what camera pleaseeee!

[keef247]

basically i've been looking at either the Samsung NV24HD or the Panasonic DMC FX500... i REALLY like the panasonic but apparently its got a crap flash... i also am not quite sure on the HD .mov format... 2gb memory=8 and a half mins 16:9 30fps 720P... pretty horrific... i'd have to get 16gb SDHC card to get 68min's sensible recording space... which is fine as i can get one for around 20-45quid so that doesn't bother me too much... it also has a touch interface alongside nice buttons and the interface seems to work together quite nicely... only other flaw is you can't zoom in/out once recording. wouldn't really bother me as i'd be more using it for a fixed shot using the nice 25mm wide angle lense or following the object i'm recording... It's nice and slim too and looks decent. It's stupid that they give a "battery case" and not a camera case though? strange... the battery would be left in the camera lmao so why'd i want to carry the battery around separately?

then on the other hand the Samsung NV24HD has a 130quid'ish price tag (older? wasn't sure) and apparently its .264 720P video is far better and i'd imagine a smaller filesize... however i don't like the look of it and it's a lot bulkier and has silly touch buttons on the back all along and up the screen.

I'm really wondering as a major concern how long these cameras batteries will record video for... as after all there's no point buying a h0000ge memory card for either if their gonna pack up battery-wise half way through recording...
this is a major reason for buying a new camera as i want a decent video camera aswell as a slim pocketable device... I don't want neither digi camcorder/slr...

i just wonder if i should go for the sammy as it's 50-70quid cheaper gaining a bit better video quality and loose usability or sacrifice quality/filesize of the 720P hd video and flash for a nicer usable interface/button combo along with a better looking shell etc...

OR what would you currently recommend... i'd be aiming around £200 20quid or so here or there...

cause i'm more than up for another recommendation... basically i just want the nicest quality camera/hd video along with an easy to use interface with or without touchscreen i do prefer simple buttons but if it works like with the panasonic above then i don't mind not too bothered about looks as much as features. slimness would be nice as i want to be able to take it in my pocket anywhere... not toooo bothered about connections as i'll mostly just rip the vids/pics off the card and onto the pc and stream them to the ps3/xbox etc etc.

so yeah is it worth going for the above 2 (they're from may 08 though bit worried if something same price will come out and be far better) or is there something i haven't seen yet...

uk links please. very interested in your opinions...

[kalniel]

Do you want a camera or a video recorder - I mean, which is most important?

[keef247]

both mate in all honesty.its the whole phone thing where you want one device that does it all...
probably more movie wise but its the fact it's in a camera's slim shell if you get what i'm saying? instead of being a huge camcorder thing with tilting screens and all the extra baggage.
i'm currently checking out the Sony CyberShot T500 it looks pretty promising been looking at the video quality on some high quality youtube videos and it looks pretty sweet.going to watch reviews now and then check back on this post later but yeah any ideas.i obviously do want to take decent photos but the video aspect is so so appealing how i'll be able to have one small slick device that does both... that's the selling point to me...

[keef247]

hmmm... looking at the Samsung NV100 HD seems to have laggy hd video... someone made a comment that image stabilization might not have been on... any light on this as it does look like a very good value 14.7mp wide angle lense.i know its only a 3.6 zoom and not a 5x but still...

[Funkstar]

Have you seen the Panasonic TZ5?

I have the TZ3 which is a pretty cool camera with a wide angle, 10x optical zoom lens.

The TZ5 does 720p video and i believe it can zoom while recording, few digicams can do this.

[keef247]

Have you seen the Panasonic TZ5?

I have the TZ3 which is a pretty cool camera with a wide angle, 10x optical zoom lens.

The TZ5 does 720p video and i believe it can zoom while recording, few digicams can do this.

yes mate tis a nice piece of kit... just a bit big:\ i don't mind sacraficing it to 5x for the size hence the sony oh and loosing wide angle... the panasonic is well tempting but it uses gay .mov files for hd which = ridiculous filesizes...
like you'd need a 16gb card to record 68mins with it... which is insane considering a blu-ray 1080p rip can be 8-12gb and is higher quality and resolution...

[kalniel]

I think Sony might be the right direction to go in - even better if you can make do with SD video as then you can get the very affordable and great quality W series. To go HD you need the newer T as you've seen.

[Funkstar]

yes mate tis a nice piece of kit... just a bit big:\ i don't mind sacraficing it to 5x for the size hence the sony oh and loosing wide angle... the panasonic is well tempting but it uses gay .mov files for hd which = ridiculous filesizes...
like you'd need a 16gb card to record 68mins with it... which is insane considering a blu-ray 1080p rip can be 8-12gb and is higher quality and resolution...

I use a TZ3 as my compacy, i guess it is bigger than must, but it isn't bad.

Using motion-JPEG for compression is actually a good thing. It means you get less generational quality loss when editing. I actually wish more devices would record in higher bitrates.

But each to their own.

[keef247]

I use a TZ3 as my compacy, i guess it is bigger than must, but it isn't bad.

Using motion-JPEG for compression is actually a good thing. It means you get less generational quality loss when editing. I actually wish more devices would record in higher bitrates.

But each to their own.

you reckon? most reviews have said how there isn't much in it between the mpeg-4/H264 varients such as my sony...
i just hate how its like 2gb card=8 and a half minutes on your camera... well def was on some panasonic that recorded in .mov... how long's your battery last mate when recording hd 720p @16:9??
i mean yeah if battery will last i could prolly put up with .mov and just get a ridiculous card like a 16/32gb sdhc... what'd you have in yours mate? i'm not putting it down i actually looked at that camera first.
as for size yeah i want to be able to just have it in my jeans anywhere.without lol needing gangster "pants" to put it in haha.

[Funkstar]

I don't have a TZ5, it's a TZ3 which is just 640x480 video. I have a 2GB Sandisk Ultra Plus in there, it's hady having the USB connector on the card.

I only sugested it in case you didn't know about it. obviously if it doesn't suit you then get something else.

[keef247]

I don't have a TZ5, it's a TZ3 which is just 640x480 video. I have a 2GB Sandisk Ultra Plus in there, it's hady having the USB connector on the card.

I only sugested it in case you didn't know about it. obviously if it doesn't suit you then get something else.

na na thats cool man i just thought you'd said yours took HD so i wondered what the filesize was like for recording.no offense or insult intended mate