Solid state all-digital camcorders

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Ended up just buying a new Elph SD700IS... their top of the line point-and-shoot, with image stabilization. Picked up a pair of 2Gb cards, good for about an hour of 640x480 video each. Really cool toy.

The more I looked at stuff, the less sense it made to own a camcorder and a still... The DVD and HDD cams can take stills, but not very high res. Plus, all the fragile moving parts could cavitate from the high-frequency vibes when mounted on the motorcycle. This little elph will take just as good of video as any of the non-HD camcorders, albeit maybe with lower sound quality.

THe Samsung sport cam is cool, but a bit pointless IMO. It does everything... video, still, MP3, voice recording, whatever. Only problem is that it doesn't do any of those things particularly well. It only takes stills up to 800x600 and it's $100 more than the elph.

So... gotta go start a thread to sell my old Canon.

I feel like your reading my mind....

That Samsung thing is the KLR of the digicam world it appears.

SD700IS is mint, it was just bigger then I wanted - but the video modes kick ass ass ass on the canon's. The IS on the 700 is pretty decent too, much less 'computerization' then on comparable units (ie: casio, sony).

I went with the SD600 and 2x1gb cards, and the only thing I have to say is I hope you have some USB2.0 readers and a usb hdd

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

I feel like your reading my mind....

That Samsung thing is the KLR of the digicam world it appears.

SD700IS is mint, it was just bigger then I wanted - but the video modes kick ass ass ass on the canon's. The IS on the 700 is pretty decent too, much less 'computerization' then on comparable units (ie: casio, sony).

I went with the SD600 and 2x1gb cards, and the only thing I have to say is I hope you have some USB2.0 readers and a usb hdd

Ya, up to 60 fps in 640X480... why bother with a camcorder? If that little Samsung could take 5mp stills I would have gone that way, just cuz it's so damn cool-looking. Plus it comes with that auxilliary mini-lens so I could do home colonoscopies.

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

...so I could do home colonoscopies.

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Plus it comes with that auxilliary mini-lens so I could do home colonoscopies.

..but isn't the cord only 3 feet or so? l

didn't realize the SD700 does 60FPS @ 640...wow, the 'sports' mode on previous models has only gone to 320x240@60FPS , but still supported 15/30fps. What a good way to avoid telecine flicker.


Oh, don't forget to meter your screen usage when filming and buy a second OEM battery.

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

..but isn't the cord only 3 feet or so?

Only 3 feet? How long do you need a cord? I guess if you wanted to do a full-blown colonoscopy you'd need a few meters or so, but the cord is more than long enough to run from a pocket or backpack to my helmet or from a pocket, under the jacket, out and to a helmet.

The Samsung unit has some advantages to its design-
common power for the 'corder and remote cam.
common power and record ON the cable activating both units.
It's got video in/out so if you DID want to go with another full-res external cam you could do so and operate it like any other unit.
If you didn't want the particular Samsung external cam a similar model is offered about $100 less without it.

It's interesting to see people point out it does a lot of things but it doesn't do them particularly well- at the same time if it only did one of those things (video cam) you'd wonder why it couldn't also do the other things at least rudimentarily.
The voice recorder is maybe useful for college lectures- doesn't cost anything extra.
The snapshot ability is convenient. Is high res necessary? Rarely.
Is it a great MP3 player? Maybe not, but since it can do it, that'll be convenient for plane flights where otherwise I won't settle down and purchase one of the things specifically. Doesn't cost anything extra.
Acts as a Webcam. Again, another device I won't buy specifically.
Data transport, like anything else.

USB charging is excellent. Tapeless design is excellent. The big strongpoint to this model is the control integration with the external camera and its convenience for an active situation. Having played with this thing for a week I can assure you that I'd be less than thrilled having to keep track of yet another power source and a power/record control stashed away in a bag.
Is it a professional recording device? No. All these things are toys. This one is REAL nice for attaching to your cycle and recording some frames.

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

...
Oh, don't forget to meter your screen usage when filming and buy a second OEM battery.

Yep, already learned to minimize screen usage from my 230... with the screen off the battery lasted about 10x as long.

Already bought a spare battery.

I also have to remember to disable the image stabilization when it's on the bike... if one of the little motors goes the camera is toast.

Originally Posted by esoteric

..
It's interesting to see people point out it does a lot of things but it doesn't do them particularly well- at the same time if it only did one of those things (video cam) you'd wonder why it couldn't also do the other things at least rudimentarily. ....

Not to take anything away from the Sam, it just didn't meet my requirements. I wanted to be able to take a few hours of video, plus be able to take high-res stills. I was prepared to buy both a camcorder and a still cam, but the elph does both very well so it works best for me. Still, like I said, if the Samsung could take 5mp stills that would have been the one.

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by esoteric

Only 3 feet? How long do you need a cord? I guess if you wanted to do a full-blown colonoscopy you'd need a few meters or so, but the cord is more than long enough to run from a pocket or backpack to my helmet or from a pocket, under the jacket, out and to a helmet.

Yeah but not long enough for a colonoscopy

Originally Posted by esoteric

It's interesting to see people point out it does a lot of things but it doesn't do them particularly well- at the same time if it only did one of those things (video cam) you'd wonder why it couldn't also do the other things at least rudimentarily.

For the record, the KLR is one of the best bikes built...just so you interpreted the statement properly.

For my uses, I wanted a 95% digital camera, and 4% something that could record the occasional opportunistic video, 1% digital trickery. But if the time comes that I want to be recording dirtrides...I'll probably procure the Sam

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

Yeah but not long enough for a colonoscopy

Depends on how long your arm is.

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

For the record, the KLR is one of the best bikes built...just so you interpreted the statement properly.

Oh. You kidz talk so funny.

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

For my uses, I wanted a 95% digital camera, and 4% something that could record the occasional opportunistic video, 1% digital trickery. But if the time comes that I want to be recording dirtrides...I'll probably procure the Sam

If you do, drop me a note. I'm playing with different mounting options with minimal hardware. Lots of possibilities.