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

[3D Meatshield]

Blatant thread hijack- what programs are you people using to take your raw video and convert them? I have dabbled a little with windows movie maker, but like everything else microsoft, it ain't all that.

Also- as far as uploading to youtube, it's been my experience that no matter how nice your hi-res movie looks on your computer, once you upload it to youtube, you can kiss the quality goodbye. Am I missing something, or is that just the way youtube works?

[3Dguy]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 3D Meatshield
	Also- as far as uploading to youtube, it's been my experience that no matter how nice your hi-res movie looks on your computer, once you upload it to youtube, you can kiss the quality goodbye. Am I missing something, or is that just the way youtube works?

I've noticed that too, but recently, I've seen a little thing on the lower right of some vids that says "watch in high quality," so there is a way to upload better vids to YouTube.

[stik-slam-R]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bodywerks
	I decided on the JVC Everio with Flash memory. It doesn't have a viewfinder and isn't HD, but reviews say it has very decent video quality and is an overall excellent camcorder. It does have image stabilization.The other nice feature is the plug-and-play Youtube upload. For $259 I just couldn't pass it up. http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp...Id=161&page=10

I have a JVC everio GZ-MG275AA and it does not have a view finder and it sucks for videoing any thing that is moving in the outdoors. I regret buying my camera without doing some reserch first. It is still a great camera but if all you want to do is video RC planes than i would strongly recomend a view finder i wish i had started a thread like this one 12 months ago when i was in the market any way Heres my latest upload on youtube as you will see at the very end when Chrisby is coming into land and is inverted i lost the plane on the flip out screen due to glare ect and had to zoom out quickly.

YouTube - Chris Brislin 2008 ASAA Championships...

[ferocious frankie]

	Quote: Originally Posted by 3D Meatshield
	Blatant thread hijack- what programs are you people using to take your raw video and convert them? I have dabbled a little with windows movie maker, but like everything else microsoft, it ain't all that. Also- as far as uploading to youtube, it's been my experience that no matter how nice your hi-res movie looks on your computer, once you upload it to youtube, you can kiss the quality goodbye. Am I missing something, or is that just the way youtube works?

For awhile now, youtube has had the option of high quality under videos that were above a pre-set file size. By clicking HQ, you got something around or the original resolution. Now youtube has added widescreen and HD capability. Again, it all depends on the file being uploaded and how fast your internet is for the buffer speed because HQ and HD take a little more time to buffer.

If you upload a vid on Vimeo, you always get the original resolution and if it's a HD vid, you can turn HD on or off on the video.

BW, If you wanted to go that route, I would have recommended the Canon ZR 950. Around $230-$250 with 48x optical zoom and 2000x digital zoom. Perfect for model airplanes with a wind filter and everything. The zoom on it is unbelievable. Eyepiece, 2.7" LCD, wide screen mode, image stabilization.

I thought you were looking for something high-end and that's why I didn't mention it. It's an awesome camera for the price. Oh well, whatever floats your boat.

YouTube - AMAIZING QUALITY: NEW CANON ZR-950

ZR 930 basically same camera as 950:

YouTube - Canon ZR930 Test Footage

[bodywerks]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Al Lewis
	So let me try to understand this. You started a thread to find out what the most important features are in a camcorder to shoot video of flying. Now you're going to buy a camcorder that has neither of the features you were told you'd need. Okay, that makes perfect sense. Good luck!!

Actually, my original post was all about price, and that is still the most important feature for me. I looked for camcorders with viewfinders and they were all either miniDV, which I do not want, or were well over my price range. The camcorder you showed is nice, but it's mini-DV - sooo 2005. My friend told me that I need a viewfinder, but I just videoed a friends plane with his camera/camcorder by looking at the screen and didn't have a problem following it.
I got a lot of great recommendations for great camcorders here, but none with a viewfinder under $400.
I am sure that if I find myself using my camera more than I expected, that I will start looking to upgrade. But I had my last camcorder for two years and used it twice.

[bodywerks]

	Quote: Originally Posted by stik-slam-R
	I have a JVC everio GZ-MG275AA and it does not have a view finder and it sucks for videoing any thing that is moving in the outdoors. I regret buying my camera without doing some reserch first. It is still a great camera but if all you want to do is video RC planes than i would strongly recomend a view finder i wish i had started a thread like this one 12 months ago when i was in the market any way Heres my latest upload on youtube as you will see at the very end when Chrisby is coming into land and is inverted i lost the plane on the flip out screen due to glare ect and had to zoom out quickly. YouTube - Chris Brislin 2008 ASAA Championships freestyle demo

That video looked fine to me. I understand what you are saying about it being easy to lose the plane sometimes, but it was still a plenty good piece of video.

[RCAddiction]

Any experience with the Canon HG10, 40gb hard drive unit? I plan to use it a bit for planes, for family, but also for shooting my son's band (it has an external microphone jack). I've found it for $499 at a couple of bona fide resellers. It was 2X that price last year when it came out.

[RCAddiction]

OK...a different question.

How much zoom do we need for RC planes? The highest rated HD models seem to max out at 10X or 12X optical zoom. Is that sufficient?