Hard Drive Cameras

[eagleray2003]

JUst wondering what your opinions are on hard drive video cameras?
My Canon video camera crapped out and Canon is not helpful at all on getting it repaired and Ikelite won't respond to questions about housing compatability with newer cameras so am looking at a new setup.

 

[Mafiaman]

The true issue with HDD cameras is not the camera or housing availability. But the fact editing software does not support the HDD write format.

 

[sunnyboy]

Too bad JVC discontinued the MG500. The camera came with a 4GB micro drive (in compact flash memory form factor), but it was very easy to replace that with a 4GB or 8GB CF memory card. Instant "no moving parts" video camera. Plus the small form factor and rear LCD screen made this little camera an obvious dive camera candidate.

Now to get a housing made for it... (similar to the Halcyon style)

-S

 

[Empty V]

Well one of the most popular cameras on the market right now is the Panasonic HVX200. I'm not sure of what your price range is but it's top notch. I'm pretty sure it can shoot up to 1080p and I know there are some housings out there for it. With 2 8GB cards it runs about $9K. A housing will run between $7K-$11K depending on what kind of port you need. Talk about an investment. On the consumer level I am no help what-so-ever. It's just nice to know where technology is presently at.

Billy

 

[marshallkarp]

I looked at the hard drive cameras, but came down on that I am staying with mini dv tapes. Reason is, and I have written this before, I no longer drag my laptop around on vacations, as I have all this video and dive gear that I have to drag around. If I want to surf the web or email, I have my PDA with me.

As I recall, you can get seven hours or so of video on the hard drive, then you have to download it. Well, if you take your laptop on vacation and have a big hard drive, then you have no problem. As for me, I can swap out mini dv tapes, even buy them there if I have to, and shoot a theoretical amount of infinite footage if I want to. Not that I want to sit through and edit an infinite amount of video, but you get my drift.