frankh said:
I just realised that HDV camcorder is pretty hi end...Like about $1500!
So next question, Do you really need that level of camera to do videos like that?
No you don't. That footage is standard definition, not HD. You do, however, need a camcorder with an AV input & they can be tough to find. That lets you plug in a video cable and record that to the camera (i.e. an RCA cable like the one that probably connects your VCR to your home TV). Both the Canon HV-10 (like mine) and HV-20 have AV inputs, but they are over $1000 still. It can be tough to figure out which camera can & which can't since most people don't use that feature. The first camcorder I bought the salesman swore up & down that you could record from an external video source, but he was wrong. It helps do look at the product manuals online or get your hands on a camera directly to make sure. The Canon Elura 100 & ZR700 do have AV inputs, but I couldn't find any other current Canon miniDV standard def model that does (Canon calls it "Analog/Digital Conversion" in their manuals...search for "analog").
If you're going to shoot video from the actual camcorder in your plane, it's nice very to have a mic input. This lets you plug your intercom audio into camcorder. The HV-10 does not have a mic in unless you are in AV capture mode. The Canon ZR800 has a mic input, but the 830 & 850 do not. I'm not sure about the ZR700. There are obviously other brands of camcorders, but when I've bought my last 2, Canons were the only ones with the feature sets I wanted (miniDV, mic & AV inputs).
If you're going to shoot footage from a camcorder in the cockpit, I think image stabilization is a must. The cameras are heavy enough that unless you do a Dan Checkoway-style mount you're gonna get some vibration. The wider angle the camera, the less you'll see it though. Thankfully, most camcorders these days have some form of image stabilization.
Good wide angle adapters are hard to find & expensive. If you have a jump zone at your local airport, go find a skydiving video expert & pick his/her brain..they'll know which one to get. I have a 0.5x adapter for my HV-10, but it's not really wide angle enough to get good footage looking backwards in the cockpit. The lipstick camera works for me though.
Lots of people like the cameras that record onto DVDs directly, but I much prefer a miniDV camcorder. It's easier to edit your footage from a miniDV camera IMHO. If you are never going to edit your footage, then a DVD camera is something to consider. That being said, I'm not sure how they'd do in the vibration of a plane. I haven't had a problem recording to tape.
On another note, the quality of the HDV camcorders is amazing compared to the standard def ones (go figure). If you're going to shoot from your camcorder (i.e. no lipstick cam) & have the cash, HDV cameras are great.
