NoShitThereIWas 0 #1 March 21, 2005 So I have decided to start shooting video again after about 3 years (and all of my old camera equipment being stolen). I have started all over in purchasing all new equipment and do not have a clue or whole lot of experience with what I need to buy and all the new stuff out on the market. So far I have ordered my FLatTop Narrow, still cam, ringsight, Cameye, etc. I have everything except my camcorder. It turns out the JVC I do have and had intended to use is most likely not compatable with the equipment used at the DZ. I have already bought a Kenko wide angle lense and filters for that camera which has a 37mm size thread on the lens. It seems like all of the "newer" cameras on the market are tiny and incompatable. I know I need a digital camera and not Hi8 but I honestly don't know the difference between digital 8, High8, DV, mini DV... Are there any super knowledgeable video gurus out there who can recommend a digital camera preferably Sony that will support a Kenko wide angle lens with a 37mm thread? Until then, I am going to just keep reading and trying to make sense out of all this high tech camera stuff. Thanks in advance for the help/advice.Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #2 March 21, 2005 Try finding a (discontinued) Sony TRV22. You can still find some on-line if you search. IMO, this camera is still better than what's currently out there (unless you want to go mega-size). ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 March 21, 2005 It also has the benefit of being fairly inexpensive.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #4 March 21, 2005 I've got a PC110 I'n not in dire need of....PM me if interested.---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sonicfreefly 0 #5 March 21, 2005 Sony PC330 (discontinued model) and Sony HC1000 has 37mm threads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freekflyguy 0 #6 March 21, 2005 I have a TRV 22 that I have no need for, its NTSC and I am in Europe (Pal) dont ask ;-) Drop me a line if you are interested. BuzzIt's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #7 March 22, 2005 The Lens cost maybe $65... you can pick up something like a PC350 for $1000+ and use the lens or pick up a HC20 camera for less then $400 at Best Buy and a new smaller Wide angle lens for $65 and save a few hundred. Something to think about. MiniDV is the only way to go. Firewire (i1394) is required as is a LANC port anymore for the Cam-Eye. You got an L bracket or a Dbox yet?Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoShitThereIWas 0 #8 March 22, 2005 Thanks everybody for the replies/PMs. I AM interested in buying a camera if someone has one they are not using, I just have to decide/figure out which one I am going to buy. As for the L bracket and D Box, I do not have a D box. I wasn't sure if I wanted/needed one and also not sure of the camera measurements yet. If the L bracket is the same as the still camera mount, yes, my FLatTop narrow came with that.Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoShitThereIWas 0 #9 March 22, 2005 So I have been doing some online shopping and comparing and I think so far my favorite choice is the Sony DCR TRV 22 (which I think is the exact same camera I had that was stolen) . It is a step up from the TRV 19 and has the manual focus features vs. automatic which I think would be sort of important??? The PCs are a little more than I want to spend right now but I think I will check out that one PC that fits my lens that I already have. There are two TRV 22s listed on Ebay and FreekFlyer also has one he might want to sell. Does anyone have any experience with these? In the Ebay descriptions, the same exact camera, one says the tape is Digital8 and one says Mini something. Can someone please explain the difference between this Digital8 and MiniDV? There is an obvious difference in the camera body but as far as it being "digital" or completely "digital compatable" is there a real difference? Okay back to researching. Any feedback or opinions on experience with the TRV would be awesome. I have surfed through a couple threads where it seems to have gotten some decent feedback by some very experienced camera flyers but if you can chime in, please do. Thanks!Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #10 March 22, 2005 The TRV 22 is the camera that quade and I both fly. It is digital (uses the mini-dv tapes). The digital8 that you ask about is also digital, except it uses the large cassettes instead of the mini-ones. They won't fit in the mini-dv players that some DZ's dubb from. The main difference between the TRV 19 and 22 is that the 19 has a black and white view finder...the 22 a color one. The 19 can -only- do video -out- through it's analogue port, where the 22 will do -in- and -out-. These are the main feature difference, with the latter one being important on a DZ where we like to swap video files from tv to camera occasionally. I believe that the firewire port works both ways, though. Not sure...that would be very important since we like to swap video files between cameras quite frequently. It'd suck if you couldn't import files to your camera (if you got the 19). Hope this helps. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoShitThereIWas 0 #11 March 22, 2005 Thanks LtDiver, Yes, I think it was one of Quade's posts that I was reading. He had some pretty decent things to say about it. That feedback was helpful. Since you own one, you will probably know the answer to my next questions: 1) The LAN port thing ... is that easy to access because there is one out there that is supposed to be a pain in the butt 2) Is it easy to mount/dismount onto a quick release? Do you have a preference in how you mounted yours? 3) How about accessing the tape? Have you run into any problems? I for sure would get the 22 vs. the 19. Thanks for all the info.Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires." Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #12 March 23, 2005 The LANC port is easy to reach on the right side of the camera. I (and quade) use a Bonehead dbox to mount ours to the helmet. quade uses a Stroboframe for the dbox to mount to. I just bolted my dbox directly to the helmet (I never have to remove the dbox for other camera needs in that spot). I could go with either mounting option....I just don't have a need to remove my dbox at this time. Tape access is from the bottom of the camera...and this is one big reason why it's nice to have a dbox instead of bolting the camera itself to the helmet. All you have to do is pop the little critter out of the dbox and walla...you can easily get to the tape. ltdiver (thanks for getting my name right ) Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhys 0 #13 March 23, 2005 i believe the trv18 would be the best for top mount.(i have done 1800 jumps with mine) the reason being it is low profile and not dependant on using a touch screen to access features such as faders and edit search these are instantly accessed with the touch of an external button on the 18. the thread is 30mm, i use a kenko .43 with a 30-37 step up ring. also from what i understant any model later then the trv18 has narrower optics so lenses arent as wide as they say. touch screens suck they just make the manufacture cheaper and your door wear sout much quicker. just my thoughts"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites