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General discussion

What camcorder for internet publishing

Mar 5, 2006 4:26AM PST

Hi,

I want to start publishing videos to videoblogs and website.

I have no idea of the type of camcorder needed for this.

In what format is the movie recorded. Is it recorded on a disk? Mini disk? Is it simply downloaded to a hard disk like an MP3?

Can anyone enlighten me on the process (I know it is a basic - Thanks).

What is the easiest and the most commonly done.

As well, what camcorder would be best - I'll start with budget options (under $300 if possible)

Thank you

Discussion is locked

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Frankly firewire.
Mar 5, 2006 5:05AM PST

You didn't tell what PC or Mac you have, but for me it's a firewire cable, WINDV, maybe VIRTUAL DUB and if you want to see your stuff today, visit youtube.com

Bob

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One possible option
Mar 6, 2006 7:35AM PST

Although the best way to do this is to shoot with a mini-DV camera and use your computer to edit and covert the video file into a web-friendly video, I found that my digital still camera shoots MPEG videos that are already compressed and that easily download via USB. This isn't the best quality, but for posting on the web it may be fine. You also can't edit the video. The video from digital still cameras is typically 320 X 240 in size and the frame-rate is 15fps, but this is what you need for web posting anyways and this is what you need to end up with even if you shoot full-quliaty DV video. Full-quality DV video is way too big for web posting. If you do go the Firewire route, you can download Quicktime for the PC from Apple, then for $30 upgrade to QT Pro, which will allow you to import video directly into the Quicktime application (no video edit software needed), and QT has all the "Export" options you need for web posting.

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Update
Mar 9, 2006 11:21PM PST

Thank you for your answers.

I am on PC.

About recording with still image camera... I do need sound. Is this usually included with a still image camera for short movies?

What is the max length for such movies?

What is the best original recording format? Does it matter if it is a mini DVD camera or another recording format?

Thank you

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digicam video
Mar 10, 2006 1:34AM PST

All I have seen are limited to 60 second clips.

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Some have unlimited
Mar 10, 2006 2:16AM PST

I have a Sony digital still camera. The recording time of it's MPEG movie clip is limited only by the memory limits of the storage chip. There are many digital still cameras that operate the same. I've seen digital still cameras that can record an hour or more on a memory chip that is 1-Gig in size. The video that the digital still cameras record is highly compressed and runs at 15 frames per second instead of 30 frames per second, so don't expect the same quality you would get from a mini-DV camera. Again, you do have the option of shooting with a mini-DV camera for quality, then using computer software to convert the video to a compressed streaming MPEG movie suitable for the web. Every digital camera I've seen records sound too. I don't know how to eliminate sound. Once I download the movie clip to my Mac, the software I use can delete the sound. I don't know about a PC, but I'm sure PC software can do the same.

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Update + what about webcams?
Mar 12, 2006 7:27PM PST

Thank you for all this info.

I learn a bit more with every message.

Someone mentioned using a webcam.

I tried it but quality is very poor and sound is not synchronized.

Was anyone successful using that option with reasonable quality?

Any examples I could check?

Thanks again!