Camcorder - Recommendations pls - for recording presentations

[lemonadesoda]

Can anyone recommend a camcorder for using to record presentations. We will be doing some presentation training in Jan and could use a camcorder.

Requirements:

1./ Will be used inside without professional lighting (therefore a bit dark, so good low light performance is important). On a tripod.

2./ The presenter will be about 5-8 meters (20ft) from the camera. There are other people in the room meaning there will be background noise. Therefore a directional microphone is needed. I'd prefer to use an external mount mike rather than a built-in... the quality is much better.

3./ To record on SD card. I want to be able to put in/remove cards for each person recorded. They get to keep the card to review their performance.

4./ Expanded battery, or swappable battery, needed, so be able to record up to 4hrs of material plus "on-standby". (12 people 20mins. each)

5./ The presentation will likely include OHP or Projector Powerpoint. Makes the issue worse... even darker and low/poor contrast on the projector. Any experience with this?

Any recommendations? Any other feature tips?

 

[mlee49]

So your making porn now... Whats your price range?

 

[MRCL]

I recently bought a Canon Legria FS200 for filming in the Snow.

1. Can be mounted on a Tripod. And if you play with the settings, decent vids in the dark are possible.

2. 37x optical zoom. Nuff said. Plus, noise filter, stereo mic AND the possibility to hook up an external mic.

3. Supports SDHC cards

4. Swappable battery. The standard one lasts about two hours.

5. I'm not sure. The automatic setting is pretty good, if you focus the cam on the presentation, it will be readable. Like I said, 37x optical zoom.

I'm very happy with this camera. I dunno the price in Dollars, I think it would be about 300 bucks. Was worth it for me, since I dropped it a dozen times and used it in a snow storm and it still works perfectly.

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=2544&modelid=17999

 

[Steevo]

I like my HG20, works well, and am ordering the smart mic to go with it.

 

[lemonadesoda]

MRCL... looked into the FS200. Great reviews. Seems like a good price. But am I right in saying that:

1./ The SD card and the battery are UNDER the camcorder.Meaning that if I had this thing on a tripod, it would be a PITA to swap the SD card for each person doing the presentation. (At least 12 people, maybe more).

2./ Likewise the battery. You cannot get a bigger battery, only a second battery, which would also require dismounting from the tripod to swap.

These comments come from experience. We currently use a DVtape SONY that it very good except that we can't give people DVtapes to watch. The battery was at the back and could be hotswapped. The tapes could be swapped without unmounting from the tripod.

Steevo...HG20 is EOL. Also dont want HDD recording. It adds cost, becomes more fragile, and requires a lot of additional after-time to get the recordings OFF the HDD and TO the participants. SD card only for hot-swap.

 

[MRCL]

MRCL... looked into the FS200. Great reviews. Seems like a good price. But am I right in saying that:

1./ The SD card and the battery are UNDER the camcorder.Meaning that if I had this thing on a tripod, it would be a PITA to swap the SD card for each person doing the presentation. (At least 12 people, maybe more).

2./ Likewise the battery. You cannot get a bigger battery, only a second battery, which would also require dismounting from the tripod to swap.

These comments come from experience. We currently use a DVtape SONY that it very good except that we can't give people DVtapes to watch. The battery was at the back and could be hotswapped. The tapes could be swapped without unmounting from the tripod.

That is right yes. A bit of a downside. Requires some fiddling to get the battery out even without a tripod. For me its not a problem since I don't use a tripod. But yeah I see your point.

 

[lemonadesoda]

SORRY TO BUMP - but I'd really appreciate more input from anyone out there