Thread: Video Cameras

Checked it: their quote on specs:

"VGA 640x480 pixels at 30fps
QVGA 320x240 pixels at 30fps"

Aussie tv is 768 x 576 pixels at 25fps.

But......if you're only ever going to run it thru a computer, running its own edit software, then the format issue is not important.

I'd want a good warranty for this device, sounds a bit "DEMTEL"....

Cheers, GQ

As I said previously could Ace run a webcam of a Ipod?

The Ipod would be cheap for him and possibly tax deductable for he is a student and webcams nowadays are next to nothing. For 4wding vids it would be a very cheap option for him.

Originally Posted by Quiggers

Matt:

Version 1:
1) Some camcorders output (playback) only via a video/audio connector, e.g. these are generaly the same as you'd find on a VHS machine. The video cable is generally a yellow RCA type connector. The audio if stereo is red and white.

2) To get the camera to talk to a computer, the computer needs a way of accepting the camera. If you don't already have it, a video card (as in tv standard, not gamer stuff) is the piece.

3) You'll need a piece of software which captures video (and audio). and this will probably be a basic edit system as well. Sorry I'm not familiar with
whats available for pc as I use Macs.

Version 2:
1) Newer camcorders output via a link to your computer, either via firewire or USB2. Your question: firewire is just another data transfer which is very fast. It was available long before USB2 which is almost as fast. USB 1 is very slow for transferring mass data such as video.

2) Given you have a camera which is firewire or USB, your computer probably has a socket to plug in and from here see 3) above.

Others here I know are far more specific about what works on windows type machines than me, put up what your machine is specifically and we'll try to marry you up with what you need.

Cheers, GQ

Ace

In version 1 part 3 referred to by Quiggers, there is an excellent piece of software for doing this job and it is freely available. It is called Virtual Dub and available at http://www.virtualdub.org/

It will convert an analog video in signal to a digital file through a standard tv capture card and you can set the compression (essentially the quality / file size) to whatever suits you.

Cheers
Dave

Originally Posted by Quiggers

However, it says it runs at 30 frames per second for video...that's the US NTSC (525/60 4.43) standard rate of speed (actually 29.96)

GQ

NTSC - Never Twice Same Colour



<technical joke>

Re the Supacam DVX

Seems queer they use the US standard. They are an Aust company and say it was designed in UK and made in Taiwan (I have no complaints at all about Taiwanese electronics)
I saw this gadget on the Sherrin Motorsport stand at Jamboree at $395 they said most of their publicity pics and video were made with it.
I'm going to the opening of their new Bris retail outlet on Saturday so I'll check it out some more.

You could try here for a cheap camera http://www.graysonline.com.au/catalogue.asp?SALE_ID=19488&SALE_TYPE=THUMB

They have a Panasonic Digital model and current bidding is around $200. Watch the buyers fees and freight though as they can quickly turn a bargain quite expensive.

Get a camera with firewire out and then it's a simple matter of adding a firewire capture card $30 and you can capture to your hard disk for editing. If you want to do more than edit out shots of the ground etc you will need to consider upgrading your PC as it's fairly resource intensive and places a lot of stress on you hard disk.

Good luck.

Cameron

Dobbo: Sorry, can't comment on that, but you've given me idea, in terms of mass storage and video, well thought and very lateral.

adm333: NTSC national television systems color - pick any colour you like and it'll change soon enough, i still have a 1974 Sony CVM1310 tv/monitor with the 'hue' control, and we thought it was so good! (colour telly)

51jay: I'm not knocking the supacam, it sounds very interesting, find out as much as you can re tech specs and if possible, shoot a minute or so of footage and plug it in to a (Australian spec) tv and check the playback. There's a million more tech issues here but I'm not going to.....

Another note just to confuse things further: Aussie tv 625 lines 50 hz PAL D colour 768 x 576 pixels is the old pre widescreen standard - the powers that be are still arguing about what exactly widescreen is, specs wise.

Ace, thanks for this thread, it 's been fascinating. Save a hundred bucks and borrow a camera, or in the short term, get a good basic device from a renter mob maybe.

If it was me, I'd save my pennies and get a JVC hard drive camera - (I'm not endorsing JVC, Sony has been my tools of trade for millenia).

(But, this supacam IS interesting, if it racks up quality wise).

Cheers, GQ

I just checked it out and yes you can get a webcam for an Ipod