Any feedback on using HDD video cameras?

[IMGR2 0]

I have heard they don't work as well as minidv cameras.

I have been shooting video using minidv tape cameras for many years and really would like to convert to an HDD camera if they are worth it.

Any advice is worth it. FYI I have a very powerful Macbook and would buy an external hd to store video on.
Proven Sony model numbers would help too.

Thanks

[mccordia 74]

If its not for skydiving...HDD cameras are awesome..

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[dragon2 2]

click

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[DSE 5]

From the "Please Read Before Posting:"
Q:Can I use a hard drive-type or DVD-based camcorders?
A: No, unless you're only doing hop n' pops from low altitudes. Hard drives require air pressure in order to function properly. DVD drives cannot manage the stress and bounce of freefall.
Stick with memory card or tape-based camcorders.
__________________________________________________________________

[IMGR2 0]

Wow! People are still as rude in here as they used to be.
I guess I should have posted a little differently. Seems dz.commers are way too quick to flame people and not actually answering the question at hand.

I DID read the "Please Read Before Posting" thread.

FYI! Go back and read my post again. It has NOT been edited and I never mentioned skydiving with it.
Just thought I would turn to my skydiving community first before going to an outside forum.

I sincerely apologize, I will go inquire about these cameras else where.

McCordia, thank you for the only polite response.

[DSE 5]

No one flamed you, I merely copy/pasted the answer from the READ ME FAQ.
It's an easier way of answering the same question over and over again. In fact, that's why I wrote my addendums to it, so I've got a source from which to copy/paste.
Welcome (back?) to the forum, and I'm sorry you felt anyone was rude.

If it's not for skydiving, more information about size, budget, preferred workflow, and typical use scenarios would help me or anyone else answer the question with greater clarity.
Forgive me for assuming you were asking about a camera for skydiving when it's a Skydiving Photography forum. The HDD question gets asked at least once or more per week (related to skydiving).

[IMGR2 0]

All I wanted was feedback on HDD cameras from my fellow skydivers if anyone had used them.

And as for your post, it did NOT answer my question.

Being the moderator you are more than welcome to delete this thread now.
You ARE as arrogant as everyone says you are.

Thank you for all your insightful input.

[PhreeZone 20]

Bryan, you ask about cameras in a skydiving videographers forum... most of us don't use cameras on the ground for much else except skydiving. I personally thought Douglas answered your question pretty spot on considering how you asked it and that you were even asking for Sony camera model numbers.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[IMGR2 0]

You absolutely right, thank you.

[DSE 5]

Wow. All I can say is "wow."
You asked about cameras as a skydiver with nearly 6000 skydives in a skydiving forum, but don't expect people to assume you're not using it for skydiving?
A thousand pardons.

Since you're not asking about skydiving cameras, I can't answer your question without a great deal more information because I'd hate to (again) wrongfully assume you wanted HD, SD, a camera that fits in a purse or on a jib/boom. Maybe you want something that records AVCHD, maybe you want something that records MPEG2. Does it need to fit a gyro? Tyler mount?
Taking skydiving out of the equasion, then it becomes a question of budget, size, specific needs, weight, recording time.

So....
It ranges from Sony's SR45 (standard def HDD camera priced around $300.00)
to
Sony F23 with dual SDI Fibrenet with 22 mins of storage per vault, priced around $675,000.00 with a single vault port. Price does not include lens.

[edit-Figured I'd better edit to add; if you're looking at HDD, then your only choice for native editing on a "powerful Mac" is SD, because Apple does not directly support AVCHD, and all the HDD camcorders out there in the sub $3000.00 range are AVCHD. If you're interested in HDCAM SR, ignore what I just wrote.]

[Icon134 0]

Quote

Bryan, you ask about cameras in a skydiving videographers forum... most of us don't use cameras on the ground for much else except skydiving.

Besides... most skydivers are likely to be interested in a camera that CAN be used in the air or on the ground (other then DSE and a few others perhaps) and as such are not likely to have a whole lot of experience with HDD cameras.

Livin' on the Edge... sleeping with my rigger's wife...

[The111 1]

Quote

McCordia, thank you for the only polite response.

Implying of course that the first two responses you received weren't polite... you have an odd definition of politeness. Does it include throwing insults at those who kindly try to provide you with info it seemed you were asking for?

If you were standing right next to the aerial map of your DZ, and somebody walked up and asked you to describe the LZ, would you try to wing it from your memory, or would you turn around and point to the giant image on the wall? Would it seem odd to you if the same person then proceeded to call you rude, and other names?

www.WingsuitPhotos.com

[pbwing 0]

Quote

...to
Sony F23 with dual SDI Fibrenet with 22 mins of storage per vault, priced around $675,000.00 with a single vault port. Price does not include lens.

So you saying the F23 is no good for freefall!!!!

Great, now you tell me...

[DSE 5]

Quote

So you saying the F23 is no good for freefall!!!!

Norman could fly it.

[TerminalV 0]

Your question seems a reasonable question. I have a JVC HD camcorder and I have considered using it when skydiving. Now I know there could be potential problems I will continue to use my old mini DV camcorder.

http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk

[DSE 5]

Quote

Your question seems a reasonable question. I have a JVC HD camcorder and I have considered using it when skydiving. Now I know there could be potential problems I will continue to use my old mini DV camcorder.

JVC HD? Or JVC HDD?
HD=High Definition
HDD=Hard Disk Drive

And then there are the HD HDD.
From there, it only becomes more confusing.

[DSE 5]

Just in case the OP is still following the thread: Sony's Austin Center sent this to me:
Sony now has this to say...(from an emailed note from the Austin facility)
"Do not turn on the camcorder in a low pressure area, where altitude is more than 3000 meters or 9800 feet. Doing so may damage the hard disk of your camcorder. This is also when using memory stick because when turning on camcorder will initialise and activate hard drive.
Powering the camcorder prior to reaching low pressure areas will allow the hard disk to spin up and then shut down with a memory stick installed."

In other words, turn it on on the ground, leave it on during climb, shoot, land, turn it off.
Me...I'd just wait for the CX100

[excel485 0]

Hey DSE,

Since your saing wait for the cx105....any idea when its gonna be available to us to get our greedy little hands on?!!?

[mccordia 74]

I think DSE is catching some naptime in between the jumping, editing, posting and moderating and other bezillion things he seems to be doing at the same time..

But from what I got, last week of March/first week of April is when its expected to be in stores.
Cookie composites also mentioned already having a Dbox for this one in the works, and available as soon as it hits the market

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[DSE 5]

yup, Jarno answered nicely for me.
Last week of March for early distributions, mainstream piping about 30 days after.