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LM Netters, Thanks once again for your informative responses. I had several requests to post hits, so I'm sending this out on the list. Caty Micklewright Lakeside Middle School Evans, Georgia cmicklewright@ccboe.net I would say a full sized VHS unless you can jump to MINIDV but I would hold off for a couple of years if I could. Full sized VHS Don't need special tape can play back on almost all VCR Get a good Tripod also Oskaloosa, Iowa Hi, I prefer the full size camcorder because you can get longer lasting batteries (2 hours) for about $75.00...I bought my camera and two extra 2 hour batteries at Sears...I also bought the insurance and take it in every year just to get cleaned and maintained...I have used the small camcorders and I don't like them....batteries don't last, you need a cartridge adapter to view the tape that goes into a regular VCR which always gets misplaced. The VHS camcorder is a little heavy and awkward but some things you have to give up when you want the convenience of viewing the tape immediately with no adapters, using the battery for a longer period of time. Location Unknown I had the same questions....I finally decided that we needed a full size camcorder. We needed the time that a full size can give you (2 hours) b/c we often tape PTA programs, etc. Our camcorder was going to be used on a tripod most of time, so portability was not a problem. We didn't want to invest in another VCR format. Bedford, VA Caty: I have one of the cameras that uses the smaller tapes. I would probably not buy it again. The problem is you have to have an adapter to play the tapes or to dub over. These adapters are a little expensive and are constantly being misplaced. The tapes are also more expensive. They are good in that they are lighter weight and easy to carry around for taping, but I still prefer the larger full-size camera. Evans, Georgia The 8mm requires an adapter to use the tape in a regular VCR and the tape is shorter, requiring more tapes to record an event--or at least this used to be the case. Evans, Georgia Caty, My experience with school has always proved that the full size VHF works best. It eliminates one whole step of having to record the tape onto a VHF tape. Using an 8mm also requires longer use of the camera by an individual, since they not only need it to record, but they also need it to record onto a VHS tape. That leaves it unavailable for others to use during that time. In fact the only real advantage I see in the 8mm is the size of the camera. I hope this makes sense. Also, if kids are going to be using the camera, it is a lot easier to hold the VHS camera steady than it is the smaller one. Evans, Georgia Caty, Before I came to Columbia County I would use my own personal 8mm camcorder because our school video camera was broken. I found it a PAIN to have to transfer those tapes to VHS (which seemed to always be the request) and just extra work. I know everything is going to smaller, but until all of our VCRs are changed I would go with the full size VHS. Just one opinion. Evans, Georgia We prefer the full size. We have a smaller version but one teacher does a video yearbook and still borrows the full size because each child has brought in his own tape. Evans, Georgia I guess it would depend on what the majority of your VCR's take. If they take VHS then definitely get VHS. Buena Park, CA Colleagues: Last year we used VHS-C cameras for our weekly news show. This year we have full-size VHS cameras. The difference is unbelievable! Spend the extra money and get the full-size cameras. Whenever you need to copy a tape you will appreciate having the full-size tapes. Even if you never want to copy, just having the ability to put two hours on a tape instead of 30 minutes. Urbana, MO Caty, You should know that the full-size VHS tapes are, of course, the easiest to just pop out of the camcorder and pop into a VCR (Panasonic makes a good, industrial use camcorder for schools). IF you get the palm-type camcorders, realize that the ones that take the VHS-C tapes CAN play in a regular VCR. You just have to get an adapter (it's the size of a full-sized VHS tape that you insert the smaller tape into) for about $30. If you get the 8mm ones, there is NO SUCH TECHNOLOGY that allows you to play the tape in a VCR. You must hook up the camera to the monitor in order to be able to play the tapes. It's something to consider. I have the full and VHS-C size here, but I won't buy the 8mm types. Princeton, NJ We find full size VHS is most useful to us because you can pop the tape into any VCR to view. South Carolina Although I do not have a wealth of experience I can't imagine what a pain it would be to try to mess with an 8mm. You have to use the camera to play it back and that is just that much more time that another teacher can't use the camera. We just bought a full size RCA with an LCD and it is really not that big. Michigan 8mm requires extra work. 8mm means hooking up the camera and recording the tape to a VHS tape. I don't have time and the teachers won't take the time. You do lose some quality. I have never had luck with the tape that you put the little cassette into then play. VHS is tape and play. Can you tell my choice? Geneseo, Illinois For ease of use, VHS is the best. Pop it out of the camera and into a vcr. For quality, 8 mm is a lot better but you will have to transfer to a VHS tape. VHS tapes are a lot cheaper. VHS cameras are a lot bigger and heavier. If you want picture quality and lightweight, go with 8mm. If you want no fuss, no muss, go with VHS. Oh yeah - VHS cameras are usually a lot cheaper too. New York For ease of use, VHS is the best. Pop it out of the camera and into a vcr. For quality, 8 mm is a lot better but you will have to transfer to a VHS tape. VHS tapes are a lot cheaper. VHS cameras are a lot bigger and heavier. If you want picture quality and lightweight, go with 8mm. If you want no fuss, no muss, go with VHS. Oh yeah - VHS cameras are usually a lot cheaper too. Location Unknown 8mm gives you a wonderful picture, but the convince of the full VHS always wins over (no converter needed). I am currently using a VHS for a weekly newscast and we are looking at the 8mm, but we must consider the convenience factor. Location Unknown Caty, We use 1-8mm, 3 VHS, and 1 S-VHS. Our experience has been that some of our teachers who do foreign language exchanges to other countries would prefer the smaller 8mm cameras. Teachers and coaches doing mundane stuff prefer the standard VHS stuff and new technologically competent folks want the capability of the S-VHS hardware. Location Unknown Personally I prefer 8 mm because they are just lighter weight and easier for kids (and me) to use. Currently we have one of the big old hunkers but hopefully our PTA will buy us an 8mm. Springfield, Oregon Caty, It depends on what you are going to use the video tapes for. Most schools(and homes) have standard VHS VCR's so you should buy a camcorder that will be compatible with showing the tapes at school if that's what you plan on doing, without having to attach a bunch of wires). Some formats other than VHS have adapters that can be used to put the smaller tapes into so you can show them on a standard VHS VCR but the adapters tend to break, get lost etc. 8MM will give slightly better picture quality but if it's being shown on older monitors/TV's you might not be able to tell anyway. 8MM are usually smaller and therefore lighter to carry but also harder to hold steady when filming because they don't rest on your shoulder the way a full size VHS will. Hope this helps some. -- Hingham, Massachusetts Do NOT get VHS-C. What a pain. Inferior quality and less tape just so you can carry around a smaller camera. NOT WORTH IT! I would consider S-VHS which is much better quality than VHS. If you want small, nothing beats the quality and portability of 8MM. Just use the camcorder as your VCR. I love it. California =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=