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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Lights...camera...action! » » Low-budget camcorder suggestions for taping practice sessions (0 Likes) Printer Friendly Version

Foucault
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I'm looking for a (very) low-budget camcorder solution for use in taping my practice sessions. Portability won't be too much of an issue and, as long as supplies are still available, it shouldn't matter whether I use old-fashioned tape or digital. I'd be looking for used, of course.

Are there some makes/models people can recommend I look out for? Any other advice?

Oh, did I mention I'm on a VERY low budget? Smile
Christopher Moro
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I believe you can get a miniDV camcorder these days for about $300-$400. You'll want to find the sales at a place like Circuit City or Wal-Mart. That's pretty low budget and it won't be the bottom of the barrel in terms of picture quality either. For practice sessions, just light it well.
Foucault
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Thanks for your advice, Christopher. I'm looking much lower budget than this, however.

I'm hoping I can find a used VHS camcorder from someone who has upgraded to digital, and has no use for the older equipment.
Christopher Moro
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That sounds like a good plan. You can check ebay, maybe even your local craigslist.
Foucault
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That was my plan. However, not knowing anything about videography, I'd like some advice on some reasonable older machines to look out for (and some to avoid!).
Mercury52
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Keep an eye out for used Digital8 cameras. The tapes (Hi8 and Digital8) are still widely available, and the quality is much better than regular 8mm tapes or VHS-C.
Sony and Canon make good stuff.

The other good thing about a Digital8 camera is that it will likely have a firewire output, which will be very handy if you ever want to load your footage to your computer. The analog cameras don't have this feature.

Kevin
Kevin Reylek
Foucault
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This looks like advice I can use. Definitely heading towards the right ball-park, anyway. Thanks Kevin.
the levitator
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You can pick up a Canon A1 for under $100. The video quality is excellent even by today's standards as it's the little brother to the L2, Canon's big boy before the XL1. You can get SVideo videocameras even cheaper, although I think HI-8 is the way to go if you are on a budget and you can find hi-8 cameras in the $50-100 range. Just remember that old cameras have a shelf life, so be sure that it has been serviced or at least cleaned at some point in its life or it won't run long for you. If you are buying on Ebay, I would lean towards Power Sellers for really cheap cameras as most of them test the equipment, guarantee against DOA, and some even offer a 7 day return if defective. If I see any good deals I'll PM the links to ya!
"It's all in your head...."



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Owen Anderson
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For a Digital 8 you might also check out your local pawn shop.
Owen Anderson
Foucault
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Thanks, the levitator and Owen, for the great advice. Bearing in mind I know nothing about this field, what's the difference between HI-8 and Digital8?

the levitator - I really appreciate the offer of assistance. Please let me know if you find anything. I particularly appreciate the statement: "Just remember that old cameras have a shelf life, so be sure that it has been serviced or at least cleaned at some point in its life or it won't run long for you. "
Eric Buss
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Get an old Polaroid camera... Have a friend snap pix during your rehearsal... then watch yourself perform via "flipbook" fashion.
Owen Anderson
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I welcome corrections to this post but I think Digital 8 followed Hi-8 in the 8mm world chronology. Still analog but better quality. Then next was DVC then Polaroid flip books...
Owen Anderson
Dennis Michael
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Go to your local Trading Post or EUsed Electronic Store. You should be able to pick-up a VHS recorder for less than $50.
Dennis Michael
ed rhodes
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Quote:
On 2005-12-02 13:42, Eric Buss wrote:
Get an old Polaroid camera... Have a friend snap pix during your rehearsal... then watch yourself perform via "flipbook" fashion.


Wow, your friend would have to have pretty fast fingers to get 24 pictures in a second! Smile
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
David Bilan
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You missed out on Black Friday sales. I saw three stores offering $50 camcorders (8mm, but would suit you fine). Drop by the electronics stores and see if they have any discontinued floor models.

Good luck!
Yes, I am a magician. No I did not make my hare (hair) disappear... it just took early retirement.
Foucault
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Thanks for another great batch of advice. Maybe my best bet would be to wait until after the holidays, to see what comes up as stores have sales and individuals get new digital camcorders and sell the old ones.

Keep the advice coming - I really appreciate it!
Mercury52
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Kevin Reylek
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I didn't see anywhere listing what the difference between Hi8 and Digital8 are, so put simply...

Hi8 is a high-quality analog recording on 8mm cassette.
Digital8 records a digital signal to Hi8 cassettes.

Digital8 is useful in that the camera can play back standard 8mm, Hi8 and Digital8 if you happen to have them all laying around.

The other good is that the digital signal should not become "lossy" if you make transfers. A Hi8 camera will likely only have rca output (the red, white, and yellow plugs) while Digital8 should have the RCA as well as Firewire (aka IEEE 1394, etc). This is very useful for putting your footage to a computer.

Also, Digita8 is the "lowest end" of the digital realm. That is, you should be able to get the camera and tapes for significantly less money than you would MiniDV, DVCPro, DVD, etc.

If you read a Hi8 tape, you'll see the length that you can record on them for SP, LP, etc. You'll note that it will hold 2 hours in most cases if recorded Hi8. It will only record an hour of Digital8. You are getting more information, and better picture and sound quality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital8 has some good info. Some other Wikipedia searches should yield some more to help you.

Kevin
Kevin Reylek
Foucault
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Great stuff! Thanks, Kevin.
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