HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

And they're selling it for $169? Because I found it for $150, so I'm just waiting for it to come off backorder.

I suppose if this product doesn't become available within the week, I may just go for that option.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Well, I just received the Sony ECM-DS70P, which is a fake (or "knock-off") of the actual thing by some eBay user. I'm going to return it, get a refund, and buy the real thing off Amazon.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Still waiting on this damn camera to come in stock. I called four Targets within my vicinity and only one had the model (the one furthest from my house), but they only had the blue model. I'm settling for nothing but the black model, but I honestly don't know when I'll get mine.

[clivo1050]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Kodak might be introducing a new model at CES. It starts on the 7th. If you don't know, it's a large electronics expo where new products/gadgets are introduced.

You might want to hold out until then.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Kodak might be introducing a new model at CES. It starts on the 7th. If you don't know, it's a large electronics expo where new products/gadgets are introduced.

You might want to hold out until then.

Damn, I may want to then.

But will it be releasing right after the announcement, or like six months from then?

[clivo1050]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Products introduced at CES are typically released soon after if not available immediately. For instance, the new netbook atom processor will be shown and available in new systems the first week of january.

Also, with the kodak model being sold out everywhere seems like they are deliberately holding back the product to introduce a new one. I don't know for sure, but this is an educated guess.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Products introduced at CES are typically released soon after if not available immediately. For instance, the new netbook atom processor will be shown and available in new systems the first week of january.

Also, with the kodak model being sold out everywhere seems like they are deliberately holding back the product to introduce a new one. I don't know for sure, but this is an educated guess.

Sounds good, I understand.

If it's following in the same area as a pocket camcorder (and not some thousand-dollar thing), then I'll look into which feature set works best for me for my money spent. Hopefully this means the price on the ZI-8 will decrease, and hopefully this isn't above $200 for my sake.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Well, it looks like some cameras have been unveiled, none of them which record in 60 FPS so they're not as appealing to me (plus they don't come out until further down the road):

http://www.i4u.com/article29717.html

However, my camera still isn't available. I already cancelled my order, but I honestly don't know when it will come out again. Sheesh.

[clivo1050]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Kodak also introduced a new pocket camcorder. It doesn't seem like it's a direct replacement for the zi8. If you haven't seen it, it's in the link below.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/kodak-deals-slice-touchscreen-camera-pulse-digiframe-and-playsp/

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Kodak also introduced a new pocket camcorder. It doesn't seem like it's a direct replacement for the zi8. If you haven't seen it, it's in the link below.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/k...me-and-playsp/

Yeah I saw that. I thought my link included that one, but I guess maybe not. The three downfalls with that camera are:

- No external mic jack
- Perhaps not 60 FPS in 720p (some sites don't advertise it, others do)
- Releases March 20th

I'd rather get a camera now, but right now it looks like there aren't any other cameras available either. I suppose it's now just the "wait and see" approach that I have to take.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Okay, well I finally got the camera for $150! This is a very nice pocket camera (for that price and even for $100 more), and it really seems to be the best pocket camera around. However, as I've read in reviews and found out for myself:

- God awful low-light performance
- Digital zoom sucks
- Hard to stabilize video
- Weird movie file type that PS3 doesn't recognize

I'm really digging 720p at 60 FPS, though I'd like to see if EIS is best for capturing frames for something like softball or whatever, I'm still unsure of that one and probably won't know for some time until the season starts up again for my sister. I'll be getting an external mic shortly (Sony ECM-DS70P) and I might start recording some guitar footage or something. Who knows? Maybe I'll start doing some Blzer Blogs.

After tweaking the camera's settings a bit last night, I finally got outside to do some quick outdoor test footage. You can see it right here:


<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vevmAYCTMrM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vevmAYCTMrM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>


Definitely a great camera for a great price! I'm happy with my investment. Thanks everybody that helped me out!


EDIT: Eh, somehow this YouTube upload looks absolutely nothing like it does on my 50" plasma. Firstly, the HD option still isn't working. Secondly, that is nowhere near 60 FPS. I wonder what happened on the upload? Strange. Oh well you got a test run.

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Sweet!

[clivo1050]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

Okay, well I finally got the camera for $150! This is a very nice pocket camera (for that price and even for $100 more), and it really seems to be the best pocket camera around. However, as I've read in reviews and found out for myself:

- God awful low-light performance
- Digital zoom sucks
- Hard to stabilize video
- Weird movie file type that PS3 doesn't recognize

I'm really digging 720p at 60 FPS, though I'd like to see if EIS is best for capturing frames for something like softball or whatever, I'm still unsure of that one and probably won't know for some time until the season starts up again for my sister. I'll be getting an external mic shortly (Sony ECM-DS70P) and I might start recording some guitar footage or something. Who knows? Maybe I'll start doing some Blzer Blogs.

After tweaking the camera's settings a bit last night, I finally got outside to do some quick outdoor test footage. You can see it right here:


<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vevmAYCTMrM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vevmAYCTMrM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>


Definitely a great camera for a great price! I'm happy with my investment. Thanks everybody that helped me out!


EDIT: Eh, somehow this YouTube upload looks absolutely nothing like it does on my 50" plasma. Firstly, the HD option still isn't working. Secondly, that is nowhere near 60 FPS. I wonder what happened on the upload? Strange. Oh well you got a test run.

I read that there is a new firmware on the kodak website that makes the digital zoom smoother and makes low light performance a little better.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

I read that there is a new firmware on the kodak website that makes the digital zoom smoother and makes low light performance a little better.

Yeah it makes the zoom a lot smoother. It's still pretty bad with light performance but I dont' care for the price I paid. I love how i can take it anywhere and always have hd camcorder ready to go at anytime and it looks great.

[Blzer]

Re: HD digital camcorder - 30 FPS vs. 60 FPS

I read that there is a new firmware on the kodak website that makes the digital zoom smoother and makes low light performance a little better.

I have that firmware update. The zoom is smooth, it's just not useful. Once you go past about 2x zoom, the image becomes so degrading because it's not optical zoom, but just a digital zoom.

Low light is just awful, though. I need to show you examples of how my family room is nearly in an unrecordable condition because of it. It's really too bad though, because it's a great camera otherwise.