For use in seminars where there are usually 300 attendees -

Will be on a tripod - run by non professionals - shooting demonstrations that are projected on a large screen or the wall - Camera will switch back and forth between two manual demonstrators and need a smooth , easy to use zoom that can move well in small increments.

Seperate sound system - do not normally record demonstrations -

lighting is two t-bars with 4 spot/floods per t-bar - in a seminar room with lighting dimmed but not off.

Reliability of the highest importance - 4:3 image - HD not needed

want good resolution, reasonably high quality images - manual overide of shutter/speed and aperature so that object of primary focus will properly exposed and not have to worry about background -

Previously, I used older analog VHS camcorder - recently used a borrowed Panasonic GS250 - Image quality was OK - never got the exposure quite right - I was projecting on the background - a grey background , which then pretty much faded to dark charcoal considering I was picking up the grey and projecting on the grey - still would have been better if I had able to figure out on-site how to adjust the manual settings

the GS250 not really flexible enough - don't mind paying for higher quality image.

will only use them 8 or ten days a year -

Criteria - most important first

1. Gotta work- every time

2. quality of image

3. ease of manual zoom in small increments

4.ease of manual settings - easy to use for unsophisticated users.

Cost - whatever it takes but I'm thinking 1000 to 2250 or thereabouts -

Would already have purchased and be playing with a Canon GL2 except for seeing posts relating to reliability.

Actually, would possibly be fine with some previous years model that doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles but would do great with the basics.

Also, am done now until next fall - so have the time to hunt for a deal on discontinued or used models - don't mind a used model from a pro in the local market

thanks for any input

Ken

Hi Ken,

I would suggest having a look at Panasonic GS400 or used VX2000 from Ebay. There are a lot in Ebay.com so have a look. It's a very good camera and it would probably nicely serve your needs.

I don't know about the GS400, but when you put the VX-2000 in camera mode it will shutdown automatically after a few minutes unless you are rolling tape. AFAIK, the only way to prevent this is to leave the tape door open. Would this be a problem for your application?

I think this may be a pretty common feature for consumer type cameras. The PD-150/PD-170/PD-100a/PDX-10 don't do this.

From your description, it seems like 2 things are important..

1) SVHS (S-Video) output jack so you can output to a video projector. Your Consumer grade VHS camera probably did not have this option. Most modern consumer & prosumer cameras will have this option.

2) Menu setting so you can disable the auto shutdown feature most cameras have. (Not a deal breaker - see below)

Since you are not recording for edit, recording format does not matter. For a cheap solution, look at Sony analog Hi-8 cameras. For a couple hundred bucks you get good glass, hi zoom, manual controls, good low light capability, and I believe, the option to disable auto-shutdown. Even if you can' get the shutdown feature - just roll tape in the camera - you have the advantage of having a tape record of the event in case you might need it later.

By the way - if you are projecting on gray, you will never get a good image - it will always appear muddy. There is no such thing as white when projected on gray!

Boyd, are you sure that VX2000 shuts down even if you have no tape inserted? At least 2100 keeps running forever without a tape and the door can be closed.

AFAIK, the only way to prevent this is to leave the tape door open. Would this be a problem for your application?........ The PD-150/PD-170/PD-100a/PDX-10 don't do this.

could leave the door open - Probably could just roll the tape.

Thanks for your input and you too Georg Liigand.I can start watching e-bay or look for locally used VX2000

Regards

Ken L

.......... For a cheap solution, look at Sony analog Hi-8 cameras...
I'll look into them


..........
By the way - if you are projecting on gray, you will never get a good image - it will always appear muddy. There is no such thing as white when projected on gray!

Actually, the grey I'm projecting on is quite close to the Da-light High Contrast Cinema Vision that I project on at home, which is also grey - works pretty good.

It sucks when I project the grey background onto the grey though.

Thanks for your post

Ken L