HD on the cheap??

[robint]

Yep, that's actually the camera that spurred me to start looking into this more seriously

After reading about the Sea&Sea, my thought was $600 is the price point for any number of new Sony/Canon/Fuji/Casio/Panasonic P&S cameras that capture 720p, including housings. That throws the market wide open, and I'd love to find a resource that tests the quality of the movie modes on these cameras (especially low light, WB, etc). $600 is fine if it's going to be a good step up from what I have now...it's collecting the data to determine how big of a step up that's got me flummoxed right now.

well here is my 2 cents about using a still camera for video.....

~still cameras take great still photos and mediocre video, a cheap still camera doesn't even do great stills
~there is no red filter for color balance so videos are very blue with no depth of field
~there is no way to attach video lights so holding a flashlight with a hotspot is the extent of that, which isn't good
~resolution is grainy due the low quality so videos are only good at small size, you can't really enjoy them on your tv set at home
~many of these still cameras taking videos make it seem like you can edit the same as with a standard camcorder, but you can't as the files are saved in a format not compatable with the good quality editing programs

just a few thoughts....
Gombessa, I think you have talent, I would like to see you buy a dedicated video camcorder and housing. You can spend $1500 and still be able to avoid all the things I listed above. I think you would be happier by far with your results.

robin

 

[Peter Guy]

I just read a mini-review of a brand new Sanyo HD camera that really intrigues me -- but I am not aware of any housings for it yet. In addition to the price ($400), a very good selling point is that a "minor" flood shouldn't destroy it.

Sanyo Waterproof HD Camcorder

Adorama/B&H are taking orders for it -- so I assume that means it is not yet shipped to the US.

 

[ronscuba]

That cam is only good to 10 ft. The Sanyo you should look at is the FH1 and HD2000. They are getting a lot of buzz because of their cheap price, 1080p 60p, and superior low light compared to the Canon. Definitely worth looking into.

Here is a direct quote from the HD2000 review on camcorderinfo.com

"The Canon HF S100 and the HF S10 are Canon's top-line consumer HD camcorders. The HF S100 goes for approx. $1300, which is more than double the street price of the VPC-HD2000. So, these two products aren't probably the best comparison. It is interesting, however, to see how well the HD2000 stood up to this titan of a consumer camcorder. The Sanyo had better low light scores in every category and was able to match the HF S100's performance in most bright light testing. The HF S100 does have a better design and it features a control dial that is as smooth as a traditional lens ring. Even so, it says a lot about the VPC-HD2000's capability that it is able to stand with a high-end camcorder like the HF S100."

It gets better. The Sanyo FH1 is the horizontal version of the HD2000 which should even up the design/handling concerns and costs less at $499.

 

[Gombessa]

Again, I'm extremely flattered by the feedback, and appreciate the responses! Robin, your post above makes a lot of sense to me.

After contemplating my navel for a while, my current thought is to stick with the little camera that I have, for now. It's small, convenient, familiar (to myself and my buddies, who know the controls to turn it on, hit "record" and T/W) and unobtrusive, and it serves our main purpose of documenting our dives.

Spending $500-700 just to bump up the resolution a bit doesn't seem to justify the cost, especially when the better imaging really starts to increase expectations on other fronts (including bright, uniform lighting). That's the sense I got from seeing a few of the Bonica and other HD digicam videos on Vimeo. It's also entirely possible that within a year or so I'd again feel like I was outgrowing it if I wanted to add video lights or do more serious editing.

Instead, I'll just focus my energies on diving more, and trying to get the most out of what I have (work on composition, setup, maybe some more in-depth editing, etc.). Then, maybe later this year or early next year I'll revist; I've been really impressed with some of the latest Canon/Sony cams, and perhaps then I'll be able to get a good deal on a used system, when I feel I'm ready to make the investment for a real jump in quality.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Peter Guy]

Ronscuba -- re the waterproof Sanyo -- I know it is "good" only to 10 feet without a housing -- which is why I asked if anyone knew IF there was a housing that would fit. What I find intriguing about it being "waterproof to 10 feet" is that when the housing does a partial flood, there is a chance it won't toast the camera. (Note, I'm perhaps particularly sensitive about this since my housing let in about 1 teaspoon of water last week and poof, my camera was toasted.) It probably wouldn't survive a total flood -- but at least it would have a chance to survive most floods (I think).

 

[diversteve]

No one that I'm aware of is currently making a housing for that camera. Digideep doesn't even list it. Which makes sense as why would you house a camera already somewhat waterproof. (although Bonica did a few years ago...)

For $200 more you can get Sony's new CX100. Twice the resolution, it shoots full 1080 HD (1980x1020) instead of Sanyo's 720P. Twice as good in low-light u/w situations also, the Sanyo is 11lux, the Sony 5lux. And it will work with most generic Sony housings designed for it since they thankfullly included the AV/Remote terminal.

IMO the Sanyo is a cute beach toy.

 

[ronscuba]

Yeah a decent housing might be a problem. But a $500 camcorder that apparently outperforms Canon's $1,300 latest and greatest..... I sure someone out there can make a housing for it. Might be worthwhile to research. Equinox and Ocean Images come to mind.

Just to clarify, I am talking about the latest Sanyo camcorders due to ship next month the HD2000 and FH1. They are a big step up from last years models. They shoot full 1080 HD at 60p, the only consumer cams currently at that level.

Camcorderinfo has a pretty thorough review including head to head comparisons with Canon's latest and greatest the S100.

 

[marcaumarc]

I have one of the Sanyo undewater cams (not the HD) and it would definitely survive most housing floods, unless the housing flooded entirely, like to the point of being at ambient pressure.

 

[BlueDevil]

Have you looked at the JVC range of HD camcorders. JVC produce their own housings for these cameras and from what I have seen they are one of the cheaper options around as far dedicated videos go. The design of the housing allows for the side screen to be viewed easily too. A Marine Care group that I belong to has just bought one. I have used it a couple of times now and it seems really easy to use and the quality of the footage looks very good so far.

I have to say that the option of shooting video on a P&S stills camera is still pretty good. I can't believe how good the quality of the video is from my little Canon A640.

 

[zider]

Gombessa, I have been watching your vids for a few months now and I second the others opinion that you are doing a great job. I am planing on getting into this part of my hobby in the next year or so, and your vids have been a great influence in driving that desire. Keep up the good work!!!