Video Camera Which One Do I Buy....

[kevwrx]

Guys

Need some help here

I need to buy a video camera, it will be used for shooting cars on our courses, will also be mounted on the cars

Problem I have is that I dont know what to buy, i go into camera shops and the salesmen are like used car salesmen from the 1960's !

In other words I recon that they are full of crap.

I really dont want to spend too much money (say $1000.00) tops

Can you Guys help me out here...

[DogKnight]

PM Sent, not advice on cameras though, so help him out guys

[Belsil80]

u can pick up some bargains second hand, and if you get a pen camera you dont have to stress about it falling off the side of the car. not that any of ours have yet.

i personally want one of the JVC hard disk things..

[Russman]

I bought a Sony DCR-HC96 and the pen cam from www.helmetcameras.com.au to film dirt bike riding and it's awesome. Great quality and worth every cent.

This model sony has the Audio/video input so you can use the pen cam. It cost me about $1800 for the whole set up with the best sony pen cam and the video camera.

I'd stay away from the hard drives or DVD ones because vibration will kill them. The camera on it's own was about $1000 or so.

I just noticed on their website that Hel-cam aren't trading anymore so maybe you cant get them?

[-FUZZY-]

Which format are you after?? (HDD, DVD or Mivi-DV) (are you after convince or quality?)

Do you want to ad a pen cam to it (requiring AV in/out)?

What is the final product for? (ie: how much editing do u want to do? or is it just being slapped straight from car onto a DVD for customers?)

Under 1K is easy enough to recommend a camera ... but depends on what your after from it. Though to throw a camera into the ring l'd say the JVC GZ-MG275 (HDD).

If your up for research check out www.camcorderinfo.com for some good reviews & honest opinions on cameras.

PM sent too.

[GTR_STEALTH]

Im in the same boat here; dont know very much about em and which one would be better -DvD, HDD, Card, etc

I fell like when i go shops the salesmen know im a newb and swarm on me like a pack of seagulls after ur chips....

[blackrex]

As Russman said, avoid to DVD/HDD units and get a tape one. The G sensors in the DVD/HDD units are to sensitive, and will shut down the recording if you clip an apex or generate a G spike.

[Ant97GTR]

Yep as everyone else has said if you are mounting inside a car don't go the HD type as they will shut down within a sniff of vibration.

I bought a panasonic CCD camera and have been very impressed with the footage....they range in price but the one I bought was just under $1k.

[kevwrx]

Thanks for your help Guys

I bought a Sony DCR-HC96E from Gareth, at a bargin price !

Have a great Christmas !

Kind regards

Kev