First time camera choices.

[GeordieSkydiver 0]

I'm coming over to Elsinore in April and plan on buying a video camera that I will later use as my helmet cam.

Whats a good newbie camera?

Where's a good place to buy one? (circuit city?)

Thanks in advance...

Lee _______________________________

In a world full of people, only some want to fly, is that not crazy?
http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk

[piisfish 140]

video camera ??
stills camera ??

question for US residents, is the 350D (the new rebel) already on teh market ??

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[freekflyguy 0]

dont buy a camera in the USA, they are NTSC format, which is not compatible with the European PAL standard.

Buzz

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

[GeordieSkydiver 0]

Quote

I'm coming over to Elsinore in April and plan on buying a video camera that I will later use as my helmet cam.

Better?

The NTSC/PAL thing doesn't bother me. I have several NTSC devices. Once you burn them onto a hard drive, it doesn't matter anyway right?

Lee _______________________________

In a world full of people, only some want to fly, is that not crazy?
http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk

[PhreeZone 20]

No, it still matters. NTSC is at 29.9 frames a second at X resolution. PAL is at 24 fps at Y resolution. If you only play the video back on a computer it won't matter, you just have to edit is as such but if you try to export footage to the wrong format it has issues.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[GeordieSkydiver 0]

Ok, but my TV has dual NTSC/PAL, and thats the only other place I'd be outputting too, plus you can buy NTSC/PAL converters fairly cheaply....

.....or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Getting back to the point, and forgetting about format, which video camera do people recommend?

Lee _______________________________

In a world full of people, only some want to fly, is that not crazy?
http://www.ukskydiver.co.uk

[dragon2 2]

You will end up wanting to import and/or export video of you/your friends from and to your camera I promise you.

I just converted the whole World Team 2004 DVD to NTSC (the other way round but same problems), believe me it is a pain in the #$% and the quality is not getting any better.

Be compatible with your friends!

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[IvanPeters 0]

If there is a TV at the DZ then, sooner or later, you are going to want to show that really funny jump you just did on it. Also, the first thing the people you video are going to say is "can I get a copy of that?" Once you get some experience you might find yourself wanting to do tandem videos or competition video. Having the wrong format is going to cause you trouble with all of that.

Besides, PAL is better.

You can get PAL cameras in America if you look in the right places. Just remember that you are unlikely to get a waranty outside of the USA. Also, make sure you know what the camera you choose will cost you at home. It's easy to go on holiday, round the exchange rate up to make the maths easy and thing you are getting a good deal when you might not be.

As for your question about which camera to choose, look around this forum. That question gets asked just about every other day.

Ivan

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

Also, the first thing the people you video are going to say is "can I get a copy of that?" Once you get some experience you might find yourself wanting to do tandem videos or competition video. Having the wrong format is going to cause you trouble with all of that.

Bingo! Besides, like it or not, all world competitions are conducted in PAL. So, if I were to qualify to be on a National Team who went to a world competition I'd have to buy a new video camera (or two), all in PAL format. Even thought I live in the U.S.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon