For VideoBridges

HelmutLeitner: I changed my suggested camcorder to a CANON HV20.

For Africa

I have asked a question on Yahoo answers http://tinyurl.com/3dvm8f

http://tinyurl.com/2vs4z9

The reason I went with the MiniDV was tape transports have been around for years and optical is fairly new, when the recording/playback part fails you have an expensive security camera, so I went with the tape transport. I am sooo… glad I did!

I have discovered that editing the footage is a blast on the PC. A friend has a Hitachi DVD cam, he asked me to help him make a demo for his band, just a 5 – 10 minute mix of videos and the band members. Most of what he has is on DVD ROM, after much work I did get the video in a format that my editing package would recognize. I did some basic cutting, transitions and added a jpeg of the bands logo to the beginning of the video. The edited video then needed to be re-encoded, so it ends up we are working with Mpeg 2 encoded files and then encoding them again. The end result is something that looks like it was recorded on an old VHS camcorder of years past.

I’m going to trash using the DVD ROM’s from the Hitachi and film the band with my Canon Elua 65, not the best in low light, but otherwise it suits me just fine. In my 45 years I have made some decisions that I have regretted, purchasing a MiniDV over a DVD camcorder is not one of them.

What is the tv format in the country we wish to send the cams to? NTSC or PAL? That is important http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t106269.html I live in Europe but want to buy an NTSC camcorder because they are cheaper or because they have analog to DV pass-through. What kind of problems will I face?

Answer:

PAL (50 Hz electrical frequency countries) and NTSC (60 Hz electrical frequency countries) are TV broadcast standards that are incompatible. Video recorded in one standard will not usually play on equipment designed for the other standard. The exception to this is Sony camcorders which apparently will play back video tapes recorded in either format but can only record in the format specified. In Europe (50 Hz), dual standard TV sets are available that will play either standard. This is usually not true in North America (60 Hz).

If you have a dual standard TV, then you can choose either format to play back from your camcorder. Keep in mind that analog sources in the opposite format will not be able to be recorded to tape or passed through to the PC via the camcorder because the camcorder is only designed to work with the specified format.

Video in either PAL or NTSC format can be transferred to a PC for editing. Once in the PC, the format can be converted to be compatible with the TV system prevalent in the country. Depending on the quality of your video editing software, the picture may not be significantly degraded after conversion.

Most camcorders have universal power supplies that will work with the electrical standard in any country.

"No, you can't capture NTSC DV, convert it then send it back to an NTSC cam as PAL. That is because the camcorder can only record in the format it is designed for. However, you can convert the NTSC to PAL with the PC and record that to a DVD that will play on PAL equipment. It IS possible to get a reasonable conversion, but the quality of the converted file depends on the quality of the software used. It is generally recommended that folks stay with the TV format of their country."

There are many fine cams to choose from here is the link with camcorders up to 400 Euros http://tinyurl.com/38xmqy

http://camcorderinfo.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/masterid=32256237/form_keyword

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/d/Reviews&level_b=Camcorder&level_c=DVD.htm

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-VDR-D200-Camcorder-Review.htm

DVD camcorder sugestion for Kenya, advice please Hello!

I have been put in a position to search for a proper DVD camcorder for a network of grassroots activists in Kenya. So I have found this excellent website with the wealth of information. The problem is there is to much to choose from and frankly I don't know anything in this area. So I thought I could approach this community and ask kindly for your suggestions. The cam should be in this class "Samsung VP-DC161W/XEU Multi Format DVD Camcorder - Silver/Black " but this is not most important. I found that Sony has a plethora of cams on all levels of quality/price scale. I think this one should be good: Sony DCR-DVD108 DVD Digital Camcorder

But there are other questions I would like to know answers to. What is the best option regarding power supply,heat and moisture resistance, compatibility with their dvd players and possibility of editing of the video. (I can find this out from my contact in Kenya) I think it should be somewhere between amateur and a pro camera but the max price is 400 Euros. (around 550$ I think) The camcorder should be a tool for making interviews and shorter films. It should be easy to use,robust, it shouldn't need additional devices (like some other pc cards for connecting to pc). It should be usable for recording weddings, ceremonies and such. I think it should be something between amateur and pro camera ( I know that our budget is low) but we are not seeking for highest quality video. I really don't know for what technical characteristics should I look for so any help would be highly appreciated. Also I think I will contact the person in Africa and see what kind of cams are there in use by their small scale pro's.

Thanks, Sasha

search for camcorder

[AndriusKulikauskas]: Hi Sasha, today or tomorrow could you please write a letter summarizing what you learned, add links to two or three sample models that you recommend and make a list of questions for David Mutua to answer. Also please ask David where in Kenya does he live? and how far away is it from Nairobi? 1178839473 (free for all) [AndriusKulikauskas]: Please also consider the situation in Africa. That is why DVDs are important is because they are easier and cheaper to get. I think the quality of the video is of secondary importance. More important is that they be easy to make and not require additional equipment or costs. But ask David specific questions and general questions. 1178839519 (free for all) [AndriusKulikauskas]: Also I think that DVDs are much more easy and cheap to copy and distribute 1178839552 (free for all) [AndriusKulikauskas]: Also much of this may be for capturing raw footage and then often that might be edited elsewhere if that's necessary. 1178839608 (free for all) [AndriusKulikauskas]: Thank you for your excellent research.

http://www.videohelp.com/

http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=ArpKQpd1k_HsZhqyzD4qeQ6mjnUC;_ylu=X3oDMTBhNjRqazhxBHNlYwNzZWFyY2g-?p=sony+108+dvd&did=59&x=0&y=0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code

Kenya is in a PAL standard region : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAL

DVD formats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_Formats

From: http://www.videohelp.com/dvd

DVD-R and DVD-RW DVD-R was the first DVD recording format released that was compatible with standalone DVD Players. DVD-R is a non-rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 93% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs. DVD-RW is a rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 80% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs. DVD-R and DVD-RW supports single side 4.37 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double sided 8.75 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-10). These formats are supported by DVDForum.

DVD+R and DVD+RW DVD+R is a non-rewritable format and it is compatible with about 89% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs. DVD+RW is a rewritable format and is compatible with about 79% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs. DVD+R and DVD+RW supports single side 4.37 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double side 8.75 computer GB* DVDs(called DVD-10). These formats are supported by the DVD+RW Alliance.

from: http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm#plugs_g It seems that in Kenya another typ of plugs are used: This plug has three rectangular prongs that form a triangle. British Standard BS 1363 requires use of a three-wire grounded and fused plug for all connections to the power mains (including class II, two-wire appliances). British power outlets incorporate shutters on line and neutral contacts to prevent someone from pushing a foreign object into the socket.

The British domestic electrical system uses a ring circuit in the building which is rated for 32 amps (6 amps for lighting circuits which are usually spurs). Moreover, there is also a fusing in the plug; a cartridge fuse, usually of 3 amps for small appliances like radios etc. and 13 amps for heavy duty appliances such as heaters. Almost everywhere else in the world a spur main system is used. In this system each wall socket, or group of sockets, has a fuse at the main switchboard whereas the plug has none. So if you take some foreign appliance to the UK, you can use an adaptor, but technically it must incorporate the correct value fuse. Most would have a 13 amps one, too big for the computer for example. BS 1363 was published in 1962 and since that time it has gradually replaced the earlier standard plugs and sockets (type D) (BS 546).

Sasha: Adopter probably needed, this should be checked with our Kenyan friends. Transformers not needed I think.

For Lithuania

for Lithuania we are looking to use this for VideoBridges so we want:

• to be able to use the video camera as a WebCam, so it needs a Firewire (also known as IEEE 1498 or iLink) connector Use your camcorder as a web camera, How to use a camcorder as a webcam
• to be able to get audio input from an external microphone. Need a microphone jack or XLR ports How do I get good sound?, Using an external microphone with a video camcorder
• suitable for low light situations (because we're using a Projector for a VideoBridge!)
• to record to a DVD

Canon DVD DC230 DVD, Audio in/out, USB. 1799 LTL.

Canon DVD DC220 DVD, Audio in/out, USB. 1799 LTL.

Canon DVD DC-211 DVD, Audio in/out but no USB. 1599 LTL.

Canon DVD DC210 with DVD, Audio in/out but no USB. 1649 LTL.

Sony DCR-DVD7E with DVD, Audio in/out and USB. Nicely reviewed, but the minus is that you have to finalize the disk. 269990 Lt.

JVC GZ-MG155 30GB HDD with Audio in/out and USB JVC GZ-MG155 review

Elektromarkt

Canon DC50, DVD, Audio in/out, USB. 3099 LTL

More

Sony HDRHC5E HDV 4M/2M CMOS/ HDMI interface/ CZ T*/ 10x optical zoom/ 2,7"WideH.LCD/ flash. Suggested by PranasLaurinavicius of http://www.gks.lt 976 EUR http://www.sony.ru/view/ShowProduct.action?product=HDR-HC5E&site=odw_ru_RU&pageType=TechnicalSpecs&category=HDD+HDV

Sanyo Xacti (Thank you, ShannonClark)

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