Recommend me a class-set of video cameras...

[enjay]

We're looking at little "cheapie" camcorders - things like Flip, Digital Blue and Kodak's Flip-equivalent. Not essential that they are compatible with Movie Maker, but whatever they do use must be easily-deployable on CC3. They will be used by children, but we're a "nice school" so they don't need be bullet-proof. Which types of camera do you guys use, how are they, and which ones have you had a struggle with?

[Delgwapo]

We've got a bunch of Kodak Zi8s as well as some newer Kodak Playsports.

 

I'd strongly recommend the Playsports - they're cheap, ultra robust (check out The Gadget Show's extreme testing here) and very easy to use.

 

Oh, and they shoot underwater too.

[Sylv3r]

Each department here has at least 2 flip cameras - other than the converting issue of putting them into MovieMaker the kids and staff love them.

[synaesthesia]

Toshiba HD S20 camcorders. Roughly £70 from just about anywhere, another 8 quid for a 4GB memory card and they work wonders. Started replacing a hell of a lot of Digital Fool cams, those gawd-awful Tuffcams and other plasticy bits of junk that are supposedly easy to use. They're half the price of these tonka toys and twice as good. Kids pick them up really quickly anyway. Have deployed via CC3 and 4 without problem, used with packages like Movie Maker and 2Simple 2Animate. No conversion issues, no dodgy software, rechargeable lithium batteries, can't go far wrong!

[enjay]

Each department here has at least 2 flip cameras - other than the converting issue of putting them into MovieMaker the kids and staff love them.

 

Is there a solution / workaround to the conversion issue so that kids can use Movie Maker, or will they have to use the Flip software?

[enjay]

@synaesthesia - sounds like what I'm after, thanks! I've just bought a £45 Kodak thing for play and test purposes, so will give the Toshiba ones a try if I struggle with the Kodak.

[JJonas]

What about Creative Vado 8Gb for £49.99 or Creative Vado 4Gb for £39.99

[enjay]

Price looks very good. Do you know if the files are in a friendly format, or if they would need converting before importing into Movie Maker?

[JJonas]

I dont know on that. Just saw them listed on hotukdeals earlier this week and then I saw your post and thought of them.

[laserblazer]

I think you'll find if you install the k-lite codecs then movie maker will accept the native Flip files.

[enjay]

I dont know on that. Just saw them listed on hotukdeals earlier this week and then I saw your post and thought of them.

 

Okay. They're only a "hot deal" if they are actually easy for the kids to use - if everything has to re-encoded (especially if it has to be re-encoded by me!), then they're not worth looking at. We want cameras where you can film at the start of the lesson and then immediately sit down and start editing it in Movie Maker.

 

I may well buy one to try out, and could always sell it/give it away if we don't like it.

[enjay]

I think you'll find if you install the k-lite codecs then movie maker will accept the native Flip files.

 

Worth knowing. I thought K-Lite was questionable in terms of the origin of some of its codecs though?

[laserblazer]

Worth knowing. I thought K-Lite was questionable in terms of the origin of some of its codecs though?

 

Our LEA list it as a recommended install. So you're probably right

[Robbocop]

these things mostly seem to shoot in h264, so codec problems will be similar I expect. The toshiba has a pop out screen which can be a bit of a liability. Synaesthesia, I haven't played with one though so no criticism intended. The Flip is dead easy to use - Mino variety has a built in Lithium battery, Ultra uses AAs. The Kodak ones are good - I like the waterproof housing on the Playsport - that's a good idea. The Kodaks can also shoot 1080P although we prefer 720P for the look and file size. They take SD cards, whereas the Flips have a fixed 1 hour or 2 hour memory. Again, easy, but less flexible. We started stocking the Kodak ZI8 too, as it also has an external mic socket. Sound is the weak point on all of these cameras. Zi8 Pocket Video Camera, Digital Video Camera, HD Video Camera - Kodak Online

[enjay]

these things mostly seem to shoot in h264, so codec problems will be similar I expect.

 

Losing me slightly there - what is h264, and what other options are there which would be more compatible?

 

Thanks for the other comments, highly informative. The flip-out screen shouldn't be an issue here - kids are used to those anyway, not least because our existing camcorders have them. Batteries are definitely key though, as the performance from an AA is often insufficient; easier to replace if it does run-out mid-filming though - dilemma. 2 hour memory should be sufficient for these cameras, as they're just classroom play-things; we have a bigger camera for filming concerts, plays, etc. Certainly is a consideration point though.

[Robbocop]

As an option on the Flip Ultra models, you can buy a Flip battery pack, which is the same shape as a pair of AA but will recharge through the USB port when you connect to a computer. Those are about £12 but sound like a good default thing to use, with normal AA as a backup. Since the camera will only film for 2 hours, battery life has never been an issue. H264 is a name given to a standard MPEG4 video compression H.264/MPEG-4 AVC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and is widely used because video quality is pretty good and file sizes are pretty small. It's a pretty safe bet

[ranj]

I have a question regarding Apple Mac usage and video cameras..

 

We have 2 sets of flip cameras We have the FLIP ultra U1120 (black in colour) and an older version (white in colour) both are the non HD models. Since we have upgraded to iMovie 09 we seem to not be able to use the older version as they record in AVI format, these work fine on Windows.

 

I need to purchase some more but we dont need very high quality but need to be compatible on iMovie 09. Do all the new flip cameras 3rd generation support use on both platforms, iMovie and Moviemaker?

[Robbocop]

I have a question regarding Apple Mac usage and video cameras..

 

Do all the new flip cameras 3rd generation support use on both platforms, iMovie and Moviemaker?

 

The new models are all HD now (720p), and all record video in h264 and audio in AAC, producing mp4 format files. Not a problem for iMovie but Movie Maker doesn't like that format (so the opposite problem to when flip used AVI!!). iorgsoft have a flip converter here DownLoad Video Converter, DVD Ripper, Flip Converter, MOD/TOD/AVCHD/M2TS/FLV/SWF/MPG Converter but I can't figure out whether the download is a full version, a trial version or what. I'm sure there are many ways of converting to format so that Movei Maker can use it. Same situation with Flip competitors like the Kodak Zi8. And I hate to have to add this but this post is my own thoughts on the matter and does not represent the official position of the company I work for. Sorry

[lew_bob]

If its GCSE or lower then you can get away with things like the Samsung ES17. A stills camera that can take video to good quality + simple usb interface with easy copy/paste and no silly software.

 

Staff love them here, stills + video and easy so anyone can use it as its just a usb stick when plugged in (CC4 school btw). Only our media dpt has anything better really and even they say that at the moment the quality these things give out is plenty good enough for what kids are asked to do at a GCSE level.