Entry level camcorder

[dave m]

Can anyone comment on the Sony DCR-TRV14 as an entry level digital camcorder or suggest similarly priced alternatives, I can get it for £417 on amazon.co.uk.

Thanks,

Dave

[Sasq]

I have the DCR-TRV50, its a great camera - maybe a few too many frills, but the 1.55 mega pixel digital still cam is nice

I'd recomend getting something with a few more pixels.
Bells and whistles arn't so needed - particaly if you are going to be editing on the pc later.
Your final image will show the difference.

Just my opinion though.
Dan

[Brian Ellis]

Seems good value for money.

[Nick Piercey]

Careful.

UK version is DV out only,


You'll have to see if it can be DV in enabled!



Nick

[dave m]

Nick,
I wasn't that bothered about DV in, in these days of DVD writers I kind of assumed it would become superfluous, or have I missed something?

Dave

[Sasq]

It depends on if you want to store the movie in a format you can re-edit later. mpeg2 isn't so crash hot for re-editing.

Another useful feature in a DV cam is one that can record a video source input. Makes easy conversion of analogue to Digital for editing - also make life eaiser for quick dubbing of a friends home move etc.

Dan

[Nick Piercey]

Hi Dave,


Most of the projects I've done I've saved back to DV - thery're all under one hour.

So I have a master copy, because you never know what format is around the corner.

Swings and roundabouts, I guess, but in the future I'd be happier recompressing from DV rather than mpeg.

Sad that only the EU countries have this ridiculous DV-in problem, eh!



Nick.

[dave m]

Thanks Dan and Nick, I hadn't considered those points. It's mostly going to be video of the kids, first steps etc with minor twiddling on the PC, I figured that so long as the original is still kept as a master I'd be OK, more thinking required I guess.

Dave