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General discussion

fairly inexpensive camcorder for antarctica? worth it?

by daisyatl Nov 14, 2007 1:37AM PST

hi -- i have never owned or used a camcorder but am thinking of getting one for an upcoming cruise to antarctica. i will be on an expedition cruise so will be making about two landings a day so will have opportunities for close ups and some landscape. i don't want to spend more than $500-$600. is it even worth getting one if that is my budget? in other words, is the quality just not going to be good enough for that sort of trip?

if the camcorders at that price range are good enough, can someone recommend some for me? i think one with a hard drive would be best so that i don't have to change out the discs.

thank you in advance for your help.

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4 Posts
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This would be considered a "harsh environment"...
by boya84 Nov 14, 2007 2:58AM PST

Check the user manuals - besides the fact that you won't find a hard drive based camcorder that will provide good quality video in this price range, the environmental conditions would not be met.

And since DVD based camcorder provide such poor video quality they don't make the short list...

I am curious to understand why you do not have miniDV tape based camcorders - which continue to provide thebest quality video available... And, for hard drive based - are you taking a laptop? what happens of the camera's hard drive fills?

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thanks.
by daisyatl Nov 14, 2007 4:34AM PST

i would be willing to get a miniDV. i just thought it would be easier to have the hard drive so that i don't have to change out the DVs. i just stopped at two stores and got different opinions. if you are saying that i can get better video quality with the miniDV, i will do that. any suggestions as to one that would be good for purposes of such a trip?

i may have my laptop as i will be spending some time in Buenos Aires before my cruise.

thank you for your help.

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DV
by Dan Filice Nov 14, 2007 5:42AM PST

I agree with Boya84 with his suggestion of using a mini-DV camcorder. You can buy a 10-pack of mini-DV tapes, and as you fill one tape, you simply insert another. Then, once you get back home, you can download the tapes to a computer to make a DVD. If you use a Hard-Drive based camcorder, what do you do if you are in the field shooting and your drive fills up? Change-out memory cards? This is WAY more expensive than mini-DV tapes. Dumping your hard-drive footage every day to a computer doesn't seem like something you'd want to spend time doing on a vacation when you should be out having dinner or sight-seeing.

But, before you buy a camera, look ahead to what you really want to do after you videotape. Is your goal to edit your footage and make a nice DVD of your trip? If so, then examine your computer to see what you need to do to allow the downloading of footage. If you buy a mini-DV camera, you will want to download by using a Firewire connection. You may need to install a Firewire card in your PC, then download some software to allow editing. Although this is a bit of work, the quality will be top-notch compared to either a DVD or hard-drive based camera. My in-laws took a cruise around the Horn of South America, which part of it was to go to the Antartica. The Horn was beautiful, but cold. You'll want to take something to wear other than flip-flops and a bikini! Happy

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Yes, miniDV is "best available video quality"
by boya84 Nov 14, 2007 7:02AM PST

when compared to similarly priced hard drive or DVD based camcorders - it is all about compression that the hard drive and DVD camcorders use - and the miniDV tape units do not use...

I would suggest Canon, Panasonic or Sony - check camcorderinfo.com...

You will still need to take care when moving from indoors to outdoors due to the harsh environment.

Sony DCR-HC96
Panasonic PV-GS320
Canon ZR800 or 850

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