WVU #6 – What’s The Best Video Camera To Use?
Walk into any electronics store and you’ll see row after row of shiny video cameras. But what is the best camera to use…and which one’s should you avoid? Here are the answers you need to know…
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It was OK. I’m distracted by your hands, Dave.
Hold one of the cameras. Look at it as you talk about it and tell me what price range it will come in.
I get a better idea if you use a tripod. You’re assuming too much. I’m not a camera buff.
Just some tho’ts… too picky, – probly.
Randall
Dave,
Love your stuff.
I unfortunately bought a JVC Everio Harddrive. It uses a .mod file and has been a real pain to put on my computer and make DVD’s.
I’ve tried renaming the .mod file to .mpg, converting to mpeg-2 and mpeg-1, and I can’t get a decent recording.
All I’ve been able to do is transfer from the camcorder to my DVD recorder/player hooked up to my TV, but I can’t do any editing with that, of course.
Any suggestions, other than breaking up the JVC with a hammer and buying something else?
Wish I’d found you before I found the camera (that was a year ago…too late to return it to Circuit City).
Thanks,
Terry Rayburn
Terry – Unfortunately the JVC Everio is a nightmare when it comes to getting footage off the camera and into video editing software (if it helps, you’re not the first person to ask me about this camera).
Basically, it’s up to the individual software companies (Apple, Sony, Adobe, etc.) to decide what cameras they support. And most camera manufacturers follow standards to help things go more smoothly. But every once in a while, they don’t (like the Everio)…and you get what you’ve run into.
A couple of suggestions that may or may not help:
First, you MIGHT be able to import the footage into low-end software like iMovie or Windows Movie Maker (sounds counter-intuitive but it’s true). You can then export the footage from that software as an AVI, MPEG-2, etc. and bring it into more robust video editing software (but you may lose video quality).
Second, when your footage is put on DVD, it’s usually as a .vob file. And often you can copy a .vob file from a DVD to a hard drive, then rename the file extension from .vob to .mpg. Then, you can open it in video editing software.
No guarantee’s on either of these, but they may be worth trying.
I also have a JVC Everio. I have one of the earlier models (not HiDef) before they took out the mic jack.
I’ve made over 1000 videos with it and honestly use Cyberlink PowerDirector for the editing. It may not be Sony Vegas but for fast and solid useable editing (not to mention it’s dirt cheap, like $60…) it’s a great deal. It allows pic in pic, transitions, music tracks, etc… Because it’s easy to use and really fast it’s usually my first choice for editing.
BTW, I compared the ‘SuperFine’ setting on my JVC with a Canon miniDV and couldn’t find any real difference in quality. I’m a big guy on time (not a lot of it…) so being able to usb a few hours of footage in about 10min from the JVC hard drive is a HUGE bonus.
I know it’s completely against what you’re talking about but for streaming video made fast and furious it works for me.
My 2 cents,
Phil
Love your site!