[CASL-L] HIT: Suggestions for video camera

[David Bilmes]

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post. Now I'm going to start shopping! Here is a hit of the replies:
 
Model: Sony HDR XR550.  Love it.
 
We just bought 2 Sony HDR-CX160 High-Def Hanycam camcorders from Amazon at $449 each (using up end of the year money before it disappears!) We also bought the "must have accessroy kit for sony hdr0cs160" which include a tall and a tabletop tripod, case, extra battery, AC/DC charger, lens filters and more, for $59.95. The cameras fit in the palm of your hand, have a large touch display - can't wait to show the teachers.
 

Call B & H 1800-947-1186 and chat with their education people.  Describe what you need and have them give you suggestions. Models change superquickly.  Last year, we got our middle school a Sony videocamera so that we could record music concerts from the back of the auditorium so that the quality would be good enough for teachers to still use the recording for grading purposes.  Then we wanted to be able to output the recording to DVD (DVD direct) without using a computer or having to have the teacher keep the video camera.  I can't remember the model.  But the camera is excellent and it does exactly what we need it to do.  It was over $1000 but it is an investment in equipment for the school that works the way you need it to work.  
 Our tech dept. recommended Canon VIXIA HF R200 Flash Memory Camcorder .  We purchased a Panasonic HDC SD80.There are LOTS of cameras out there.  I would find one with a fixed hard drive that records in AVCHD format and has an external mic input.  Good digital zoom range is also important.  Extra memory card slot is a plus.  The one I bought recently is a Canon Vixia HFR20.
 
We have been using one our AV guy's recommendation.
Q3 HD recorder 
http://www.amazon.com/Samson-Technologies-1080p-Handy-Camcorder/dp/B0046KOL14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337866121&sr=8-1
We have been happy with the results. We have used them to record Capstone presentations and students have used them to video their lessons taught for education internship.

We've been using a Canon FS200 for the past three years. They're great little cameras, hand held and light weight. Good recording image and audio is good. You can also attach external mic if you want. Comes with the cables needed to import to computer or show directly to the television. I believe the FS400 might be the newer version. I have had very good luck with Canon.We just got a donation of "shoot & share's" from 3M. They are HD and actually act as a projector (which is a crazy feature but everyone loves it)
http://www.3m.com/shootnshare/
Not sure on price though.

 
ipads or iPods are the way to go, I think! Just have to watch file size. There's an LCD cord which will allow presentation to the whole class. Videos or photos can then be emailed, or posted to a site. The iPad quality is out of the park!
There's an app for reducing HD videos - If you use your iPads or iPhones or iPods for creating video, you'll produce HD quality, but you might end up with a 700+ MB 8 minute video and not be able to store it in a digital portfolio or email the clip. Use this App for reducing. It definitely affects the quality, but for later reference, it is a good tool.

FBM Video Compressor. It’s made for iPhones but worked on my iPad.The video I used was 762 MB and this reduced it to 10.7 MB.
 

 
 
 
 
 
David Bilmes
Library Media Specialist
Schaghticoke Middle School
23 Hipp Road
New Milford, CT 06776
(860) 354-2204, ext. 113 or 115
bilmesd at newmilfordps.org

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