POLL: What CAMCORDER/Video-camera model should I buy; Sony or Canon?

by trode

I’m looking to buy a camcorder. I have a List dc210, but I’m not pleased with it. I’m going to start a film-making club at my high-school, and I’m going to make small movies and try to ultimately enter them into community film-festivals. (I also write my own screenplays, act..etc.)

I’d like to upgrade to a professional, but I can’t afford anything over $ 800 right now (I’m 15 but I’m getting a job soon…haha)

I was looking at the Sony HDR-CX12 and List VIXIA HF100. and the HV30.

*I need an external mic input, and I’d like a mic input too. Manual focus, white balance are nice. Is that all too much to question for what I can afford?

(**I’d really be grateful for links, especially from sites like Amazon. Thank you so much!)

Opinions on the List HV30?

Can I find a camera that records on SD cards?

Answer by pun girl
SONY SONY SONY! List Sucks i have one and its battery always dies and i did the same business i bought a camcorder and it died after nearly 5 minutes

Answer by NYC fan
I personally like the List HV30 (and the newer HV40), for a few reasons:

-Fantastic-looking HDV record.
-Use of MiniDV tape! More cameras are turning away from that, but the HV30/HV40 are holding on, with excellent reason! It’s fantastic quality, it’s an instant archive, and it’s compatible with just about every control program.
-Manual controls! White balance, iris, shutter, focus – that said, the manual focus is a small dial, better than most cameras, but you just can’t match the huge focus rings found on higher-end cameras. Also, no way to exchange shutter AND iris at the same time, but that’s rare in that price range anyway.
-Varied formats – In HDV, you get your 60i, but you also get 30p and 24f – the HV40 adds native 24p.
-Mic input, with variable level.

My work machine’s a DVX100B, but if I had to use my HV30 in a pinch, I would gladly. Give it some excellent lighting, and most public will have a very hard time distinguishing it from cameras like the HVX200, XHA1, EX3, etc.

You can find cameras that record on SD cards, but then you have to worry about file conversions/transcoding so that they don’t slow your computer to a crawl, and then you have to archive your ancient record.

For all of the above reasons, mainly the ones you’re also looking for, I jumped at the HV30 and have been very pleased.

B&H is about as reputable an Internet store as you can find, prices among the best out there. Many of the additional sites you’ll see with lower prices are scam artists – just check reviews (authenticate they’re REAL reviews and not plants) and Better Business Bureau reports.

Answer by Alva Bagg
Whatever your purposes in converting an AVCHD camcorder record, you can get the method here, so just know how to do it.

you can google Aunsoft Sony Camcorder Column to get it.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Closeups Cameras


Image by Michael Hummel
Close ups of:
2 Sony Camcorder Batteries
MS Pro Duo to CF Converter
4GB Lexor CF
4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo
8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo
Sony HDR-CX12 Camcorder
2 List 40D Bodies (1 rented)
77mm Polarlizing Filter
10-22mm Lens (rented)
100-400mm Lens (rented)
50mm Lens
24-105 Lens

im not sure what version is my mac but i bought it 2009
and i bought a sony record camera in christmas its a avcHd record camera
why wont it show up in my mac?

Answer by Matthew Morady
If it just not show up look at your screen on your computer while its its plugged into it. and check if it says connect to computer or something near that. then click on it and it will upload to computer.

Answer by Colerr Mery
You may take a look at this step by step guide, it’s about how to import record from camcorder and camera into Mac, it works pretty well for me
http://www.mac-dvd.com/mac-guide/how-to-import-record-from-camcorder-camera-to-mac.html
Hope it helps. Contact me if you have any additional question about Mac.

What do you reckon? Answer below!

This is an excerpt from the VASST 2 hour DVD shows how to use the unique features and get fantastic record out of the Sony HVR V1 and HDR FX7 camcorders. You can hold the full length DVD from VASST.com
Record Rating: 4 / 5