everything...I have HD tvs, PS3 and a 4 year old computer that can burn dvds but not Blus.

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by jono1414

I am a bit confused from some of the posts...

Can you use your HD camcorder to transfer the recordings to your computer and then burn those recordings onto a DVD-R which will play in HD on a PS3?

Yes. Sony Vegas Pro 8 will do it.

[rogman]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

Yes. Sony Vegas Pro 8 will do it.

I've always thought you can't put HD on a DVD, at least not as HD. Isn't 480P the highest you can get on a DVD? I could be wrong, but my impression was that once I get my new HD camcorder (very soon) the only way to watch it in HD on my TV/projector is either from the hard drive/flash memory, or by burning to a BD-ROM disc.

I've narrowed it down to two: The Sony HDR-SR11 and the Canon Vixia HF10. Despite my issues w/two failed Sony camcorders that I posted a few weeks ago, they are rated most reliable in Consumer reports. Canon is at the bottom of the reliability list. I really like the Canon because it's smaller, and it uses flash memory. The hard drive (on the Sony) seems to provide one more thing that could go wrong. The only thing that's stopping me on the Canon is that it only records in stereo sound. The Sony is 5.1 DD. Why would someone put out a hi-def camcorder w/stereo sound??? I like the bigger image sensor, and 10MP stills that the Sony provides, but I'm not sure I'd use a camcorder for still pics anyway.

If anyone owns either of these two (or the Sony SR12), I'd love to hear your impressions of them. I need to decide in a week or two.

[jono1414]

It sounds like you and I are in the same boat...trying to decide between a few camcorders. I have it narrowed to the sony sr11 or 12 also and the panasonic hdc sd5. what did you find in your research regarding the panasonic brand?

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by rogman

I've always thought you can't put HD on a DVD, at least not as HD. Isn't 480P the highest you can get on a DVD? I could be wrong, but my impression was that once I get my new HD camcorder (very soon) the only way to watch it in HD on my TV/projector is either from the hard drive/flash memory, or by burning to a BD-ROM disc.

I've narrowed it down to two: The Sony HDR-SR11 and the Canon Vixia HF10...... I like the bigger image sensor, and 10MP stills that the Sony provides, but I'm not sure I'd use a camcorder for still pics anyway.

If anyone owns either of these two (or the Sony SR12), I'd love to hear your impressions of them. I need to decide in a week or two.

Yes, you can burn on regular DVD using Blu Ray codecs, and Blu Ray players/PS3 etc will be able to play them. The only drawback from regular Blu Ray disc is recording time. Since only Blu Ray players can read it anyway, you might as well get a BD-Rom (though I am waiting for prices to come down, and for burn times to get much shorter).

The benefit of taking 10 MegaPixel stills on the SR11/12 is you only need to take one camera with you. I am very impressed with the stills from it. So much so, that I will no longer use my DSC-F717 dedicated still camera. I used to avoid taking it places just because it was too big, then I would have my DCR-TRV900 if I wanted to do video. I ended up hardly ever using either of them, missing recording opportunities. Like when we are in Vegas, walking the strip etc, I would leave the cameras. Now I am using a camcorder that is significantly smaller than each one of those, and performs MUCH MUCH better than the 900, you just can't even compare, and it takes better stills than my Sony DSC-F717 which was top of the range at the time. I am yet to try the flash for stills on the SR12, which looks smaller as it is designed to fit cosmetically around the lens, I am yet to see if it doesn't perform as well as a built-in flash for the F717, but so far, I have seen no drawbacks, and double the pixel count. My wife asked me does the camera automatically separate the stills from the videos... and if you're wondering the same, yes it does. They don't seem to get in the way of each other. iMovie knows to only import the movie clips, and iPhoto will automatically import the stills and then ask me if i want to delete those stills off the camera... it's brilliant!

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by jono1414

It sounds like you and I are in the same boat...trying to decide between a few camcorders. I have it narrowed to the sony sr11 or 12 also and the panasonic hdc sd5. what did you find in your research regarding the panasonic brand?

The Panasonic you are talking about. Maximum bit-rate is 13mbs. Image sensors are CCDs (1/6 inch) (though there are 3 of them, it wont be as impressive as Sony's Exmor CMOS sensors) still image only 2.1MP. Sound is 2 channels.

Sony SR11/12 is CMOS "Exmor" 1/3 inch , 17mb/s bitrate, 10.2MP stills, choice of 5.1 or 2.0 PCM audio recording. If you are not sure how good the Exmor imaging sensors are, read about them, including the semi-pro PMW-EX1 and P MW-EX3 which use 1/2 inch versions.