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Camcorder Advice


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Not sure this if this belongs in OT, so Mazda feel free to move it. Does anyone have a recommendation for a cheap (used is fine) Mini DV recorder with AV-in for a bullet cam and remote microphone, and either a LANC port (preferred) or small remote? I want to get a bullet cam setup for the Westfield and am trying to keep the camera portion under $250. On a related note, are there any camcorders that may fit the bill which anyone advises against purchasing?

 

Thanks,

John

 

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John, I went the bullet cam route this year. After some research I found the the Canon ZR45 or ZR45MC was a good value camera that had all the functions you just named. I found one on ebay for $150. There seems to be a fair number of them around that price range. Tom

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Thanks Tom, I'll keep my eye open for that model.

 

Mazda, if it helps, I only plan to use the setup on the Westfield and hope to have it in place for PNW2007 -- an official USA7s event! :)

 

 

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John,

 

you should try to get a camcorder with a LANC remote input. The ZR45 specs don't mention this.

 

That way you can turn the camera (which will be most likely in the boot) on and off as well as start/stop recording while driving. If you have to stop and get out of the car to do that every time you will miss the best pieces of the trip or run out of tape or battery. I stuck the (quarter-size) remote on the tranny tunnel and it has LEDs to show if it is on or off or recording.

 

AFAIK you need a SONY or selected CANON camcorder for this input.

 

Gert

 

 

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Keep in mind that there are a few versions of the CamEye LANC controller (1.4 and 1.6) and that one works with some cameras and the other works with, well, others.

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We used a Samsung sports camcorder SC-x210L to shoot 1 lap video. It comes with the lipstick camera are records to an sd disk. It records to in Jpeg format and many others plus it doubles as still camera and many other uses. It will record about 2hrs in high resolution with the larger disk. It has built in video stabilizer which is really nice. It is very small we mount the camera on the dash with velcro and then mount the camera on the roll bar. It is very easy to use. The problem is you budget of 250.00 You can find some on ebay close to that price range. The only problem we have with it is the mic is built into the camera lense and pics up wind noise and not the engine sound.

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Gert, which Sony are you using?

 

Thanks,

John

 

I have a TRV17 that is maybe 5 or 6 years old. It is a nice camcorder with very good image quality and reasonably compact but I don't think it is on the market anymore. You can find it on eBay, though (e.g. #290129871977).

 

Gert

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