Prosumer DV cam question ?

[123]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if any of you have prosumer DV cams & if so can you let me know if the size & quality of screengrabs can be compared to say for example a 3mp digital camera ?

I'm looking for a decent camcorder that I can take screengrabs off the footage rather than a digital camera (already have a DSLR), as with tape you can pick the particular image you want rather than a photo taken with a camera.

TIA

[thescrounger]

Taking screengrabs from any video camera will only give you a resoultion size of 720 x 576. This is nowhere near suitable enough for printing as a picture at even the smallest size.

The only benefit of doing this with a prosumer 3 CCD camera is that colour resolution will have more depth.


A dedicated digtal stills camera with a 3mp resolution will give you infintely better picture over a video camera, prosumer or not.

[123]

It's not for printing though, it's for making up a "Photo Story", that resolution would be suitable (as it's a TV one where these would be shown), my Panasonic camcorder has a whopping 800,000 MP resolution (sarcasm) but I find that when making up a photo story the images seem a little smaller than the screen...

[adamrking]

If you have to go for a DV Camera, The VX2000 (Which I believe is no longer in production) and the PD170 are the cameras of choice. These are 3 chip cameras that are broadcast quality. Although the Sound quality of the VX2000 isn't great, but a Glenn Sound box attachment is available to make audio TV broadcast quality.

[richieuk]

Sony are releasing a new prosumer camcorder DCR-HC1000 next month which looks quite nice. Though with a price of about £1000 it ain't cheap.

http://www.sony-europe.com/PageView.do?site=odw_en_EU&page=PressReleaseDetail&section=en_EU_Press&pressrelease=1088055915849

[123]

what about a professional level DV cam rather than one of the mini ones... ?

[thescrounger]

800,000 MP resolution (sarcasm) but I find that when making up a photo story the images seem a little smaller than the screen...

They shouldn't be smaller than the screen. How are you puting together this photo story?

As for a prosumer camera, any of the Sony, Panasonic or Canon 3CCD models are reaching pro quality.

[adamrking]

If you've got the money the industry favourite Pro DV Cams are the DSR500 and I think they have brought out the DSR570. These are 3CCD (chip) cameras but have really good lenses on them, like DigiBeta - Quality is very good, but very pricey.

the main broadcasters typically use VX2000's and PD150/170s as their small cameras for actuality, with DSR's used for the more pro stuff. Digibeta is still best but the cost of cameras and operators are high.

[adamrking]

If its just a photo story, you could always use a digital camera and a non-linear editor like Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, iMovie or maybe Windows Movie Maker etc to import the images and make into a movie, then output to DVD? Would be cheaper, assuming you have the software

[thescrounger]

Is it for Pr0n?

[123]

Not porn, no. Using MS photo story to put it together, it has a great "Ken Burns" effect. For a mate's wedding.