Advice Needed on Video Camera

[Rob Wallace]

I just started this thread on Woodcentral, but thought I'd ask here too, "to broaden the sampling base" that my statistics professor always told us was a good idea.....

Our club is looking at purchasing a quality video camera that we can use for close-ups during demonstrations as well as for recording digital video for distributing on DVDs or posting on Internet/Web sites. We'd like the camera to be useful in a fairly wide range of light and distance situations, as well as having the ability to feed digital or composite video signals into our digital projector unit for use during demonstrations.

I'd like to ask those knowledgeable about these units to make some suggestions regarding brands and models of video cameras to consider that have worked well for your turning clubs (.....or those to stay away from!). We'd be looking at an expenditure between $ 600 and $ 1,000 for this video recording camera unit......possibly looking at the small "Woodchuckers" cameras for later addition to the system

Any recommendations about specific cameras, or features that would be most helpful (....as in autofocus override to manual focus, which I have been told is really useful when trying to focus on a spinning object!). Macro capabilities probably would be good too... I'm a novice with video camera selection, so please be gentle...!

Thanks!

Rob Wallace

 

[john lucas]

Rob I don't remember the model number but Canon has exactly what you need for about $600. It is a digital camera, has manual focus and exposure overrides if you need them, and has an external mike jack. I bought the cheaper brother that uses tapes. It does such a good job focusing that I don't use the manual focus very often. The same is true with the exposure. The external mike input is essential for turning. The lathe makes way too much noise for an on camera mike. Both cameras work about the same, the main difference is the digital recording system and few other nice features on the $600 model.

 

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

Rob, in that price range you should be able to purchase all you need and more. I purchased two Panasonic cameras for my DVD productions. The smaller one is a model PV-GS320. It has great close-up capability, very resposive auto focus, 3-chip color, and a external mic jack. I don't recall the exact cost, but around $500.

 

[Ed Heuslein]

Rob, I agree with John and Malcom. I do A/V at my club and use four Sony camcorders. They work very well. I recommend getting something with a lot of zoom so you don't have to get up close and interfere with the demonstrator while he/she is hard at work. Also, in the AAW forums, Jamie Donaldson just posted a "Must Read" for A/V members - www.woodturner.org/community/chapter/practices/051_BestPractices_VideoSetup.pdf.
He recommends some Sony ultramini-cams for about 85 bucks each. Do not get fooled into using the Woodchuck junk. In fact, I don't think they even sell it any more - too many complaints I suspect.
Good Luck.