What are you all using to video your flights? I am looking into buying a video camera but I am trying to get more information before I make the purchase. Any info is appreciated.

Anyone?

Dont buy JVC Everio with built in HDD, great camera, but I can not get decent focus on models. Also it does not have a veiw finder and that makes it hard.

how much can u spend

A buck or 2

Originally Posted by casey g

how much can u spend

Up to about $800-$900. It would be nice to find a decent one around $500

I Like the Panasonic GS 500. It has 3 CCD chips (Broadcast Quality). Shoots excellent Video, Great Stabilization Very Vivid Color. Look up the reviews and see if you like it.

I was looking more towards a 20GB or a 30GB camcorder instead of the mini DVD types. That way I don't have to worry about running out of disks or running out of room on the disk at the wrong time.
Thanks for all the info and keep it coming

Originally Posted by cloudshaker

I Like the Panasonic GS 500. It has 3 CCD chips (Broadcast Quality). Shoots excellent Video, Great Stabilization Very Vivid Color. Look up the reviews and see if you like it.

looks good - mini disks still rock as the digital memory ones lack in quality - apparantly

Originally Posted by cloudshaker

I Like the Panasonic GS 500. It has 3 CCD chips (Broadcast Quality). Shoots excellent Video, Great Stabilization Very Vivid Color. Look up the reviews and see if you like it.

Are you able to record to the SD card instead of the mini dv with that camcorder?
It looks like a great camera, but is there enough zoom on it for getting close-ups on flying planes? Once again thanks for all the info guys.

My friend just got a Sony HD with 30gig hard drive built in....
Its around $1400-$1500.. but the video is nothing like you have ever seen before..
It cost 3 times as much but makes video 10 times sharper.
Something to think about.

Eddie

Can you show us a video of the sony HD ?

some things to look for in a camcorder... you definately want a viewfinder, you can film airplanes much better thru a viewfinder. also when filming planes, i reccomend turning off auto focus. either focus at Inifinity, or for close up stuff, focus where you expect the plane to be during the filming. autofocus has a hard time holding the focus when the plane is moving all around in a featureless sky. Look at the SIZE of the CCDs, bigger is better. I believe the Panasonics are good, you can get a compact 3CCD for a reasonable price. For a high end user, the Canon GL2 is excellent, yet still compact. For ultimate stablity during filming a shoulder camera is best, but they are huge, cumbersom and heavy.... Canons and Panasonics use Optical Image Stabilization while Sonys and the rest use Digital Stabilization for the most part. I believe the Optical Stab is better.

Check out this site for some excellent information on camcorders.
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

I just purchased a refurbished Canon Optura 60, an out of productio model. It's got more manual controls than Canon's current line up. From my friend's experience with this camera, it's produces almost as good quality as 3CCD for only around 500 bux...

The next step up would be one of the Panasonic 3CCDs, also a good choice. i.e. Panasonic GS500. Or if you can find one, the GS400, now out of production, but from what I've read it's an excellent camera for the price.

Regarding HD cameras.... if you buy one, be prepared for it. I've been told it takes twice as long to render the footage, and you will need HD editing software. The file sizes are also huge. But if you've got an HD TV it sure would look nice!!

I hope this info helps!
-Matt

Originally Posted by krashmaster81

some things to look for in a camcorder... you definately want a viewfinder, you can film airplanes much better thru a viewfinder. also when filming planes, i reccomend turning off auto focus. either focus at Inifinity, or for close up stuff, focus where you expect the plane to be during the filming. autofocus has a hard time holding the focus when the plane is moving all around in a featureless sky. Look at the SIZE of the CCDs, bigger is better. I believe the Panasonics are good, you can get a compact 3CCD for a reasonable price. For a high end user, the Canon GL2 is excellent, yet still compact. For ultimate stablity during filming a shoulder camera is best, but they are huge, cumbersom and heavy.... Canons and Panasonics use Optical Image Stabilization while Sonys and the rest use Digital Stabilization for the most part. I believe the Optical Stab is better.

Check out this site for some excellent information on camcorders.
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

I just purchased a refurbished Canon Optura 60, an out of productio model. It's got more manual controls than Canon's current line up. From my friend's experience with this camera, it's produces almost as good quality as 3CCD for only around 500 bux...

The next step up would be one of the Panasonic 3CCDs, also a good choice. i.e. Panasonic GS500. Or if you can find one, the GS400, now out of production, but from what I've read it's an excellent camera for the price.

Regarding HD cameras.... if you buy one, be prepared for it. I've been told it takes twice as long to render the footage, and you will need HD editing software. The file sizes are also huge. But if you've got an HD TV it sure would look nice!!

I hope this info helps!
-Matt

Wow thanks for all the info. I have been looking at the panasonic GS500, it might be the one.

On the Panasonic camcorders, the mini DV's, like the GS500. The picture and depth of color is great. But as far as using the SD card for recording, the image quality is not nearly as good as using the tape. You're better off using the SD card for still pics. I have the DV-953D, which was the predecessor of the GS line. It is an excellent unit, too, but more expensive, and out of production.