Question for the video buffs (READ: Mikecentola)

[RocCityRoller]

Ok, so I’m getting a little money back from taxes and I’m thinking about picking up a new camcorder to shoot skate footage. I want go HD but I don’t want to break the bank. I’ve been looking at the Canon HV20 and have been seeing it online for around $580 shipped. From the “test” videos I’ve seen, the quality looks pretty decent.

I would be shooting all action footage (Read: Rollerblading and Sister’s Soccer Games) so I need something with a decent frame rate but I don’t know anything about how frame rates are measured (24i > 30fps?). My main concern is image quality; I want the videos to be clear and clean.


So, my question is, is this a good deal? Are there any other cameras around that price range that I should look at?

[mikecentola]

hv20 is awesome. I have one. enough said.

[dmoffitt]

I'd wait and get one of the AVCHD ones that shoots onto SD - the Sanyo or Panny HDC-SDx (9 I think)

[mikecentola]

Yeah but nothing right now really does good AVC decompression. I doubt he's running a FCP or better system also

[RocCityRoller]

I don't even know what you guys are talking about with AVC and FCP so, yea, that's prolly a little too over my head

[Cavi Mike]

I noticed a lot of dv cams are getting weird with their dithering between frames and you get all sorts of weird artifacts when something fast goes through the picture. I still think analog is the best.

[mikecentola]

lol! my hvx looks great and its direct to solid media

[RocCityRoller]

Gangsta, I ordered my Canon HV20 camera last night with a Canon WD-h43 .7x Wide angle lens! w00t w00t!!

[mikecentola]

Nice I still need to get a wideangle. I'm going to order the Raynox one,,,

[RocCityRoller]

my order of the wide angle got cancelled b/c they were out of stock. I need to find a wide angle somewhere. Where is a good cheap place to pick up lenses?