DVD camcorder???

[godfrog 2]

I was wondering if there are any good mini-dvd camcorders that are durable enough to go through the riggers of skydiving and give good quality recordings?

Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward

[DSE 5]

nope

[jimmytavino 16]

......something about low air pressure at altitude, which can mess up the "direct to disc" recording.....

it seems tapes work best, mini DV especially.

High Def. is now available in mini dv format...

Sony HDR-HC-3 HC-5 and HC-7.....though the 7 has been reported as being susceptible to flutter and shakes, in certain freefall body positions,,, check the post threads here....

[godfrog 2]

thanx for the info, greatly appreciated.

Experience is a difficult teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward

[dragon2 2]

You think it's smart to throw a dvd recorder out the window at 120mph?

It's not the lack of air that's the problem, that's with harddrive-type camera's. It's the violent shaking.

DVD camera's are a pain in the *** anyway if you want to edit the video on a pc later. DVD video is compressed a lot, miniDV let alone HDV quality is way better, that alone would be reason enough for me never to buy a DVD camera even for ground stuff.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[DustyP 0]

i have been wondering this myself.
i have a Hitachi DVD CAM dvd-ram/-r recording.
i figured i was goin to use it for skydiving!

(punch me for being stupid)
but, is a d-box only for SONY or something??
that what is seems to me but i've been looking for somthing to put this camara in and i can't find anything for it!

.

[PhreeZone 20]

Sony occupies over 90% of the market share for skydiving video cameras, its just not usually worth it to create all the molds and make the boxes for non-Sony camera since they only sell 2-3 ever.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[dragon2 2]

The d-boxes are made for skydivers. You generally only skydive with sony mini-dv camcorders since these have proven themselves to not have too many bugs (with some exceptions) and to generally last in freefall. Hence, generally you will only find boxes for sony camera's. You could always have someone make a custom box for you of course. But you still cannot skydive with it so why do you want a box?

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[dugy 0]

What if you were using something like a Sony DCR-DVD610 but recording to flash memory-stick instead of DVD?

Then when your on the ground if you're just filming a funjump you can copy it straight off the flash memory and onto a mini-DVD without going near a dubbing room or pc....?

[DSE 5]

Quote

What if you were using something like a Sony DCR-DVD610 but recording to flash memory-stick instead of DVD?

Then when your on the ground if you're just filming a funjump you can copy it straight off the flash memory and onto a mini-DVD without going near a dubbing room or pc....?

You could, sure. But why would you? Half the beauty of a video is that it's edited to remove all the junk, titles and music added.

[dugy 0]

For sure for most stuff you'd do that.
I've just found on some fun jumps we've often never got around to it and then the footage eventually forgotten.

Basically I'm stuck trying to find a new handcam at the moment so was looking at that one, on special at the local shop for AUD$439.
The only models I can find locally that don't have optical stabilisation are the HC52, DVD610, SR45 & HC5.
The HC52 being 4:3 and not native widescreen.
The SR45 being twice the price.
The HC5 about 3 times the price.
Just trying to get into camera flying "on the cheap"...

Any other alternatives out there I'm missing?
Or would it be worth going all out on the HC5?

[DSE 5]

I'm the wrong guy to ask...I prefer the best quality I can afford to fly jump after jump. HC5 would be my choice of those you're asking after. IMO, cheap is usually cheap at every level, so I tend to buy decent up front. Price is easily forgotten, from my experiences.
I heard a rumor that the ABC might be dumping several HC5's very soon, due to AVCHD, you might want to keep an eye out for that. it's also just a rumor, so might be BS.