Smaller HDV camera?
 

Okay, I would love to buy a new HDV camera, but, the size is a concern.
I currently have the sony vx2000 and it really is about as big as I want since
I love to take it on family trips like to Disneyland. I have held a FX1 and it
really is large. Any idea if anything at NAB will be offered in a size around
the vx2000?

Thanks

I wouldn't expect a smaller cam right away, if at all.

What are the technical reasons? The existing HDV JVC is sure smaller than my vx2000.

Dave

Ooop's, I swallowed my Camcorder
 

In talks with JVC's technical guys they don't see why a HDV camcorder couldn't be made small enough to hide in your mouth, should the need arise (and your mouth is, well, large enough). They said "chips is chips" and an MPEG circuit board is the same size as a DV board. and doesn't draw any extra current. A "Everio" sized (JVC consumers new little camera) could be HDV if people want it (albeight not recording on tape). I think we will see HDV in cell phones soon enough but it's alway's been up to the consumers to ask for it. Want to see my HDV wristwatch?

This is true about the HD10, smaller than a DVX100A, but surprisingly heavier.

heath

I know this doesn't address the needs of the original poster, but one thing I like about the FX1 as opposed to the HD10 is that it looks more like a legit camera.

Smaller doesn't impress the clients usually and the FX1 helps that 'image' a bit.

As a family person only, my wife has issues using our vx2000.
She was not happy with the size of the fx1 I had her look at.
I can not see me hauling the fx1 around disneyland as I said.

NAB shall be interesting. I may have no choice but the Sony.

Dave

The HD100 is looking to be a great camera.

I will admit that clients like the look of the FX1, the XL2, etc.

heath

I have not yet carried my FX1 around Disney World like I have so many times with my Canon ZR10. However, I have carried it around Hawaii and Acapulco. In both cases I was able to carry it around in the huge Petrol case. I had a car in Hawaii, and I didn't carry it far in Acapulco.

I will be carrying it around on our trip to greece this June. So I need something smaller.

It is certainly heavy. I think the secret will be to find a way to carry it in a case across my chest much like the tripod is across my back. Something padded but just enough to protect me from the sharp parts of the camera and the camera from shocks as I set it down next to me during meals and while resting.

I am thinking something that breathes in the heat and zips/unzips quickly so I don't have to take the carrying case off to get at the camera.

I may need to get one made somehow. Or deal with a case that is too large.

I think the pro-looking FX1 will get you kicked out of Disney.

heath

Perhaps, but I don't think so. There are a lot of big VHS camcorders still in use by people coming to the US on vacation. I have seen quite a few huge cameras. So the FX1 could be confused for one of those by the security guards.

On the other hand, you could be right. I might have to get special permission from the head of customer service.

Are you guys being serious? I have seen a XL1 before in the park.

Dave

An XL1? Cool. That ought to answer the question just fine.

I shoot at Disney World every couple of years, and I plan to retire there. I would like to start a little side business shooting people's vacations for them. So Dad gets in the picture, doesn't have to carry a camera, and has a nice video professionally edited. How I deal with any possible copyright issues is something I haven't worked out yet. What about ambient sound at the parks?

Steven: interesting questions, but they really should be in a separate thread in the "Taking Care of Business" forum, not under "HDV Acquisition Equipment"... :-)

True.

Back on topic, the size of the camera makes a bigger difference to non-technical people than it does to technical people.

I could hold up an old VHS camcorder next to a nice small 3CCD MiniDV camcorder and the larger camera would look more professional to some people.

As far as I am concerned, if the camera is not designed to rest on my shoulder, then I want it as small as possible, given enough room for all of the bells and whistles that I have come to rely on.

The FX1 is huge. It is heavy. But it is the only size that has what I want. I have not seen evidence yet of anything smaller. The only camera with any noise being generated is possibly quite large as well.