New video camera

[Tony Junior]

I have been eyeing a digital video camera for the last few months, not just one particular camera but all of them.

On my first break yesterday at work I decided on a little JVC and asked a co-worker to set it aside for me. I'd stick it in layaway on lunch. Lunch came and I changed my mind on that camera and went to another JVC that has a few more features,

Then on lunch break I decided to heck with layaway and just went ahead and bought it. It's a JVC GR-D270u, far from a top of the line camera, I know, but it's small, light and looked easy to use.

Good gravy, that thing has more doo-dads and gizmos than anything I've ever seen! First thing I need to learn is how to turn it on! Wish me luck!

[Tulsa]

I see the video bug has definitely got a hold of you TJ! They can be a total blast. In my younger days I was a camera operator for the local CBS affiliate in Oklahoma City, KWTV. The K of course is west of the Mississippi and the WTV stands for Worlds Tallest Video. Anyway that's another story.

Being in the industry, I learned a ton about producing everything video. It took a few years after I left that my wife and I decided to make some movies. Not those kind! The first was an hour and half feature epic, "Brentwood Bay". The second was a 20 minute short "The Art of the Game". Both of those are still on video tape. Maybe someday I'll convert them to digital and post them here.. I'll have all y'all rollin' on the floor. I even played a small part in the first one.

So congrats bud! It's a fun hobby!

[Tony Junior]

Thanks, Tulsa. Very interesting story, and I know I'm not the only one who would like to see those videos.

Yeah, tthe bug has bit, and this should do it for me, camera-wise. I have way too many cameras just sitting in cases, and I've given away several really nice cameras complete with lenses and cases, Pentax, Cannon, even Contax. Still cameras all, but good equipment. Even a couple of digital still cameras.

If I can learn to drive this little JVC, perhaps quality will improve on my pachi videos.

[dattia]

Good luck with your new camera Tony. Your videos already rock...now they'll even be better!!!

[Tony Junior]

Thank you, young lady. When you going to do some of your family, toys, game roo...uh, cafe, whatever?

[dattia]

...when you send me your "OLD" video camera!

[Tony Junior]

The old video camera died. Only Kyle can fiddle with it to get it to work. The one I used for the KC and LV belongs to him, otherwwise I would be happy to send you one.

[dattia]

I know you would Tony...you are such a sweet man. When I get a digital video camera, I will make some vids...but don't hold your breath, the house reno comes first.

[Tulsa]

You have a house in Reno too?

[Tony Junior]

I think Dattia is secretly rich.

[dattia]

If I was, I'm not anymore.....my husband now walks around in a perpetual state of shock with regard to the amount of cash that he has recently parted company with because of the house... I wonder what he's gonna do when the kids start college, my son has Ivy League schools in mind.

[Tulsa]

my son has Ivy League schools in mind.

That's a good choice. He can help defray the cost by doing some gardening.

[dattia]

Now that's a thought. I have to tell you Tulsa, when he saw your new avatar, he said " how old is that guy". I guess he thinks Pimping is something NEW, how would a guy of your age know anything about that....

[Tulsa]

Well remind him the oldest profession in the world has always had to have the management staff to make it all work!

[logicprobe]

Congrats on the new toy, TJ.
I think you're gonna love playing with DV.
SOOOooo much nicer and smoother than trying to import analog into an editor... not to mention the quaility.
Nice choice on the cam, too! Just checked out the specs. WOOHOO!!!

[MrGneiss]

Cool! Enjoy your new toy.

[Tony Junior]

Congrats on the new toy, TJ.
I think you're gonna love playing with DV.
SOOOooo much nicer and smoother than trying to import analog into an editor... not to mention the quaility.
Nice choice on the cam, too! Just checked out the specs. WOOHOO!!!

Thanks, LP!Nephew came by last night and we checked it out a little. He hand held some shots in CARP vof the KOTBW video and Fire Drift video. I threw a few tokens in KOTBW and played a few games. Man, is that little sucker sharp!

It came with a USB cable, a DV cable, and a CD but no instructions on how to use the program(s) on the importing, other than what is in the instruction manule. You have any ideas of what/how to do that, other than through the capture card?

Where did you find the specs?

Cool! Enjoy your new toy.

Thanks, MrG! Man, I can't get over the quality of the video. Kyle even too a brief shot of me in the casino with only lights from 7 Pachilos and the little twin LED lights on the camera. Man, does it ever show my wrinkles!

[logicprobe]

It came with a USB cable, a DV cable, and a CD but no instructions on how to use the program(s) on the importing, other than what is in the instruction manule. You have any ideas of what/how to do that, other than through the capture card?

Where did you find the specs?

Here's what I saw when I did a search on it, so I could see your new toy:
http://shopper.cnet.com/JVC_GR_D270U...rderby=90&sort=

And from the JVC Canada site: (The USA site doesn't seem to have info?)
http://www.jvc.ca/en/consumer/produc...model=GR-D270U

Sweet camera, for sure!
The slow-motion mode looks very interesting. I wonder if you'd be able to capture some reels slipping with that?

Not sure what you mean when you ask "what/how to import".
You talking about connecting the cam to the computer?
Does your computer or capture card have a firewire (aka IEEE 1394) connector? If all is well, when you connect it to that port, it should recognize it as a device right under My Computer. Other software should recognize it then, as an input device.

There's a little bit of a learning curve, but luckily it's a FUN curve.

[Tony Junior]

You talking about connecting the cam to the computer?
Does your computer or capture card have a firewire (aka IEEE 1394) connector? If all is well, when you connect it to that port, it should recognize it as a device right under My Computer. Other software should recognize it then, as an input device.

There's a little bit of a learning curve, but luckily it's a FUN curve.

Yes, but I suffered a MBF when I wrote that. I think I was confused by the USB connection, which is for stills only, as is the software that came with it.

All I need to do is plug it into the capture card, which I'm about to try. After I do I'll put a shot video up on putfile.com and PM you to check it out.