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General discussion

Buy HD now or middle of the road?

by dano_from_colorado Nov 5, 2006 12:05PM PST

I have a sony camcorder that I bought 6 years ago which was the top of the line at that time. I want to buy a new one for Christmas and I have been reading everything here and on camcorderinfo.com and I still really do not know what to do.
I have a HDTV and I have a iMAC with the iMovie HD. So if I buy the Sony HDR-SR1 will I be able to record it in HD? If I cant record in HD it would drive me crazy knowing I would have to wait for the technology to come out and then remake all the movies.
So that being said, do a buy a decent cheap model and upgrade in 2 years when prices are lower and recording in HD is more easily accessable?
That being said what would I get? Sony DCR-HC96? CAnnon Elura 100? Panasonic PV-GS500?
The camera is for inside use mostly of my 2 small children. Do not plan on taking pictures with it. If it is small and light enough I will take on vacations which would be at least 2 times a year. (have a great digital camera that takes great small movies) Oh and def of the golf swing.
Any thoughts? I would like one by March...so buy one for Christmas, wait, get the HD, or middle of the line?

Discussion is locked

6 Posts
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One thought. Two years is a big chunk for small children.
by Kiddpeat Nov 5, 2006 1:49PM PST

Are you sure you want to miss capturing HD for that period? That's the usual line of thought. Capture the images now, and generate HD later when equipment and software is available.

I can't comment on the adequacy of your machine or software for HD.

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Sony HDR-HC3 rather
by shahrokhan Nov 5, 2006 8:53PM PST

OK Now many people have helped on these forums regarding HD. I have done some research as well. Looking at the stuff you have, just get the Sony HDR-HC3 and as far as I think you will love. It has good low light capabilities including a super night shot or something which is for no or very low light. It soots in HD(1080i). As far as I ahve heard on these forums, your Mac will be able to edit in HD. So you could transfer the HD material to your Mac, edit the stuff, transfer the edited video back to the camcorder on to the MiniDV and using an HDMI cable watch the video on your HDTV.
If I were in your place I would certainly get the Sony.
Note: Theres another cam called the Canon HV10 which is also HD and more or less equal to the Sony HC3. But after my own research I say that you should go for the Sony looking at your case.

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I guess Mini DV over hard drive?
by dano_from_colorado Nov 6, 2006 1:07AM PST

That was a concern with me with all the talk on here of people not trusting the Hard Drive so even though the SR1 looks great the HC3 has the mini DV. They were also saying that it is harder to edit on the Hard Drive since it is more condensed. So mini DV is the way to go?

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(NT) (NT) Yes.
by Kiddpeat Nov 6, 2006 3:21AM PST
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Sony SR1 uses AVCHD - a new compression method
by boya84 Nov 6, 2006 6:43AM PST

to store all the HD video on the hard drive it uses. Not even Sony has a codec for AVCHD yet (in Sony Vegas video editor for Windows). I doubt Apple's iMovie or FinalCut products can deal with it yet.

http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/product.asp?PID=404&PageID=40

I would be very cautious about spending that sort of money on a camera and not have any tools with which to edit the captured video...

I am a Mac user too...

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so not getting the SR! now
by dano_from_colorado Nov 6, 2006 8:53AM PST

that Vegas software is way too expensive for my taste!! So I guess its the HC3 thank you!!!!!

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