Camcorders

[makeminemusic]

Wow, just read this thread. My daughter is directing a play for her senior project and wanted to film some parts of it, so we got a Sony DCR TRV280 from a local pawn shop. Digital Hi8. I appreciate all the comments on this thread since we are going to WDW next week and I get to use the camcorder there. I will be sure to get a filter!! Now I have a question. I bought a monopod to use in tight places, like parades, where I can stand in the back and raise my camcorder over the crowd. I am hoping I can stand with my back to a buildiing and shoot from there so I do not block others view. Any thoughts on good places to shoot WDW parades with this in mind?

[RU42]

I would suggest you still get curb side even with your monopod. If you mave back you will have lots of people walking in front of you with kids on their shoulders. I use a monopod/tripod even from the curb - works great.

RU

[GreenLantern13]

i don't use a tripod normally because I'm rather shy and end up feeling a little silly standing there with one out But at wdw you'll definitely want curbside regardless. The only times I don't suggest curbside are if you have a raised viewing area, such as the small world gallery at Disneyland, which WDW doesn't really have. The three areas at WDW for parades I had suggested were the L shaped turn as the parade leaves(sdct)/approaches(spectro) liberty square, the beginning(sdct)/end(spectro) of the route next to splash mountain, and the end(sdct)[dunno if i'd do it for the beginning of spectro] on main street after it's gone around the circle so that you're by the emporium.

wherever you are, just make sure you can get a clear view of the parade approaching your spot.

[makeminemusic]

Thanks for the sage advice!! I am looking forward to trying out the "new" camcorder.

[makeminemusic]

Update: I was able to shoot a couple parades (motor and spectro)using my monopod, holding it up over the crowd and using the viewer to "see". Not real steady, but I got used to it and got some good footage without too many "wiggles". Works good when you do not have time to set up before a parade.

[Coolbeans326]

the panasonic 3CCD series is the best consumer quality camcorder you can get without going into the HD world, imo. I've used the PV-GS180 and for its price, it comes with really great quality video. The colors are very vibrant and crisp. I haven't used the PV-GS300 outside of Best Buy, but by reading many comparisons articles, I've decided that the picture quality between this camera, and its big sister the PV-GS500 are basically the same great crips quality. Although the options that the PV-GS500 offers is also very inticing, imo. I've used it to film the Electrical Parade at DCA and for the most part, everything was crisp and focused, mainly due to the manual focus ring located on the camera. The only downside to it is that is qute bulkier then the PV-GS150 and PV-GS300, so that may be something some of you want to consider. Dark ride footage on Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Carribean did not turn out well at all on the PV-GS500, but like most video cameras, even proffessional ones, they require a certain ammount of light, and there's nothing on these cameras that you can really do about that except maybe by a flash light since none of them contain a built in light.

Basically, if your looking for a camera you should really look at these cameras because I haven't found any other camera that quite matches the quality of video that these offer. :)

[tony]

sony came out with two that don't use tape but record to a HD. here is a link to start.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...s&Dept=cameras

i myself will be purchasing two of these soon...

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...efinitionVideo

[GreenLantern13]

i've wanted one of the HDRs for a while but they weren't quite ready when i got mine and I don't want one of these earlier models too much(well, i like how it looks but not the early specs :P) 30gb is pretty good and it's the equivalent of over 3 hours of filming, but if you're doing more in a day you have to keep your laptop handy to unload some of it.