|
|
Posted by PTravel on 01/10/07 06:58
"Jim S" <Jim S@jimsplace.com> wrote in message
news:45a480d7$1@clear.net.nz...
>> "PTravel" <ptravel@travelersvideo.com> wrote in message
>> news:50j12jF1gch6kU1@mid.individual.net...
>>
>>> "Jim S" <Jim S@jimsplace.com> wrote in message
>> news:45a40007$1@clear.net.nz...
>
>>> Yes, the Sony DCR-VX2100, which came out in 2003, was certainly a great
>>> camera, but rather too bulky for many of today's travelers.
>>
>> Sorry, but you're falling into the "good enough for the masses" trap. I
>> am one of "today's travelers," and I'd wager that I've travelled,
>> internationally, more than most people on this newsgroup, and done it
>> with my VX2000, which I've had since 2002. Yes, I'd prefer a smaller
>> form factor, but not at the expense of getting good video under a variety
>> of conditions. Similarly, I'm sure little point-and-shoot still cameras
>> are good enough for many people who only want 4 x 6 mass market machine
>> prints. However, I want high quality stills up to 13 x 19, so I carry a
>> heavier and more bulky Canon 10D.
>
> snip
>
> I also carry around on holiday much heavier gear than point and shoot
> cameras, and like you, I enjoy the benefits of doing this. However, I also
> have a small point and shoot still camera that I have with me all the
> time, and I only carry around the heavier gear when I think it's worth the
> effort in doing so. For example, I don't take my heavy gear with me on
> long walks or when I go out for dinner!
>
> But when you are advising newbies on what digital camera gear to buy, you
> need to at least mention the point and shoot cameras because they are the
> most convenient to carry around and their quality is getting better. If a
> person is just starting out in photography, I often suggest they try
> cheaper cameras first, and then gradually build up to the more expensive
> ones if they really feel the need for the extra quality. So my comments in
> this thread were directed towards newbies rather than to people who are
> very experienced.
And the first question that should be asked of a newbie is, "what do you
want to do with your camera?" If the newbie's answer is, "have a convenient
camera to take shots on the way to dinner," then a p&s recommendation may be
appropriate. If the newbie's answer is, "to develop a serious interest in
digital photography because I always wanted to do this as a hobby," then a
p&s recommendation most certainly is not appropriate. "Newbie" is not a
synonym for, "doesn't care about quality and only cares about convenience."
Getting back to videography, there are fundamental differences that
distinguish a PD170 from a VX2100. Those differences are dictated by
application -- if you want to do ENG or small-event videography, the PD170
makes more sense. If you want to do high-quality amateur videography, the
VX2100 is the appropriate choice. The fact that someone may be a newbie
does not automatically dictate a camcorder that can't shoot in low-light and
will look like a worm festival, shooting strong horizontal lines, and which
makes everything look like a faded magazine cover because of poor color
saturation. Particularly, if the newbie has any intention of doing more than
the simplest of editing, neither a hard drive nor DVD camcorder is
appropriate (referring to SD videography). Getting back to an original
topic in this post, a hard drive camcorder is pointless for the kind of
travel videography that I do because it cannot store enough video and is far
too fragile.
>
> With regard to the Sony HDRFX1E, it has received excellent reviews, for
> example, see this one:
>
> http://www.videomaker.com/article/10594/
Do a google search on FX1 and "digital artifacts." Also search for the
artificial bandwidth limitation that Sony imposed on the camera, primarily
to ensure that it doesn't compete with its' more expensive HDV and HD
models.
>
> Similarly the 10 megapixel Sony DSC-N2 is reviewed here:
>
> http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/sony/dsc_n2-review/
>
> Particularly with shots in bright daylight, you would get great A3 sized
> prints with this little camera.
Who cares about shots in bright daylight? I shoot under all conditions, and
anyone interested in making 13 x 19 prints will want to do the same.
>
> Cheers, Jim
>
>
>
>
>
Navigation:
[Reply to this message]
|