Apr 2, 2005, 01:47
Hi Slej,
Sorry it took so long to write - I wrote something here a few days ago, but we had a blackout halfway through and I forgot to write back
I've played with a fair few video cameras - Sony, Panasonic, Canon and JVC, both single and triple chip, as well as Hi8. If all you are interested in is saving a few videos here and there of the kids, or maybe to send away clips to friends or relatives, the single chip cameras will do you fine. If you're at all interested in production work though, you'll need a 3CCD camera. It's comparible to the difference between say a Canon A80 (single chip) and the EOS-1Ds (triple chip) - yeah you can produce similar results on the A80, but the SLR shots will generally be better.
In terms of brands, I'd have to disagree with the stats. One of my mates back in the Eastern states does some professional underwater videography with a 3CCD Sony, while another mate has a single chip Panasonic. We tested them both out under very low light conditions, and the Panasonic came out way on top. In general, the Pansonic was also easier to use, and still had a decent picture quality (we agreed that it was better than a single chip Sony that we got our hands on, but they sort of thing is purely speculative - you may have a different opinion if you saw both at work). My mate is pretty annoyed that he has so much money invested in Sony - the replacement costs for a new camera/housing/lighting system would be horific.
Saying that, I think the best advice anyone can offer is to try them both out for yourself - get into somewhere like Hardly Normal (they generally have most normal cameras in stock) and have a play around. Ask if you can try it in a dark room and see for yourself.
Cheers,
Brad
Sorry it took so long to write - I wrote something here a few days ago, but we had a blackout halfway through and I forgot to write back
I've played with a fair few video cameras - Sony, Panasonic, Canon and JVC, both single and triple chip, as well as Hi8. If all you are interested in is saving a few videos here and there of the kids, or maybe to send away clips to friends or relatives, the single chip cameras will do you fine. If you're at all interested in production work though, you'll need a 3CCD camera. It's comparible to the difference between say a Canon A80 (single chip) and the EOS-1Ds (triple chip) - yeah you can produce similar results on the A80, but the SLR shots will generally be better.
In terms of brands, I'd have to disagree with the stats. One of my mates back in the Eastern states does some professional underwater videography with a 3CCD Sony, while another mate has a single chip Panasonic. We tested them both out under very low light conditions, and the Panasonic came out way on top. In general, the Pansonic was also easier to use, and still had a decent picture quality (we agreed that it was better than a single chip Sony that we got our hands on, but they sort of thing is purely speculative - you may have a different opinion if you saw both at work). My mate is pretty annoyed that he has so much money invested in Sony - the replacement costs for a new camera/housing/lighting system would be horific.
Saying that, I think the best advice anyone can offer is to try them both out for yourself - get into somewhere like Hardly Normal (they generally have most normal cameras in stock) and have a play around. Ask if you can try it in a dark room and see for yourself.
Cheers,
Brad
"Imagination is more important than knowledge"
- Albert Einstein