HIT: Digital Camcorders

[Margaret Graham <MMooring@AOL.COM>]

Here are the responses I received to my request for advantages and=20
disadvantages of purchasing a digital camcorder vs. a regular camcorder,=20
especially in relation to videotaping for National Board Certification:

1.  I bought a digital camcorder last year (got a grant) to videotape for=20
whole class and small group discussions. Yes, it was wonderful. I didn't eve=
n=20
need to use a microphone. I worried about that because the camera I bought=20
didn't have that capability. Even transferring to VHS tape was easy. The=20
quality of the final tape was fantastic. If I had it to do over I would make=
=20
sure it could take an external mic, however. Just  in case. The 2 =C2=BD inc=
h view=20
finder made it easy to review the tape as I sat at my kitchen table. Now the=
y=20
make them even better. My daughter just bought one with a 3 =C2=BD inch view=
=20
finder to tape drama productions.  I definitely recommend getting a digital=20
camera. Circuit City has a nice selection. Check out their website=20
(circuitcity.com) to compare features and prices.

2. PRO digital:
1-  no videotape required - images are stored in memory like a computer file=
=E2=80=A6
2-  digital images produced may be loaded directly into a computer like any=20
other computer file for storage or manipulation in a movie production progra=
m=E2=80=A6
3-  digital camcorders may also take digital still pictures - make sure you=20
get one that does - then you may also use the camcorder to make still photos=
=20
for the school web site or other filesharing projects=E2=80=A6
4-  digital video files may be transferred to videotape or CDs for=20
distribution, archiving=E2=80=A6
5-  single digital images may be taken out of digital camcorder without much=
=20
of the blur that accompanies the removal of a single image from videotape=
=E2=80=A6
6-  you may email many users the same file at the same time - no need to kee=
p=20
track of a videotape=E2=80=A6
7-  the digital file remains true to the original regardless of the number o=
f=20
copies produced - videotape reproduction deteriorates over time and the=20
original will ultimately fade away (even without use over a period of 8-12=20
years)=E2=80=A6
 CON digital:
1-  not everyone has computers or devices to view digital video files or=20
programs=E2=80=A6
2-  videotape is more widely used and viewed by almost any household=E2=80=
=A6
3-  digital cameras are much more expensive than comparable videotape=20
camcorders
4-  digital storage devices (memory sticks, etc.) are a little more sensitiv=
e=20
to mishandling than videotapes=E2=80=A6
5-  videotapes are much less expensive than digital memory devices=E2=80=A6
6-  the resolution of digital may not be quite as high as video images

Personally, I'd go for the digital solution - but only because I am a techie=
=20
kind of guy (no, to a tickie-tackie techie) 8-) and see all the possibilitie=
s=20
there and like them better than a box full of broken videotapes=E2=80=A6
Good luck=E2=80=A6let me know how it goes=E2=80=A6
3. Hello,
    I am a Technology Specialist working in a school with an extensive Video=
=20
Production suite. And yet, I do not have a single digital camera.  I would=20
like one, but that would mean switching out every other piece of equipment i=
n=20
order to get the most use out of the new technology. A new elementary school=
=20
that just opened a few months ago went all digital (and paid through the roo=
f=20
for it). There are some definite benefits to digital. These include a better=
=20
picture, and better editing capabilities.
    If you are planning on doing video editing a'la DV iMac, Casablanca's=20
Avio, or some other system that includes a FireWire port, than a digital=20
camera might be an okay idea. Be sure, however, that you have a way of=20
getting the final product from either the camera itself or the iMac onto a=20
normal VHS tape! Plan on either using the camera itself as a VCR for digital=
=20
tapes, or plan on buying an expensive hi8 deck to play digital tapes into a=20
normal VCR.
    That said, however, I can see digital working. Teachers record, and then=
=20
use the camera to either send it to VHS for editing or edit directly from th=
e=20
camera. Most of the digital cameras also include basic editing features like=
=20
fade. This will allow for a smoother transition into the National Board=20
segments and will help eliminate the static between segments.

4. I used both a standard camcorder and a digital camcorder while I worked o=
n=20
my NB portfolio. When I used the digital camcorder, the sound was fine. When=
=20
I used the standard camcorder, I often couldn't hear what the students were=20
saying. I would definitely go with the digital model.

5. You have not listed your school - elem., m.s., or h.s.
Buy digital only if you want to import the video into a computer so you can=20
edit it there with special software, like Imovie which comes with the DVD=20
imacs.


6. We love digital cameras (we like Sony) here. We also have computers in=20
each classroom for their use. The teachers use them for bulletin boards,=20
newsletters, poster, PowerPoint demonstrations, field trips and much much=20
more. We also have video cameras which are used much less by teachers.


7. We have regular camcorders and a digital camera. The digital camera is a=20
big hit. The Sony Mavica F90 will even let you save a 2 min. movie. The=20
Mavica works off a floppy disk which is wonderful for student use. The Sony=20
Mavica F90 also has the capability to use memory sticks but does not come=20
with memory sticks. I would steer clear of the memory sticks because they=20
seem to be a hot commodity and cost a lot.

Margaret Graham
School Library Media Specialist
Myers Park Traditional
Charlotte, North Carolina
mm.graham@cms.k12.nc.us

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