Digital Camera preferences?

[Sherm00]

heh.. I love the Analog v. Digital debate. Years ago, people said that music would go over entirely to digital.... well, years later, it still hasn't. You do gain clarity with digital, but you lose a sense of warmth. It's too real, and films are supposed to be an escape from reality.

Both mediums will coexist for the time being.

Who's willing to take this bet?

They will go all digital when Digital= clarity of film cameras. which we were discussing here where I work for a few weeks. Like it will take digital to get to 15 to 20 megapixel to reach that clarity. Till then they will co-exist. Eventually Digital will become the cheaper medieum to use because digital film is always re-useable. I am talking about professionally. Most general home users will adopt digital alot faster because then can do more with it easily then with Analog. we do not know when digital will take over probubly 10 to 20 years as there will always be people afraid to change.

 

[imagineer99]

In the home...there is no question that Digital will dominate. It's so darn cheap and easy to use! I use it all the time for making my own movies.

Also, I think that digital still cameras will still continue to dominant the market.

However, I sincerely doubt that Film will every truly fade from Hollywood. A certain "warmth" comes from film that as of right now, Digital doesn't even come close to capturing.

Film schools are founded on the basis of teaching people directors how to master the art of FILM-making. So much tradition would be lost.

Can anyone picture Speilburg using a mini DV camera? It doesn't seem right...

 

[pisco]

I am certainly not advocating that DV take over for film in film-making. I simply believe that for mainstream Hollywood, money is the final determinant. Once theaters begin to equip themselves with digital projectors (thus eliminating the need to expensive film prints that wear out) the appeal of DV for directors and especially producers (higher resolution, faster and cheaper production methods) will push the format to the forefront.

Look at what happened to Cinemascope and Technicolor. These were both great technologies that created far superior viewing experiences for the viewer. But Technicolor was too expensive and Cinemascope screens just doesn't fit into the modern mulitiplex. Commerce won out over art as it typically does in Hollywood.

Certainly there will always be those die-hards that will insist on shooting film wherever possible, just as there are a few bands that insist on all their records being released on vinyl. But the mainstream, mass-market for music is certainly be owned by digital. I don't see any compelling reason why this would not also be true for Hollywood films.

 

[imagineer99]

I am certainly not advocating that DV take over for film in film-making. I simply believe that for mainstream Hollywood, money is the final determinant. Once theaters begin to equip themselves with digital projectors (thus eliminating the need to expensive film prints that wear out) the appeal of DV for directors and especially producers (higher resolution, faster and cheaper production methods) will push the format to the forefront.
QUOTE]

Your analysis of Hollywood is pretty darn accurate. I can definitely understand your reasoning...it makes sense.

 

[DisneyMan]

Definitly going to give it a try. Do you know if the Software will read in from an ATI All-in-wonder 9600 useing the ATI Rage theatre chip?

Something is telling me that it will work just fine. I don't see why it wouldn't maybe someone else has more experience bringing video in through their video card. I use firewire directly connected to my DV camera so I completly bypass the video card for import all together. but I know that ATI All-in-wonder cards were on the list of supported video cards some time ago and I doubt if that has change. If I remember correctly as long as it supports DirectX8.0 you should be good to go. And the fact that you have S-Video on your card is a plus! Have fun!


-DisneyMan :sohappy:

 

[Sherm00]

For all those looking for a digital camera I found the Canon A75 at digitaletailer.com for $196 New. They have a Five star rateing from Cnet so they should be good to deal with.

Link:
http://www.digitaletailer.com/shop/product.aspx?ref=cnet&sku=A75

They also have a Limited edition package and a deluxe package for more but I would stay away from those packages because I also found

256mb CF card $35 at samsclub (www.samsclub.com)
Rayovac 15min rapid chargeing batteries and charger $28 at walmart (www.walmart.com)
All weather case Lowpro model z10 $10 at Bestbuy (www.bestbuy.com)

My friend who has an A70 model has this case and the case fits like a glove, it's weather and water proof and zippers. also has a belt loop to put it on your belt so your camera can be hands free and protected when you go on rides.

so for a total of $269 Plus shipping it's a awesome camera with all the extras to boot. Also the A75 comes with a 32mb cf card so you would have a spare. Already sent the info to my wife as a hint for my b-day coming up in october. I just couldn't keep the info to myself.

 

[Goodeone]

I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who replied with info about cameras. It really helped me in my decision making, especially all the free ads for Canon and their A75. I picked one up for myself on friday and I'm absolutely loving it. Great camera, awesome for point and shoot, I'll have my first theme park pictures on it tonight when I go to Paramount Canada's Wonderland. I payed $349 canadian for the camera, best price I saw around other than on some american websites, but most of them don't ship to Canada, or if they do they only include an american warranty.

 

[Laura]

LOVE my digital rebel.
Love it, love it.
Did I mention I love it?

Ditto!! Worth every penny. Can't say enough about it.

 

[NemoRocks78]

WOW! Great thread! And perfect timing, too. I am about to buy myself a digital camera (something small....point & shoot) and my daughter is getting one for Christmas. But until now, i really didn't know a lot about them. One question, though......Has anyone heard anything about the Sony CyberShot? A friend of mine has an older one (1-2 years old) but I want the new one that is not much bigger than a credit card....Remember the commercial with the girls in the restaurant and Steven Tyler? I want SMALL!!! I HATE carrying things in Disney, especially a big bulky camera. I have taken my old film Minolta SLR and gotten some wonderful shots. I have a Maxxum 5 that is amazing!!!! But I don't want to lug that around... OK...I know I am rambling now... Any info on the Sony CyberShot would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks!!!

I picked up a Sony Cybershot DSC-P100 on the 4th of July, as I had been working with a Canon Powershot A70 before that I hated to death. I've only used it twice, once during a weekend trip to Universal Orlando and just during the past week when I was in Europe, and I love it. I wanted to pick up something bigger and better like an SLR camera, but I needed something small to just slip into my pocket, and this camera does. It fits my needs easily. Here's a small description of it:

Big on features, small in size—the Sony Cyber-shot® DSC-P100 digital camera makes phenomenal photos happen with a 5.1-megapixel CCD and professional-quality Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens. Pick out the best details with the 3x optical zoom and shoot sharp images with the 5-point autofocus, no matter where the subject is in the frame. From manual exposure mode to nine selectable scene modes to point-and-shoot, this camera has controls for every situation, with a compact, stylish design.

As for camcorders...stay away from MiniDVD. I just bought the Sony Handycam version, and hate it.

 

[Number_6]

I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-P52. It's a pretty decent camera that I got from Best Buy for about $260. I've had no problems with it. It's compact and lightweight. Battery life is decent, and since I just picked up a 30 minute charger(Charges batteries in 30 minutes or less, not charges the battery with 30 minutes of life...) it makes it better. The only thing is, like one of the previous cameras mentioned, the nighttime mode for taking pictures is only really useful on things standing still. I found though, that if you keep it set for daylight, even at night, the flash is so good that you can get a nice picture in almost pitch darkness.

 

[imagineer99]

As for camcorders...stay away from MiniDVD. I just bought the Sony Handycam version, and hate it.

Yes. DV tape cameras are still the way to go. Technology hasn't improved enough whre DVD hadycam's are viable, yet.