Sony Camcorders Flash Memory
Need camcorder with THESE specifics!?
Hi – I’m in need of a new recording device, only I’m working with a budget (like most people do). Here’s what I need:
-I would like the camera’s memory to be stored on a flash drive, or maybe a hard drive if there’s no other way. I just want it to be easily compatible with a computer.
-It must be compatible with a PC – specifically, Windows XP
-It must be compatible with Sony Vegas Pro 8 or 9 – I assume this software works with most camcorders, but I wasn’t sure, so I thought I’d add it to the requirements.
If there is such a camera and it’s under $500, please let me know.
The storage media used by a camcorder is not a good way to identify that camcorder as “being compatible” with a computer. The file types used are as important along with the connection method between the camcorder and computer.
Flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders basically store to the same file types – VERY highly compressed MPEG2 for standard definition and EXTREMELY high compressed AVCHD for high definition. Since your budget does not allow for a decent high definition camcorder, we can dispense with that portion of the discussion.
Regardless of Operating System, all computers now have USB ports and MANY have firewire ports (also referred to as IEEE1392, DV or i.LINK). The operating system does not import, edit, render or otherwise do anything with video. An application running on top of the operating system does. Sony Vegas is one of those applications. You must be sure your computer hardware and operating system meet – better yet, exceed – the requirements Sony Vegas has. Depending on the camcorder you decide to get, you may need to convert the video files to something Sony Vegas can deal with. SOny Vegas is an editor.
It is expected that the stock Windows Media Player won’t be able to deal with the video directly from most camcorders. That same converter will likely allow WMP to play the video. But there are other video utilities, like VLC player, HandBrake and StreamClip you should add to your video toolkit… because Microsoft does not supply all the required video tools in order to efficiently import, play, edit and render all the different video formats commonly encountered.
Since we do not know which computer you are using, we have no way to know what hardware ports are available.
MiniDV tape based camcorders require the computer to have a firewire port. If your computer does not have a firewire port, one can be easily (and generally, cheaply) added if the comuter has an available expansion slot. Sony Vegas can import digital video directly from the camcorder when the camcorder is connected to the computer via firewire and the camcorder is in “Play” or “VCR” mode.
Hard disc drive (HDD) camcorders are not recommended because of their known issues with vibration and high altitude – both conditions will cause the camcorder to not record video to the hard disc because the camcorder sensors detected an environment that could cause damage to the hard drive. The vibration can be as simple as a band playing (whether amplified or not) or loud motor noise.
Flash memory and miniDV tape based camcorders do not have these problems.
Flash memory (and HDD) camcorders copy video files over USB to the computer’s hard drive – If file conversion is required (for non-standard .MOD or .MOI files), then that step happens, then the files are brought into the editor (in your case Sony Vegas).
Too bad you have such a powerful editing program and your budget does not allow for any more than an entry level camcorder. From my perspective, you get to investigate the Canon FS family for flash memory – and if you have a computer with a firewire port, you should also investigate the Canon FS900, 930 and 960 (not the 950, though – it does not have a mic jack).
Sony CX500V GPS Flash Memory AVCHD Camcorder
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