Camcorder recommendations/important features for shooting flying vids???

[bodywerks]

My last camcorder was stolen from my car. It was old, anyway, so it's time for a new one.
I am looking for something with the best features for shooting and uploading to my computer to post here and elsewhere with the greatest of ease - I think a hard-drive camcorder is the best option for this, or no? I don't plan to shoot more than an hour or two of video at a time before uploading it to my computere, so I assume the 30+GB of memory is more than enough for that?
The other thing I have seen in some of the videos posted is the plane going in and out of focus all the time, as though the camcorder is trying to figure out what you are trying to shoot or as though it is focusing on the cloud in the background instead of the plane. A friend of mine told me about a feature within the camcorder that you activate or deactive to eliminate it, but I forget what that feature was. It wasn't something so simple as auto-focus, but it may have been a sub-feature to auto-focus, or image stabilization, etc. My friend's camcorder wasn't anything fancy, so I know it isn't reserved for top-end units. Does anyone know what I am talking about???
I am looking to spend under or around $400, so give me some recommendations, please!!!

[JClark]

I am needing one too.

[bodywerks]

I found out from a friend that what I need for our type of filming is a camcorder with "landscape mode". Apparently, most decent camcorders have this, but if it doesn't it's pretty much useless.

[bodywerks]

I guess an eyepiece viewfinder is also a must.

[mighty9]

.

[3D Meatshield]

I'm thinking about getting one in the spring too and wouldn't mind some hands-on recommendations.

[Bob S]

Landscape mode is just a scene mode like Portrait or Sports or Fireworks. It will just make a smaller lens opening so that you have a deeper depth of view.

Manual focus is a must.

I think a P picture is preferable to an I picture. It is debatable though if 720p is preferable over 1080i. But a 720p is better than a 720i. Oh...Get HD.

Some type of solid state storage, SDHC for example, is nice because there are no motors to generate noise. A hard drive may be as quiet butI haven't used one.

It's hard to compete with the higher-end cameras, but unless you want to spend 2-3k you won't get that kind of quality from a consumer grade camera.

[KHochstein]

I purchased a dvd camcorder last year and have issues with the eyepiece, it is at a 45 degree angle to the lens and makes it really hard to follow a plane when shooting because you are not pointing the camera in your line of sight.

Just my take

[Big A]

Bob is shooting you straight the higher end cameras do a better job! I usually can’t afford the higher end cameras while I’m buying more planes. So if you go with something in the middle you can still get great video. (IMO)The must have; HD, Memory (not hard drive), eye piece. This will limit the cameras you look at. These will also double the price of the camera. Which should be 800 to 1000 $$$, maybe even less with the Christmas sells. The sweet spot you will figure out with using the camera, so the video doesn’t have many auto focus issues.
Personally I like the speed of the upload of the HD memory. With the video editing programs can edit out most of the un-wanted ugly!-------------------Good Luck!

Big A

[Bob S]

Al brings up another GREAT point about going with memory instead of DVD or tape etc. When you save your video in a memory format, you can transfer the video to your PC at a speed that is only limited by your connection type (USB, Firewire). The other formats have to "play" the video for it to be captured on your computer. This means that the 4 hours of video you shot is going to take 4 hours to transfer instead of 20 minutes or so with memory type storage.

[Big A]

Bob
Owen and I are going to try and get down to Texas in 09!
Here is an example, you will see a little out of focus on the camera. ----I try and not to lose the important stuff, at least not important to me. I bought this camera without the eye piece which is hard compared to the camera with an eye piece. I love the camera but when my flying buddy videos, which he is better at videoing than me. He hates my new camera because of the missing eye piece which I had on my old camera. I do love the quickness of the upload and now wish I had given more thought to the camera. Just; so I can get some video of myself flying without all the Bi###-en LOL!
Here is the last video I made:
Big A

Right click here to save the video " title="

://www.dodvideos.com/Owen_Maupin_Extra_260.wmv

[Al Lewis]

Both my neighbor and I use a inexpensive Canon ZR 200. We shoot videos for the club and ourselves of flying and it works out just great. Unless you want to do something professionally I wouldn't spend more. Here's a sample of a video he shot of my Stearman going in that I put together on Movie Maker.

http://media.putfile.com/Death-of-a-Super-Stearman-90

Here's one I shot of Kyle flying at our airshow last year.

http://media.putfile.com/Kyle-Whoyshnis

[Kiwi]

Guys I shoot dozens of hours of vid a year and here's what I find the best so far.

My good camera is one of those top of the line Sony HD tape units. Its the ducks nuts but way to expensive for the average Joe wanting to do vids on the weekend.

My everyday stays in the car camera is a SONY HDD HDTV with about 120 Gb memory. It takes brilliant video and all you need to do is set the focus at infinity and turn off the auto. If your that close that you go out of focus your going to ne ducking for cover.

Tape vid is a PITA as you have to play it back everytime you want to work on it. The end result is 200% better than the compressed 1080i however.

You CANNOT shoot good video using the screen on the side of the camera. Thats a dead cert waste of your effort, you need to use the eye peice as it tucks the camera tight into your face so you pan and follow the action in a natural manner. The minute you start taking video at arms length your not going to be happy with the results.

A bigger heavier camera is even better as it self stabilises way better. Forget a tripod unless your going to video Snapasaurus hovering for ten minutes. They will not let you move freely to follow a model in flight.

Try not to get too close to your subject as the field of veiw is too narrow and your movements are too abrupt. Back off and use the zoom. That way you actually need to move the camera a lot less to cover the ground so your going to be way smoother for the viewer.

As for size anything with 30 to 50 Gb will be ample. You can choose the resolution you want on most cameras so 30Gb will still give you 10 or so hours at low res or 2 hours at Hi Res.

Tip!!!! Take all your vid in Hi Res. When you get a good take you cant go back and do it the second thime. This aint hollywood and you normally only get one shot.

Oh get a decent battery or two batteries. They dont last long I promise.

[Al Lewis]

And resist the urge to zoom in too close. Fastest way to lose an airplane in flight.

[Kiwi]

True that Al, and it really really really helps if you have an idea where the guy is going to go next.

Heli's are the worst subjects of all as they are like Gnats, here one second, gone the next.