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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 11 Jan 2010 09:13 PM |
If the ffdshow codecs work, then there'd be no conversion required.
Also, as long as the Fuji files comply with published standards, I expect the likelihood that they will work is pretty good. However, I won't guarantee that as I've never tried the ffdshow codecs with files from a Fuji camera. |
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Confucius |
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 phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 12 Jan 2010 05:29 AM |
| Is there anyway to know for sure whether that camera is suitable? Can WMM themselves help? |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 12 Jan 2010 09:14 PM |
I think the likelihood is pretty good that you could get it to work but the only way I know to tell for sure is to get a sample file from the camera (e.g., take a card to a store that has one and record a clip) and then try it on your system.
Is there a particular reason you'd prefer to use a digital camera over a digital camcorder? The reason I ask is that I suspect you'd get higher quality video from a digital camcorder. |
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Confucius |
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 13 Jan 2010 06:33 AM |
To be honest I´d rather have a camcorder...but as you can see Im having difficulty identifying one that suits me ie. price and no conversions. I need someone to tell me...A,B and C are suitable for you and for me to chose (please remember I´m a father at home with kids and really can´t spend too much time running to shops and researching the net. And I do appreciate your help!).
The reason I mentioned the Fuji stills camera is that I had one a couple of years ago. All I had to do was record, take out the card, stick it into my laptop and I could edit away on MM.
I would really like that simplicity again! I loved using MM!! |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:48 PM |
I will not attempt to recommend a specific camcorder/camera. There are a number of sites (like the Cnet site I mentioned previously and Consumer Reports) that can provide a more in-depth and comprehensive review of various camcorders and I would have to refer to those sites to see how the various makes and models compare from a price-performance standpoint. Additionally, I have no idea what the relative importance of various features (e.g., image stabilization, low light performance, length of warranty, etc) are to you and how much more you'd be willing to pay for a given feature (you're in the best position to make those sorts of judgements).
If you have Vista Basic and have no plans to upgrade to Windows 7 in the near future, I would go with a mini-DV camcorder (this Cnet page lists 7 mini-DV models between $200 - $300).
If you have Vista Premium or Ultimate, then camcorders that record video in MPEG2 format (like the Canon FS200) would also be viable candidates in addition to the mini-DV camcorders listed on the Cnet page. |
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Confucius |
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 14 Jan 2010 11:43 AM |
How about the RCA Small Wonder EZ201. for now, it sounds like it might be ok for me. How compatible would it be? Would I have to convert?
I had no idea theycould come so small and so cheap....thats having babies!!
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 14 Jan 2010 02:12 PM |
....or the the little Flip`Video
http://www.theflip.com/en-us/products/specs.aspx
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 14 Jan 2010 02:38 PM |
....or the the little Flip`Video
http://www.theflip.com/en-us/products/specs.aspx
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 14 Jan 2010 03:15 PM |
Or maybe I will spend a bit more money....
Sony Handycam DCR-SR42
Again...Im looking simplicity....and thanks again for your time! |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 14 Jan 2010 09:46 PM |
The RCA and Flip cameras certainly offer the simplicity you're indicated you were looking for and I'll leave it up to you to determine how well their features compare to other models. As far as the ompatibility of their video files with Movie Maker, it depends on which version of Vista you have and the version of the camera you're considering.
The RCA model appears to generate MP4 video which is not natively supported by Vista. If you have Vista Premium or Ultimate, then there's good chance you could get them to work by installing a MP4 codec but there's always a risk that it won't and you would need to convert the files.
The basic Flip model apparently allows you to save your video in wmv (one of the file formats Movie Maker likes best) or MP4 format. Check out this page on PapaJohn's website for more info on this and the various Flip models.
The Sony Handycam saves the video in MPEG2 format and that format is supported in the Premium and Ultimate versions of Vista. If you haven't done so, check out this Cnert review; I'll leave it up to you to decide whether it's performance/feature set are worth the additional money.
Also, check out this page on PapaJohn's website, as it offers a lot of useful insights into the tradeoffs between the various types of cameras.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Confucius |
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 15 Jan 2010 03:58 AM |
I run on Vista Home Premium.
How about the Canon Vixia HF200. The Sony review wasn´t great.
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 15 Jan 2010 08:59 PM |
| The Canon appears to generate AVCHD files which are not natively supported by your version of Vista. Additionally, the high def video produced by such camcorders place greater demands on system resources and you'd want to make sure you're system (e.g., CPU, memory, hard drive capacity, etc) is up to the task of editing these files (assuming you could get it to work). |
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Confucius |
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 16 Jan 2010 04:12 AM |
Gggrrrhhh.
OK.The basic Flip camera, you say it runs on wmv files which my system and MM can handle....can you give me a link to exactly which one that is. I might just go cheap and cheerful.
Thanks for your patience with me. I hadn´t realised this would be so complicated. |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 16 Jan 2010 09:33 PM |
Let's try to step back and take a broader look at this and see if we can put some of this in a little more perspective.
1. Movie Maker was designed originally to primarily work with DV-AVI and wmv files with support for MPEG2 files added beginning with the Premium and Ultimate versions of Vista. Thus, if you stick with a camera that can produce one of those file formats, you shouldn't have to convert your files. For those file types, I'd suggest you focus on
a. Mini-DV camcorders - produces DV-AVI files when you capture your video via a firewire connection or
b. Camcorders that use hard drives or DVDs to store the video - typically these store the video in MPEG2 format
2. Other file formats can be made to work in Movie Maker but may require that you install a codec in order to edit and publish those files. The risk that you wouldn't be able to get the files to work would probably be fairly low for many of the more common file formats. However, if you want to avoid that risk altogether, go with one of the camcorder types listed above.
3. The Premium version of Vista supports HDV hIgh definition video (typically captured via a firewire connection) but does not natively support the AVCHD high def format (I think this is probably the more common format used by high def camcorders). Also, resource demands for working with high def files in Movie Maker are much greaater than for standard def video files and you would need to make sure your system can handle those files. Thus, if you want to go with a high def model, that will affect your decision.
4. The Premium and Ultimate versions of Windows 7 natively support a broader range of file types (e.g., AVCHD) than the Vista versions. Thus, if you plan to upgrade to Windows 7 anytime soon, that could affect your decision.
5. The Flip (at least the models mentioned in PapaJohn's article) appears to record video in MPEG4 format (a format not natively supported by Movie Maker) but the provided software can convert it to wmv format. Thus, if you want to avoid any conversions of the original video, then this could affect your decision.
I'm not sure that helps you much; but, without knowing your requirements and their priority, it's difficult for me to be any more specific.
Finally, PapaJohn indicated that the Flip Video, Flip Ultra and Flip Mino models record video in 640x480 format and came with the software that would convert the files to wmv format.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Confucius |
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phlaaps
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| Joined: 12 Mar 2008 |
| Total Posts: 49 |
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Re: Compatibility.
Posted: 17 Jan 2010 09:37 AM |
I´ve looked at the Canon Elura 100 and it seems ok to me. Although its an old camera...as are a lot of the ones I´ve seen on Cnet.
Would this operate on Premium and MM OK? Would I need to convert? And how messy is DV...do I need to play the cassett to transfer it to my laptop?
And again, thankyou for your time with me on this one, I´m sure your patience is running thin.
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