Which is better NASA's Worldwind or Google Earth?

[WESELDAR]

Hi all. I was very happy earlier today. I learned that my friend, who is also my Director of Photography, just got his *used* Canon HV30 from Amazon. But now I am very sad. I went to his house with my fresh miniDV tapes ready to begin to practice filming and I took a look at the HV30, and I noticed that the little joystick for changing settings wasn't working properly. In fact, it could only move down and it made changing ANY settings nearly impossible. And we really needed to turn off the Auto Focus and put it in Cinema Mode! So......yeah it sucks. Now we must send it back. We would just buy a new one but, alas, we are on a less-than-shoestring budget (a moccasin string budget, if I may) and all of the other cameras were $600+. And so this brings up a predicament.

Should we still try to find a used HVx0? Or would it just be better to try and find another camcorder that may be cheaper? Or a DSLR?

Please help!


Thanks, Wes

[drapeama]

... just got his *used* Canon HV30 from Amazon. [...] and I noticed that the little joystick for changing settings wasn't working properly.

1) You can send it back and wait a couple of week to get it back OR find a local repair store, it may not be that worst, if it partially works.
2) You can always send it back, but you probably won't be refunded as you bought it used.
3) DSLR: you don't have the money as you said, but more important: do you have a computer that can handle AVCHD editing? No big deal to have a DSLR if you're unable to edit the video out of it. Sure the picture quality will be excellent, even in low-light and it will beat a camcorder hands down, but...any movie/short/video needs some work/editing in post.

[HueyNRolf]

If you can return and get a refund, that's got to be step #1. There's no point trying to use it and a repair, even a minor one, will be too expensive.

If $600 is out of budget, then a DSLR is out. Seems like you need to get your money back and go for another used HVx0. Better luck next time.

[HueyNRolf]

Or how about this:

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?4...out-100-bucks!

Brand new and you'll free up cash for a sound recorder (get an H1) plus tripod.

[WESELDAR]

If he can not gt his money back, then I will probably get either a DSLR or the little camera (+ the Zoom H1) that HueyNRolf Suggested.

And drapeama, I am not sure if my computer can edit AVCHD. This is the computer I use to edit my video. Will Sony Vegas HD Movie Studio 10 edit AVCHD?

Thanks,
Wes

[WESELDAR]

If he can not gt his money back, then I will probably get either a DSLR or the little camera (+ the Zoom H1) that HueyNRolf Suggested.

And drapeama, I am not sure if my computer can edit AVCHD. This is the computer I use to edit my video. Will Sony Vegas HD Movie Studio 10 edit AVCHD?

Thanks,
Wes

[charlie_tango]

I am not sure if my computer can edit AVCHD. Will Sony Vegas HD Movie Studio 10 edit AVCHD?

Link doesn't work Wes, what are the specs of your computer?
And this software can edit AVCHD files, only if the computer can handle them.

[WESELDAR]

sorry for the bad link, and the double post. It is a quad core with 2.6 ghz per core, 8gb ram, a 640gb harddrive, an integrated nVidia geforse 9100 graphics card, umm its hp, has windows 7.

[HueyNRolf]

Wes,

If you get a DSLR, you'll still need a sound recorder and tripod. I know that little camera looks like a joke. But remember, it does 720/24p. I dare say it's as good, even better than the gear no-budget filmmakers were using 10 years ago.

Gear just keeps getting better and cheaper. Lucky you.

[Bif]

Do a Google search on "Vegas HD Movie Studio 10" and find the specs on it. I believe it can.

The Canon DSLRs produce video files that are H.264 in an MOV "container". AVCHD is also H.264 and both are compressed to the point all but the most recent and powerful computers are "stressed". You will be best off with a fast quad core (or the newer six core) processor.

Failing that, the AVCHD and the Canon DSLR MOV can be converted to something easier on your computer. Even with quad core computers I use Koyote Soft's "Free Video Converter" to convert mine to AVI (It's actually H.264 in an AVI container but much easier for the computer and software to handle).

My advice on the used camcorder: Purchasing through amazon it had to have some kind of warranty so your friend should immediately contact amazon and get return instructions. Get refund if at all possible.

Then don't go looking for another used HVxx! The HV20 has more than enough age on it that any used one I could not test in advance would be suspect. The HV30 may be moving into that same area. These were excellent camcorders in their day but the tape transport mechanisms can be "touchy" and the design is not the most solidly built.

A used HV40 might not be such a gamble but I still would not buy without inspecting and testing. Same basic build quality.

I'd "mow more lawns" or whatever you had to do to afford a Canon T2i, prices have come down a bit since the T3i was announced, I just "pulled the trigger" on a Canon 60D body Amazon is selling new for $888, the T2i was listed at $769 at B&H this morning.

Bruce Foreman

[drapeama]

Failing that, the AVCHD and the Canon DSLR MOV can be converted to something easier on your computer.

Hey Bruce, I did a quick test recently with my last video: I color corrected it, and instead of rendering it in a lossless format like Lagarith, I only used a preset based on the HDV specs (mpeg2 constant bitrate 25mbps) and it was more than decent to me, even if i'm usually perfectionist. Not because I need more HDD space, but only to make the editing easier in Vegas 8.0. So I'd say, using the proxy app from Khaver, he could reencode the files from the DSLR to an easier file to work with in Movie Studio HD.

[WESELDAR]

Thanks Bruce. And HueyNRolf. I will try and see if I can get more money so as to purchase the Canon T2i, but I am kind of having trouble finding jobs, as I'm 15 (almost 16) and I can't legally work, and its Winter, so I can't really mow lawns. ;(

[Timbit]

I'm 15 (almost 16) and I can't legally work, and its Winter, so I can't really mow lawns. ;(

You could shovel snow?

[WESELDAR]

lol its winter, so the grass isn't growing. But I live in NC, so there's no snow.

[Almohada]

I don't think you need that little joystick to turn off the autofocus, but you do need it to get to CineMode...
In my opinion, I think you should have someone check it out, they might be able to replace that joystick button

[drapeama]

Maybe with this, as it has the menu button on it.

[Almohada]

Drape saves the day!!!!! Wow, GREAT idea!!!! That saves him from the repair cost and saves him from the AVCHD headache (if he needed to get a new computer) and DSLR route.

[drapeama]

Drape saves the day!!!!!

Can't tell if it works or not thought...

[Almohada]

Great move nonetheless

[Bif]

Drape saves the day!!!!! Wow, GREAT idea!!!! That saves him from the repair cost and saves him from the AVCHD headache (if he needed to get a new computer) and DSLR route.

I've worked with AVCHD since Canon first came out with the HF100. AVCHD is a "headache" only to those who prefer to stay with slightly older technology because they are comfortable with it (and that is OK) or are hesitant to move into something newer that may have a bit of a learning curve.

AVCHD has NOT been a "headache" for me, it has freed me from dependence on a medium that in both audio and video applications works ONLY if the tape is drawn past the heads in perfect alignment and at the exact correct speed.

Everyone makes their choices.

He will not need a new computer if he moves into flash memory media, his computer specs he listed are "stout" enough.

Your disdain for DSLRs is well known. But just because YOU have a dislike doesn't mean others should be discouraged from considering that as an option moving forward.

The HV20 was an extremely innovative camera in it's time, the whole HV series has delivered outstanding performance, folks owning any still working for them are easily justified in continuing to use them (drive 'em till the wheels fall off). You definitely won't see me putting them down. However considering the build quality (like many consumer models) is not conducive to long term constant use I do NOT recommend buying HV series used unless one can inspect and test it.

There just comes a time when some folks are best off "moving on" to more current technology.

Bruce Foreman

[drapeama]

... I do NOT recommend buying HV series used unless one can inspect and test it.

That's also valid for flash media camcorders, no?

[WESELDAR]

Thanks, drape. I will try and get one of these remotes and see if it works. And Bif, I really wouldn't mind a DSLR its just that they are really expensive. The one that I really want, the Canon 5d Mark II is REALLY expensive, so I might have to go with another one.

[charlie_tango]

The one that I really want, the Canon 5d Mark II is REALLY expensive, so I might have to go with another one.

I don't think you'd need more than what the T2i can offer, why would you want more than this?

[Almohada]

He can get whatever he wants, I'm just saying that since he already has the camera, he can just get the remote like drape suggested rather than return/sell it and dish out $2000 or however much it costs for a DSLR or flash memory based camera. It's easier to just get a 20 dollar remote and see what happens.

[cgbier]

That's also valid for flash media camcorders, no?

Yes and no. Flash cams don't have mechanical drives.
Canon has replaced the drives of our XL 1s when we sent them in for CLA without our knowledge and without any billing... even though we had no problems (well, with one of them).