I have purchased a new video camera. I had two nice ones, a DXG HD Camera (which took the photos of this one) and another one that was slightly better, I think it was from Jazz. I can't find it. I suspect I might have lost it outside except one thing makes me suspect that it might be in my room. I'm missing something else I can't find: a set of expensive drafting pencils (package of 6 Stadler drafting pencils in a metal tin, $3.50) which I did not take out of my room. So maybe I'm simply misplaced it. There are a lot of places in the room I can't search.
Well, what happened was, Big Lots! is selling a video camera at the ridiculously low price of $16.89. I'm thinking of buying two at that price. But I get out there and they sold out of all of them. So I buy an inexpensive Kodak video camera for $39.95. It has a built-in battery so I won't have the problems I have with the DXG, which uses three AAA batteries. (I have rechargeables and a charger, but it always seems to run out of batteries no matter how many I have around.)
On the left are the controls, the right is the lens and the object in between is a penny for size comparison. It provides for video or snapshots, can switch between vGA and HD images, has a zoom, and on/off button. When off, if plugged into a USB socket, it recharges the battery; when on, it acts as a 2 GB hard drive with the standard folder DCIM used to hold the folder containing the images.
One minor problem with the Kodak: no bottom mounting hole. Almost every decent camera has a standard mounting hole at the bottom to allow you to screw it to a tripod. (The DXG has one, but the DXG was a $70 camera, too.) It comes with a 2 GB miniature SD card.
Here you can see the bottom is open where the USB connector and memory card sit. The battery is not replaceable.
Here is the USB connector extended.
There is one other problem, the time limit. For a 2 GB card, it will only allow you to record about 27 minutes at VGA quality and about 12 at HD. And the display, fortunately, will show you the approximate amount of time remaining. It's not kidding either: I recorded an 11 minute video while rolling to the laundromat, and in VGA format the video is about 750 megabytes.
But for forty bucks it ain't bad. I saw an RC helicopter on TV that I could order for the same $39 plus $12 for shipping, that includes some pick-up baskets for carrying cargo. I am thinking I could put this camera in there and record some video, say, flying over my house to see what the roof and back look like. This would be a better idea than risking my much more expensive DXG. I thought of it from the Citibank commercial where a guy attaches his digital video camera to a weather balloon.
Seeing what Kodak did with an inexpensive HD video camera for under $40 retail, I can understand why Cisco got out of the retail digital camera business.
I have a new video camera
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- Tdarcos
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I have a new video camera
"I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end."
- No Doubt, Don't Speak
I can't believe this could be the end."
- No Doubt, Don't Speak
- Tdarcos
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With the DXG. I suspect there is a mode I can change on the DXG to either reduce the resolution or to have it do better for very close shots (under 4 foot from target).Photobug wrote:But which crappy camera did you take those overly huge, grainy and out of focus pictures with?
"I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end."
- No Doubt, Don't Speak
I can't believe this could be the end."
- No Doubt, Don't Speak
- Tdarcos
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Re: I have a new video camera
And now, eight years later, I have another new camera, far better than the Kodak for about $20 more. Due to Billy Mays' suggestion, I have uploaded a 20-minute video showing some of the effects the camera can do. It should finish uploading in about 5 minutes.
There are a few flubs in dialog and a couple of editing mistakes but it wasn't too bad.
There are a few flubs in dialog and a couple of editing mistakes but it wasn't too bad.
"I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend
I can't believe this could be the end."
- No Doubt, Don't Speak
I can't believe this could be the end."
- No Doubt, Don't Speak
- The Happiness Engine
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Re: I have a new video camera
Honestly, looking a lot better without all the hair.
- Billy Mays
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Re: I have a new video camera
Thank You! You can read my review of your newest video here:
https://www.joltcountry.com/phpBB3/view ... &start=180
It was perfect, all of your videos are perfect.