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Cheap Camcorders
Challenge
Purchase three camcorders suitable for outside production work for a budget of $1000.
Requirements
- External microphone input. Provides greatly increased audio quality and allows for a professional production approach.
- Headphone output for monitoring audio.
- Recording time of at least 60 mins.
- Preferred not be tape based.
- Students should be able to edit content on personal home computer systems.
- Ideally Mac users should be able to edit on iMovie / iDVD.
- Ideally PC users should be able to edit on Windows Movie Maker.
Recommendations
- Canon ZR900 : $199
- Canon FS100 : $349+
- Panasonic SDR-S7K : $274
I recommend getting x4 Cannon ZR900 camcorders and $100 worth of blank media miniDV tapes.
The best value for money in today's market is miniDV tape based camcorder's shooting in standard definition. Older Macs and PCs can edit the video they produce with bundled software such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker.
The top two camera recommendations have an external microphone input, which is essential for quality audio. The Panasonic only has the built-in microphone.
None of these three cameras have headphone output. This is almost a deal breaker. You can not ensure that audio is getting recorded and is of sufficient quality. These cameras would prevent students from using prove best practices for audio production. It's like shooting pictures without a viewfinder!
The second and third choice cameras use secure digital cards to record MPEG2. These cards are inexpensive and reusable. They can be used directly with many desktops and laptops without the use of the camera. MPEG2 is a lower quality compression codec than miniDV tape and can be challenging to edit on older systems with out of date software.
Possible Solutions
Canon
ZR900 Silver 1/6" CCD 2.7" 112K 37X Optical Zoom MiniDV Camcorder
- NewEgg : $199
- miniDV tape based
- DV25
- Standard Definition
- External Microphone.
Canon's entry-level digital camcorders are designed to deliver the latest in style, features and advanced technology at a most affordable price. Starting with the exclusive genuine Canon 41x advanced zoom, this digital camcorder combines the legendary Canon lens optics with the market-leading DIGIC DV image processor to deliver a fuller range of image quality and more flexibility when you're shooting. The ZR900 is specifically designed to make it easier to capture great video, including a 680k pixel CCD image sensor, 2.7" wide screen LCD with a soft LCD video light, quick start, joystick control, level and grid markers and more. The microphone terminal on the ZR900 makes it especially useful for educators and trainers to carefully capture the audio they need to make most effective use of the video they shoot. It is also handy when you want to more easily record a live narration for your footage. All this comes together to deliver brilliant video that you can easily share with family and friends. Easy to use, great looking and terrific value - it is the perfect choice for capturing all of life's precious memories.
Canon
FS100 Moonstone Silver 2.7"123K LCD 37X Optical Zoom Flash Memory Digital Camcorder
- NewEgg : $349
- Format MPEG2
- Secure Digital card based cards are $15/8Gb
- Standard definition
- External Microphone
Panasonic
SDR-S7K Black 2.7"LCD 10x Variable Speed Zoom Shock-Resistant SD Camcorder.
- NewEgg : $274
- MPEG2
- SD card based
- Standard definition
- No external Microphone
Wild cards
These are not recommended, but are interesting developments in the world of video. These two cameras are designed to be used with Internet sites such as YouTube. You can plug them into a computer and upload directly to your online account. Quality is not bad!
Flip Video
Ultra Series 60 minutes Black 1/4" VGA CMOS 1.5" LCD 2X Digital Zoom Digital Camcorder
- NewEgg : $130
- MPEG-4
- Solid state built-in
- 60mins on best quality
- Standard definition
- No external Microphone
Creative
VF0570-P Pink Vado Pocket Video Cam
- NewEgg : $70
- MPEG-4
- Solid state built-in
- 60mins on best quality
- Standard definition
- No external Microphone
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