Camcorder
July 2004: OK, this page is OLD, and I just got a new camera. Some of the stuff here is still relevant, because it goes beyond just that camcorder. I got tired of the weight of this camera, so got myself one that's really small. And of course, the fact that one battery on the old one seems to malfunction helped my decision... - Sony DCR-PC109 E
Sony TRV65 E:
I know the rage these days is DV and digital video. What I discovered is that you can get footage good enough for TV even with Hi8. I'm not talking broadcast quality. That term gets kicked around more than it's worth. Not even DV is really broadcast quality in small cameras. That doesn't mean you can't get good footage under good conditions. That means good light, with a white balance that's pleasing to look at. It means a tripod (I use the same tripod I use for my SLRs, but it doesn't cut it for anything but shots without moving the camera or the controls in mid-shoot).
I have a Sony TRV65 E (a Hi8 camera). I'm very pleased with it, but my decision would have been different under different conditions. It was the right camera for the right time. What I liked about the camera was that it had a fold out color LCD screen - which I've always wanted (one of the reasons I put off buying one for years. Now they're commonplace, but not so a few years ago). The sharpness is often better in a black and white eyepiece viewfinder, so I liked that particular model - because it had both color (LCD) and black and white (viewfinder). Under good conditions it turns out good pictures and very good sound. The sound can be a little low under some conditions. Mumbling won't come out loud enough.
One thing you should be aware of: A friend in the US has the exact same camera in the NTSC version (that's what they use in the US, in Europe we use PAL) and his has line ins and he can record his processed video from his computer back to Hi8. I can't do that because the E version doesn't have that feature. I've been told it has to do with taxes in a lot of European countries. I have the same connectors, but there are no record buttons along the top of the camera. If you've got an E version with those buttons, please let me know!
Another thing I dislike about the camera is that it has no manual white balance. A manual white balance would kick the price up a lot, so I had to let that go. I don't know if this is a problem with my camera or something they all have a problem with. The footage has a wrong color cast. True reds are not true reds on tape, and the colors are not right - they lean towards magenta. I'll test it a little more before I complain, but I don't like it. Most of my testing so far has been indoors. I've done some testing of my gowns - have to know what they'll look like on video before I use them... One brown crushed velvet gown looked reddish, and a green velvet gown looked blue with a slight green cast now and then when it moved. Blond hair blond wood often looks yellow, although the color of the footage is pleasing, it's nowhere near correct.
It does have manual exposure and focus, and that was really important to me, since I'm the old school still photographer. I still use manual focus SLRs (Olympus OM4 and some siblings in that series), so I know how to do it manually. I've been in situations where I either had to miss the shot or use manual focus, so I know it's useful. It takes some practice to use manual focus, though, so it's something you'll have to practice at if you've never used it before.
There was also one other thing. I was ruined from the start when it comes to video cameras. The first time ever I used a video camera it was a professional TV camera. Granted it was old and the tripod was pure hell. Anyway, the next day I got to use a considerable better camera. I had no training whatsoever, and got thrown into the thick of things. I was onstage in a meeting with a world class preacher, manning the camera that got sideways shots of the pulpit. I had to pan and focus and all that tricky stuff I had no idea. I wouldn't have been able to do it at all if I hadn't had a lot of experience with still photography. It was a lot of fun, I'd die if I ever saw the video (probably terrible, jerky and missed shots). This was many years ago, I've tried a lot of cameras since then, but I've always missed the feeling of those good professional cameras. I've been behind the camera in a TV studio a few times, but never had the time to get the hang of it. I had a problem buying a camera. Couldn't afford a decent one, and couldn't settle for a bad one. These days even the consumer models are a lot better, so it's a lot easier.
I'm still a somewhat crappy amateur, although my approach to camcorder use is a lot more structured than most family camcorder users. I've seen some really bad footage. I got really embarrassed the first time I "shot myself in the foot". I'd turned off the beep on the camera, and hadn't gotten used to the viewfinder information. When I saw the red "dot" under the picture I was saved. The other info in the viewfinder isn't clear enough to differentiate between standby and rec. Do I have to mention a lot of people routinely shoot themselves in the foot? The classic is those who turn the camera off when they intend to record, and then on when they're done...
Then there's the seasick shots. It's a lot harder keeping a small camera still than the older bulkier ones (yes, a friend had a full-size VHS camera many years ago). Even when some form of motion suppression on the camera you'll still get seasick if you wave the camera around like most people do. Try putting the camera on a tripod, then view the difference. OK, so that isn't really a choice when things are happening at lightning speed, but try it a few times to see the difference, at least.
Then there's body movements. Ever tried holding a camera still when you're laughing? If you've got that problem licked, I'd love to hear the solution!
Another pet peeve of mine: Contrast. Video has very little tolerance for contrast, which is one reason amateur video look so bad most of the time. Professionals know this and compensate. Film is a lot better, but requires more light than video. Learn how contrast looks in your video, and learn how to make light work for you. A slight change in viewpoint will mean a great change in your video, because light is directional. You've got to practice to get good at this.
There's one more amateur thing I do. I believe it's a good idea, you judge for yourself. Whenever I'm shooting inside and the light is so low I get some noise in the picture (I can judge it pretty accurately with the color LCD screen), I try and find a reading lamp and place it so it lights up the subject. That's what I used when we opened the presents during Christmas. Generally when you augment the light levels your picture gets sharper and the autofocus will do less hunting. With a 60 Watts (220 V) reading lamp and the cameras of today, you get enough light to get a significant difference in the quality of your shots. You have to watch the the contrast though, because it can ruing your footage. Some faces look very bad with high contrast. We use one main lamp and several other lamps in photography to knock down the contrast. Different types of faces handle contrast differently as well. I try and put the lamp just to one side of me when shooting, but it does tend to flatten the lightning, so to light a scene professionally you'd use a totally different approach. If I had a capture board I'd show you some examples, but that will have to wait...
Since my background is in still photography I do some things a lot better than other amateurs just starting out. Some things are common for both disciplines. That goes especially for the difference between wide angle and telephoto (the zoom). They tell you to use the wide angle as much as possible, because your pictures will turn out sharper and there will be less shake. That is true, but not without exception. I use a tripod a lot. When doing "portraits" you'll get distorted features with a wide angle setting. Back up somewhat, use a tripod and a moderate tele photo setting. The face will look more harmonious, and you won't get a big nose and itty bitty ears. It'll flatten the perspective somewhat, and that's what we want in portraits.
Also, what a friend with the exact same camera I have (only in NTSC) told me: When using a tripod you should turn off Steady Shot. There is a difference in sharpness. Unless you really have a good eye you won't be able to spot the difference playing the results back on TV, but when he captured it through a video board he was able to see the difference. See it for yourself.
Please don't send me questions like: What kind of camera should I buy, what kind of format should I decide on? I'll give you my opinions on this page. If you have ideas for things I should include on the page, that's fair game. However, the question of what camera you should get is very personal and the advice would be very different depending on the person. I can't give you that amount of time. It's not my job, it's something you should kick around in a club (with other enthusiasts) or a store where they want you to buy one of their models.
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This page was created by Ann Elisabeth Nordbo and has its home at
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Updated 2004-12-26