Digi Video Camera that acts as a mass storage device

[SeniorFeet]

Hi,

 

Just wondering if anybody out there that knows of a decent digital video camera that acts as a mass storage device when plugged in to a PC, preferably one that'll record in mpeg2/4 so that teachers can just copy and paste their videos directly off of it without requiring us to do it.

 

With more and more courses involving media, we seem to be spending more and more time ripping videos off of mini-dvdr's or tapes and converting them to a format that'll be playable on the PCs here, we've already installed the combined community codec pack but more often than not, the cameras we've got will use some codec that nobody has ever heard of before.

 

Any advice would be most appreciated as I've found no matter how many reviews/spec sheets you read about a device, it's never that clear how compatible it is until you've actually bought one and tested it yourself.

 

Cheers.

 

Also, first post.

[SpuffMonkey]

Hi,

 

Just wondering if anybody out there that knows of a decent digital video camera that acts as a mass storage device when plugged in to a PC, preferably one that'll record in mpeg2/4 so that teachers can just copy and paste their videos directly off of it without requiring us to do it.

 

With more and more courses involving media, we seem to be spending more and more time ripping videos off of mini-dvdr's or tapes and converting them to a format that'll be playable on the PCs here, we've already installed the combined community codec pack but more often than not, the cameras we've got will use some codec that nobody has ever heard of before.

 

Any advice would be most appreciated as I've found no matter how many reviews/spec sheets you read about a device, it's never that clear how compatible it is until you've actually bought one and tested it yourself.

 

Cheers.

 

Also, first post.

 

I think the Flips do that don't they?

[SeniorFeet]

Ah excellent

 

Looks quite promising, not too expensive either, the only thing is that there isn't an optical zoom on them is there, that'd be my only concern with them.

[bossman]

@jackfeet:

 

I have just purchased one from Aldi £58.00 with a 3 year warranty does a few different formats and when you plug it in comes up as mass storage device with avi files which will play in wmp.

 

http://www.traveler-service.com/front_content.php

 

http://h8349.serverkompetenz.net/htdocs_traveler/uk/front_content.php?idcat=327&lang=3&client=3

Edited June 17, 2009 by bossman

[klawd]

I had the same problem as you, and decided to phase out the DV Tape cams.

 

We have got a few of these,

DCR-SR55E (DCRSR55E) : Camcorders : Sony

 

Pretty much idiot proof, touch screen, hard drive. Training takes about 2 minutes, after, you can just plug it into the USB and copy off the mpg4 files as if using a memory stick.

[SeniorFeet]

Cheers for the feedback, I'll look into them further. Much appreciated

[jamin100]

Kodak zi6/zx1

[enjay]

Am I missing some finer point of the question here, or don't all HDD cameras appear as drives within My Computer when plugged in?