Hi all, I know this is slightly off topic, but.....

I"m goin to the TOC and I decided it is time to purchase a video camera (finally). I'm looking at sony Hi8 and Digital 8

a couple of questions come to mind:

do the image stabilization systems actually help? videoing a plane, will there be a noticable difference? looking at it in the store, i can't tell the difference with the feature on or off.

is the digital 8 worth it? or is hi8 good enough?

any opinions appreciated.....

David Soniat - Tampa, Fl

They will all do the job. It just comes down to price vs features. The only thing for sure is buy a second battery. I find image stabalization helps me moreso on long zooms than normal shooting. Also dont get caught up in big number digital zooms. digital zoom lowers quality. get the best optical zoom.
My opinion for what it's worth

Find one with a color viewfinder as it is much easier to film r/c. The color screen is useless outside. Digital will give better resolution and incredible slow motion replay to analyze those 3d manouvers.See ya there!

I just purchased a Sony TR-240 or 260 (dont remember which exactly, but it is the only 200 series digital) this past weekend. I went ahead and purchased the digital because it seems to be what predominately prevails and has the best picture quality. I know it has soooo many editing and video features that you would have to be making a small budget production to use them all. Anyway, it has a 25X optical, and 700X digital zoom, which is way more than you'll ever need. Found that out firsthand at a fly-in in Monaville, Texas. So, yes the image stabilization does help, but I think you'll have a steadier shot if you can look through the eyepiece and not the LCD screen. You tend to try to view the real action and what is on the screen at the same time, and you can get real shakey, real quick. Also, it is hard to film planes moving large distances at significant speeds. What I do like is that on this model and on the ones above it is imaging software that allows you to upload movies or still images and edit them on your computer. On this particular model, you can save still images via a still shot button on the Digital8 tape. On the higher models, they actually have a memory stick dedicated to this task, which I think is better(and 100$ more!). But for TOC type stuff where there are large planes torque rolling and what not, it will be very easy to use. Some guys did such a demo, and that footage is the best I captured all weekend.

Dave,

Great choice on the Sony line of camcorders. I have a Hi-8 camera I bought several years ago and it is still working wonderfully. It even still has the original InfoLithium™ battery. Night Shot is a cool feature too. Never used it filming RC but did a trip to Carlsbad Caverns a couple of years ago and wow, neat feature.

I liked the Sony so much that in Sept 2000 I bought a Sony DSC-S70 digital still camera, and it has paid for itself many times over.

If I were in the market for a new camcorder today it would be a Sony Digital-8 over the Hi-8 because I like to download video to my PC and add sound tracks, etc... and the Digital-8 would be easier and better quality.

And yes, Image Stabilization does work.

Hope this helps!

Definately go with the stabilization system. I've tried taping similar events without one & the results are dissapointing if you don;t have a good (expensive) tripod. Sony seems to be the best as far as stabilization systems go. There's a big difference in digital quality over hi-8 so if ou can afford it, it's worth it from this aspect, as well as it will interface with your PC (not sure how importnat tht is to you). As someone already said, opitcal zoom is what you're looking for, and don't get too impressed by 0 lux stuff, it's cool, but not all that great, and some cameras perform better in low light than other's, irregradless of what their lux rating is. Try doing a search on digital video camera review on Google, or if you've got a particular model in mind search for it and add the word review. Lots of good info out there!

IF you can afford, go with Digital 8. I have TRV320 which I bought three years ago. Try to get one with model # higher than 3xx with mega pixel for digital camera, if you want to use you PC for editing. Also, larger capacity memory stick. Get a 1394 port and wire. Don't be impressed with digital zoom. Look for better optical zoom because, you can hardly use digital zoom. Been there and my eye cried. Use the zoom slowly so that you do not change the size of the aircraft to fast.

I am using regular RCA output from 320. It is still good, but a little less quality compared to 1394. Any VIVO video card (ATI) can handle recording directly from Digital Camcoder. Also, get a long stand for camera (as tall as you eye level). I have been recording a few Pattern contest flying without the stand. It is a really hard job to hold the camera and looking at the small viewfinder.

Most of times, I give the MPEG files as present to the guys I meet at pattern contest. I try to get my fiance to record my practice flying and see for mistake I made. it is a good thing.

Hope this helps.

If you can stretch the budget go for the Sony digital range of camerras, such as the PC range. The original models are now quite cheap to pick up through clearing houses online and also there has been quite a price drop on the PC5e. The sony range have very good lenses (Carl Zeiss). Battery life is always an issue, indeed forget using the LCD viewfinder, better to use the eyepiece which will triple your shoor time. Also, and very importantly grab yourself a wide angle lens that converts the narrow field to what you would expect to see with your eyes. It makes the shots way more dramatic.

Digital is the way to go, the editing is much easier and there is very little loss in the process.

Of course you are always subject to conditions, a windy day with the sun directly ahead means you are shooting black planes to the soundtrack of a windtunnel. The backlit feature goes some way to resolve this but theres no substitute for good positioning. Also watch the digital zooms, on all types of camera there will be image loss and some distortion when following fast moving objects. Better to fill half or third a frame and let the camera do its best for you.

Wow, thanks guys for all the good insight.....

I will take everything you all have said into account. I'm leaning toward Sony Digital 8 now......

thanks again!!

David

For the best handicam quality images, get a miniDV cam over hi8/digital 8. Resolution on hi8 isn't so hot versus miniDVs capture... but the size of the CCDs and lens quality are what you should look for.

Image stabilization is a good feature, but you'll need tons of zoom power to capture great airplane video... so you'll absolutely need a 2x extender for your lens. This will double your optical zoom length. Without the extender, framing RC planes nicely in frame will be very difficult.

A good fluid head tripod will allow you to get smooth shots. Armed with the 2x extender, the zoom will be great and camera movement (generated by hand-held) will translate into the frame... using a tripod will greatly influence the framing.

-Juhan

I was ready to buy too but the mini DVDs are out by Hitachi and Panasonic shortly.

I think you may wish to consider *watching* the flying, and then buying the video tapes.

I have been to several non-TOC competitions, and filmed several of them. However, I have found that I have enjoyed the competitions that I watched much more....

And, the folks that do the videos do a REALLY good job....

--Sean

I agree 100% with Sean!!!

After flying RC planes for over 30 years, a friend talked me into going to the 2000 TOC with him. This was my first time at a TOC, but I felt that I had a pretty good idea of what to expect because I'd kept up with all the magazine coverage since the TOC started.

WOW was I wrong!!! I was absolutely blown away by the flying skills these guys have!

Sean got it right. Don't cheat yourself out of enjoying the TOC experience by spending your time behind a viewfinder. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy watching the entire TOC experience. Then buy one of the commercially produced tapes to let you relive the memories of being there. The commercial photographers get the best locations and views anyway.

Then as you're watching the TOC video, it will quickly become obvious that's it's simply impossible to accurately capture the TOC experience on video.....much less through a viewfinder.

>>RE: Watch! don't put your eyes in the camera!

That sounds like good advise. I'll take it. Lucky for me, my wife will be there and i'll let her do the filming!!!!

Thanks much!!

David

Im going to the T.O.C in october and will have pictures and videos you can download for free Goto San Antonio Rc check this site sometime after Oct 20th it should be ready..
Free As it should for all to enjoy this wonderful hobby...
Keith

As others have stated make sure to get a GREAT optical zoom. The digital zoom numbers like 400X are absolutely worthless but if you see and optical zoom over 10x you are getting warm. I like Sony stuff but I don't think their Digital 8 is going to last as a format. It has no advantages over Mini DV. The only reason to stick with the 8mm tapes is if you already have some from a previous camera and want backwards compatibility. Sony has some Mini DV camcorders out now in the $800 range that look good.

I personally have a cheap Sharp VL-WD450 Mini DV camcorder that has worked out great. I couldn't pass up the 26x optical zoom and it works as advertised.

I have a Sony TRV-900. This is probably the best digital ever made. The three CCD make this camera as close to a professional camera as they come. There is a website dedicated to all aspect of this camera which is a great asset.The format is mini DV. in my opinion all other formats are obsolete .

Too bad it wasn't TOC. Without the competition it was like going to my field on Sunday. The skills were there, but the flying was random and I didn't see any 4 min Freestyle routines. Nice but dissapointing.

h82crash, If you look close he posted this thread before the 2002 toc.

Tks, I was only 365 day off.