It all started about a month ago...
Vina called me one day, Ci, can I borrow your digital video camera? What? I don't have a digital video camera! Why do you need one? Oh, I just thought you would. I need to video tape a skit for my class.
Which got me thinking... hey... I don't have a digital video camera. I don't have any type of video camera. In fact, I don't have any event within the last 5 years of my life on video tape. Coming out of someone in my family, that is really weird. When I was about 6, my dad bought our first family camcorder and we have videotaped every holiday and major event since then. Even the not-so-major ones like band performances, amusement park outings, family bbq's... you get the picture. Not just that, Yona and I used to video tape ourselves when we were bored, we made little skits, paraded around the house giving tours, and even attempted at our own episodes of Candid Camera. A camcorder is a must-have in my family. And ever since I moved out, I never even thought about it. I think the last time I was on tape was my high school graduation.
Well, then my UCLA graduation came around and of course, my mom brought the camcorder. (Not the one we bought in 1986... tee hee. They've replaced that one since then! Still, ours is a Hi8... starting to be outdated) Actually, maybe it started a little earlier. When we first got Lulu, I wanted to catch her on video so I used my wimpy Sony P9 (digital camera) to catch a few shots of her fighting with Moley, chewing things she wasn't supposed to, etc. But watching those clips in a small 320 px window on my laptop was frustrating. I wanted something I could plug into my TV and watch with everyone. And she's getting so big so fast...
And that's why I decided yesterday that I want, I need, I absolutely must have a digital video camera. So I started on my hunt. Of course I started at sonystyle.com... I mean come on. My Sony Ericsson P900, our big screen TV, my laptop... everything takes the Sony Memory Card so my dig cam has to be Sony. (I'm a sucker for good branding) I found that they had two types of digital cameras out now.. the MiniDV which has been around for a few years, and the newer MicroMV which launched in 2001 but hasn't become mainstream until recently. But everywhere I searched, I couldn't find any thorough reviews, not even an article comparing the two types of digital camcorders. I had to really fish around for information.
Finally I narrowed down the choice to two contenders:
The Sony MiniDV DCR-PC109
The smallest out of the MiniDV group... Lots of nice features, including a touchscreen LCD display. I can even stick in my Memory Stick Duo and take stills. (Although why would I need to with my P9 and P900 cameras?) But anyways, it has all the features that its predecessor models do, plus some extras. It's also very small and compact, a good size to tote around. Even comes with a docking station that can connect to your TV and computer for viewing and also charges the cam at the same time.
And then there is the MicroMV DCR-IP1
Retailing at $300 more than the PC109, this tiny, I emphasize tiny camcorder is slightly bigger than a deck of playing cards. Seriously. It's very sleek, boasts a lot of nice features and 530 lines of resolution, and my gosh it's pocket sized! 8oz!
But is it worth the $1199? I started calling up some stores that carried both models and the consensus seemed to be that the IP1 far surpasses all other digital camcorders in terms of quality and convenience. But could they really pack all those things in such a small package? Aren't these salespeople just out to make the extra commission? I *finally* found a store that carried both models (okay, not "finally"... I only went to the Best Buy on Pico, then the Good Guys in Cerritos) and I got to play with both of them.
My verdict: The MicroMV IP1 is small, it's cute, it's damn impressive to look at... but I just couldn't get the damn thing to focus! It zooms very quickly but the focus lags. It feels like a toy. Even though there is a built-in SteadyShot stabilization system, I just couldn't help shaking, the thing's so tiny it's hard to get a good grip on it. There's no viewfinder, the LCD is small and grainy- so I assume the video quality will be grainy also. It felt more like an oversized digital camera with an mpeg feature than an actual camcorder. I think it would be great for digital manipulation, downloading video clips into your computer and playing with it... but I don't think it serves my purpose.
When I played with the MiniDV PC109, I really felt like I was playing with a miniature camcorder. It packs all the features in there nicely, in a portable package.
I think I'm 10- wait, 99- wait.. at least 90% sure... that I want the MiniDV PC109. Errr, make that 85%. (The IP1 is so cute!)
Anyone else have any comments? suggestions? adivce?
Vina called me one day, Ci, can I borrow your digital video camera? What? I don't have a digital video camera! Why do you need one? Oh, I just thought you would. I need to video tape a skit for my class.
Which got me thinking... hey... I don't have a digital video camera. I don't have any type of video camera. In fact, I don't have any event within the last 5 years of my life on video tape. Coming out of someone in my family, that is really weird. When I was about 6, my dad bought our first family camcorder and we have videotaped every holiday and major event since then. Even the not-so-major ones like band performances, amusement park outings, family bbq's... you get the picture. Not just that, Yona and I used to video tape ourselves when we were bored, we made little skits, paraded around the house giving tours, and even attempted at our own episodes of Candid Camera. A camcorder is a must-have in my family. And ever since I moved out, I never even thought about it. I think the last time I was on tape was my high school graduation.
Well, then my UCLA graduation came around and of course, my mom brought the camcorder. (Not the one we bought in 1986... tee hee. They've replaced that one since then! Still, ours is a Hi8... starting to be outdated) Actually, maybe it started a little earlier. When we first got Lulu, I wanted to catch her on video so I used my wimpy Sony P9 (digital camera) to catch a few shots of her fighting with Moley, chewing things she wasn't supposed to, etc. But watching those clips in a small 320 px window on my laptop was frustrating. I wanted something I could plug into my TV and watch with everyone. And she's getting so big so fast...
And that's why I decided yesterday that I want, I need, I absolutely must have a digital video camera. So I started on my hunt. Of course I started at sonystyle.com... I mean come on. My Sony Ericsson P900, our big screen TV, my laptop... everything takes the Sony Memory Card so my dig cam has to be Sony. (I'm a sucker for good branding) I found that they had two types of digital cameras out now.. the MiniDV which has been around for a few years, and the newer MicroMV which launched in 2001 but hasn't become mainstream until recently. But everywhere I searched, I couldn't find any thorough reviews, not even an article comparing the two types of digital camcorders. I had to really fish around for information.
Finally I narrowed down the choice to two contenders:
The Sony MiniDV DCR-PC109
The smallest out of the MiniDV group... Lots of nice features, including a touchscreen LCD display. I can even stick in my Memory Stick Duo and take stills. (Although why would I need to with my P9 and P900 cameras?) But anyways, it has all the features that its predecessor models do, plus some extras. It's also very small and compact, a good size to tote around. Even comes with a docking station that can connect to your TV and computer for viewing and also charges the cam at the same time.
And then there is the MicroMV DCR-IP1
Retailing at $300 more than the PC109, this tiny, I emphasize tiny camcorder is slightly bigger than a deck of playing cards. Seriously. It's very sleek, boasts a lot of nice features and 530 lines of resolution, and my gosh it's pocket sized! 8oz!
But is it worth the $1199? I started calling up some stores that carried both models and the consensus seemed to be that the IP1 far surpasses all other digital camcorders in terms of quality and convenience. But could they really pack all those things in such a small package? Aren't these salespeople just out to make the extra commission? I *finally* found a store that carried both models (okay, not "finally"... I only went to the Best Buy on Pico, then the Good Guys in Cerritos) and I got to play with both of them.
My verdict: The MicroMV IP1 is small, it's cute, it's damn impressive to look at... but I just couldn't get the damn thing to focus! It zooms very quickly but the focus lags. It feels like a toy. Even though there is a built-in SteadyShot stabilization system, I just couldn't help shaking, the thing's so tiny it's hard to get a good grip on it. There's no viewfinder, the LCD is small and grainy- so I assume the video quality will be grainy also. It felt more like an oversized digital camera with an mpeg feature than an actual camcorder. I think it would be great for digital manipulation, downloading video clips into your computer and playing with it... but I don't think it serves my purpose.
When I played with the MiniDV PC109, I really felt like I was playing with a miniature camcorder. It packs all the features in there nicely, in a portable package.
I think I'm 10- wait, 99- wait.. at least 90% sure... that I want the MiniDV PC109. Errr, make that 85%. (The IP1 is so cute!)
Anyone else have any comments? suggestions? adivce?
1 comments:
i've been a fan of Sony camcorders since my first handycam.. altho I've actually been through a few of them cuz they keep breaking. The one you want looks pretty nice.. lot of money though.. if you got the money then go for it..
make sure to check www.shopper.com for the best prices on it..
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