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Video camera troubles!

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01 / Original postVideo camera troubles!MuniAddict · 20 Sep 2007 02 / This pagePosts 1–20Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #20MuniAddict · 7 Oct 2007

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rec.sport.unicycling
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20 September 2007
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  1. Original post
    MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #1

    Well, today I was filming my first ever "Coker MUni" ride at Simi
    Valley's "Devil's Slide!" It's an ALL rock trail and extremely
    technical. Challenging enough on a regular MUni! I had my mini
    camcorder set up on the tripod at the bottom of my first line, and all
    looked good. I got through it first time down but accidentally clipped
    the tripod as I passed by, causing the camera to crash to the ground! I
    immediately checked to see if it was still functional, and it seemed to
    be, as it still recorded and played back....for about 2 minutes.

    It then beeped telling me to remove the tape. The tape had come unwound
    inside, and so I realized the camera was fried! I got home and tested
    the same tape on another camera (only plays back won't record) and it
    played back fine. Tried a new tape in the fallen cam and still started
    to unwind inside the camera! This makes THREE mini camcorders that have
    gone south in less than 2 years!:eek:

    This particluar time is was clearly my fault, but the other 2 simply
    stopped working, and after I had sent one camera back 4 times under
    warranty, it stopped working for good after the warranty ran out. So
    today I decided to get a much better quality, 3 ccd camcorder, so I
    ordered the Panasonic PV-GS320.

    I know a couple ppl who have this camera and it seems to be a really a
    great quality vidcam. I also checked online reviews and specs and was
    impressed. I'll try me best to be ultra-careful with this one, and hope
    it will function in tip top condition at least for a reasonable time!😄
    Btw, my local Circuit city sells it for $499.99 plus tax.

    I got it online from a highly popular online store, exact same camera
    with full warranty, brand new in fact. sealed box, all regular
    accessories and free shipping and no tax for $100 less than circuit
    city. And it's an aithorized panasonic dealer.
    http://tinyurl.com/yppcn8

    PS: Even though they also sell through amazon.com, I purchased it
    directly from the company by phone, and their customer service is
    outstanding! 🙂 Should have it by Tues/Wed!

    --
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  2. Joe2005
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    #2

    You need to make a foam box to put your camera in with a lexan lense.

    --
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  3. Spencer Hochberg
    Archived post
    #3

    Cool, thats the camera I have.
    I got mine from 'Butterfly Photo' (http://tinyurl.com/3a5hrw) and its a
    little cheaper than you paid.

    --
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  4. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #4
    Spencer Hochberg said:

    Cool, thats the camera I have.
    I got mine from 'Butterfly Photo' (http://tinyurl.com/3a5hrw) and its a
    little cheaper than you paid.

    that's a good deal also! Anything's better than paying retail through
    the nose! Even best buy is still $499.99!:eek:

    --
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  5. johnfoss
    Archived post
    #5

    Wow, amazing how much video cam you can now get for $400!

    Sorry about your camera troubles. Obviously if you're bringing the
    video camera on extreme MUni rides and Coker MUni rides, it's probably
    taking a beating, at least in terms of vibration.

    As you well know, a camera on an unattended tripod is very vulnerable.
    If tipped, the camera is guaranteed to land HARD, especially if it's
    along an all-rock trail. Ways to avoid this:

    1. Don't ride so close to the tripod. Easily said, but I've seen the
    kinds of trails you guys are on. Stuff happens. Plus, faraway stuff
    makes for less-interesting watching.
    2. Clone yourself, or otherwise have someone to protect and operate the
    camera. Then it can zoom to keep you large in the picture, and your
    clone can dive under it if it starts to fall. Yeah.
    3. Tie something heavy to the bottom of the tripod. You've probably
    seen sandbags tied under professionals' tripods. it not only makes the
    camera more steady, it also protects against wind and the occasional
    stray Coker. If you bring the string, you should be able to find a
    good-sized rock for the purpose. Knowing how you work alone, this might
    be your best bet.

    --
    johnfoss

    John Foss
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  6. maximus unius
    Archived post
    #6

    Sorry to revive this thread but....

    I am looking into buying a new video camera, and this looks like a good
    option. I was just wondering, what kinda of stuff does it come with in
    the way of accessories? Or do you have to buy a battery, a bunch of
    tapes, all the wires, etc.?

    --
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  7. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #7
    maximus unius said:

    Sorry to revive this thread but....

    I am looking into buying a new video camera, and this looks like a good
    option. I was just wondering, what kinda of stuff does it come with in
    the way of accessories? Or do you have to buy a battery, a bunch of
    tapes, all the wires, etc.?

    Actually, I was very dissapointed with the video quality of the
    panasonic, including the still quality. It's advertised as 3.2 mp but
    it's nowhere near that. The stills are grainy and terrible overall.
    There may be 3 ccd chips, but each one is quite small; I didn't notice
    anything great about it at all. It's like I'd rather have one large
    diamond than 3 tiny ones. 🙂

    I was also not happy that the firewire and ac ports are *under* the
    battery pack! Anyway I got a full refund then found out that my Canon
    ZR-700 (the one that broke) was still under factory warranty, so it's
    currently back at canon being repaired free of charge!😄

    I was happy with that camera beause it's much smaller and lighter than
    the panasonic, all the ports are easily accessed, and the video quality
    is just fine. It also takes stills and even records video on the memory
    stick.🙂

    --
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  8. maximus unius
    Archived post
    #8
    MuniAddict said:

    Actually, I was very dissapointed with the video quality of the
    panasonic, including the still quality.

    Really? Spencer said he uses that camera, and his videos are great
    quality...

    --
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  9. mark williamson
    Archived post
    #9
    johnfoss said:


    3. Tie something heavy to the bottom of the tripod. You've probably
    seen sandbags tied under professionals' tripods. it not only makes the
    camera more steady, *it also protects against wind and the occasional
    stray Coker*. If you bring the string, you should be able to find a
    good-sized rock for the purpose. Knowing how you work alone, this might
    be your best bet.

    That there's some crazy weather!

    --
    mark williamson

    Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no
    pedals!
    Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
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  10. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #10
    maximus unius said:

    Really? Spencer said he uses that camera, and his videos are great
    quality...

    It could have just been the camera; but seriously the video quality was
    absolutely average, but maybe I had my hopes up to high. I tried every
    different setting, features and lighting, and easy mode, manual mode,
    but it was simply unimpressive. My old sony DCR-TRV22 kicked it's ass
    in vid quality, but that one's broken and no warranty.

    The panasonic is also much larger and bulkier than my canon zr-700, so
    carrying it with me on rides was not practical. Plus at more tha twice
    the price of the canon, I would be much more afraid of damaging it. I
    guess if I really wanted something spectacular that would *really* make
    a difference, I get this! http://tinyurl.com/vrh3a

    --
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  11. Matt_V
    Archived post
    #11
    MuniAddict said:

    It could have just been the camera; but seriously the video quality was
    absolutely average, but maybe I had my hopes up to high. I tried every
    different setting, features and lighting, and easy mode, manual mode,
    but it was simply unimpressive. My old sony DCR-TRV22 kicked it's ass
    in vid quality, but that one's broken and no warranty.

    The panasonic is also much larger and bulkier than my canon zr-700, so
    carrying it with me on rides was not practical. Plus at more tha twice
    the price of the canon, I would be much more afraid of damaging it. I
    guess if I really wanted something spectacular that would *really* make
    a difference, I get this! http://tinyurl.com/vrh3a

    I also have that camera and I was very happy with the video quality. I
    haven't used it for still pictures at all(and I don't plan to either,
    that's what a digital camera is for). I was also very surprised with
    how compact it was. I imagined it being much bigger.

    Overall I am very happy with it and don't plan to buy another one for
    years.

    --
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  12. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #12
    Matt_V said:

    I also have that camera and I was very happy with the video quality. I
    haven't used it for still pictures at all(and I don't plan to either,
    that's what a digital camera is for). I was also very surprised with
    how compact it was. I imagined it being much bigger.

    Overall I am very happy with it and don't plan to buy another one for
    years.

    well I didn't buy it for stills either, but when they advertise 3.2
    megapixles, (which is exactly the *same* as my sony mavica, which takes
    amazing pics) and the stills are terrible, that's not a good omen.

    As for size, it's still much fatter and bulkier than my canon ZR700.
    I'm glad that you and Spencer are happy with it, but it just didn't do
    it for me; again, maybe I just got a lemon...it happens with $35,000
    cars, so it's not a stretch that you could also get a bad $400 camera.

    --
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  13. Spencer Hochberg
    Archived post
    #13

    Terry are you still using windows movie maker for editing? I am pretty
    sure that kills the quality of the footage. I think the quality of the
    vids I have posted is pretty good and that isn't full size.

    --
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  14. maximus unius
    Archived post
    #14
    maximus unius said:

    I was just wondering, what kinda of stuff does it come with in the way
    of accessories? Or do you have to buy a battery, a bunch of tapes, all
    the wires, etc.?

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  15. Danni
    Archived post
    #15

    I am interested in the Canon HV20. Anyone tried it?

    --
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  16. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #16
    Spencer Hochberg said:

    Terry are you still using windows movie maker for editing? I am pretty
    sure that kills the quality of the footage. I think the quality of the
    vids I have posted is pretty good and that isn't full size.

    yeah, as always, but the resulting wmv that I save and play back on my
    computer has always been excellent after shooting footage with my
    zr700, and exceptional back when I used my sony.

    --
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  17. Matt_V
    Archived post
    #17
    Spencer Hochberg said:

    Terry are you still using windows movie maker for editing? I am pretty
    sure that kills the quality of the footage. I think the quality of the
    vids I have posted is pretty good and that isn't full size.

    Spencer, what editing program do you use? I use iMovie and the quality
    seems to come back out great.

    --
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  18. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #18

    Btw, Movie maker gives you many different option for saving your videos,
    all the way to HD widescreen, super, SUPER high res, so it's no slouch.

    --
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  19. Spencer Hochberg
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    #19
    Matt_V said:

    Spencer, what editing program do you use? I use iMovie and the quality
    seems to come back out great.

    I have been using final cut pro, its pretty easy to make a reasonably
    small file with really good quality.

    MuniAddict said:

    Btw, Movie maker gives you many different option for saving your videos,
    all the way to HD widescreen, super, SUPER high res, so it's no slouch.

    Hmm, before my panasonic I had a canon zr-200 (I think) and when I
    switched I noticed a huge difference in quality and colors, so the only
    thing different between us is the computer/editing systems.

    --
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  20. MuniAddict
    Archived post
    #20
    Spencer Hochberg said:

    I have been using final cut pro, its pretty easy to make a reasonably
    small file with really good quality.

    Hmm, before my panasonic I had a canon zr-200 (I think) and when I
    switched I noticed a huge difference in quality and colors, so the only
    thing different between us is the computer/editing systems.

    Hmm, I don't know about the zr-200, but the zr-700 is quite a lot newer
    and has much higher resolution. Bottom line is that the panasonic
    pv-gs320 is a better camera than my zr-700, but the one I had must've
    been made in China, haha!😄

    --
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