Digital Camera Movies

After buying his first digital camera, Bob the newbie runs into Camertron, the super-hero of digital cameras.

"Hi Cameratron!" exclaims happily Bob, "Did you see my new digital camera? It has a 4X optical zoom and a 5,600X digital zoom, it can even record movies! So do I still need to buy a video camera?"

"The answer is 42," replies sarcastically Cameratron after hearing the same question from the billionth person. Only 5.2 more billion people and I won't have to answer this again, thinks Cameratron.

"I thought that was the meaning of life?" s

"Right.", answers Cameratron tiredly. "Actually it depends, Bob. It may be surprising but the best thing at taking digital pictures is a digital camera, and the best thing at recording video is a video- camera. So if you need good quality movies at length, you can't get away with just a digital camera."

Thinking about all the money he spent so that he can record movies and zoom 22,400X, Bob nervously inquires: "But Cameratron, how bad can it be?"

"Well, at least you didn't buy an expensive DSLR for that. Those never record any movies..." starts Cameratron.

Thinking about all the money he could have spent, Bob interrupts: "Any?"

"With an SLR camera, a mirror moves in front of the sensor to show the subject through the viewfinder. When it does that, it blocks the sensor, so it can't record anything that you are seeing."

"What about a regular digital camera?"

"As I was saying, at worst you'll get poor resolution, a sluggish frame rate and won't be able to record for more than a few seconds. A good video camera will record 720x486 pixels at between 24 and 30 frames-per-second. A digital camera that records less pixels will have poorer image quality and one that records less frames-per-seconds won't show motion as smoothly. Most video cameras can record for hours on a single tape. Now, the numbers are not always the same but 640x480 at 30 frames-per-second is as good as a progressive DVD."

"Wow! Then digital cameras can be just as good as video-cameras?", eagerly asked Bob.

"Not so fast Bob, its not that simple. Let me explain, even digital cameras that record enough pixels at enough frames-per-second have disadvantages compared to video-cameras. First, movies are either time-limited, length-limited or storage-limited. At best, you get the chance to fill an entire memory card with a movie. That may sound good but the 1 GB card you have in your camera won't hold more than 15 minutes of high-quality video," says Cameratron, seeing the 1 GB card in Bob's camera using his X-ray vision.

"I guess I'll just buy one of those 12 GB cards that Pretec announced."

"Those things cost more than my super-suit! Even if your camera lets you record that much, you still have other problems to worry about. Sound for instance, most cameras have very poor microphones which record mono sound only. Also, most cameras won't let you zoom or focus while filming. If you think you can make an award-wining movie with that, I'm looking for a part..."

Interrupting Cameratron, Bob says "You keep saying that most cameras don't do such and such, so I'll just get one that does. Just tell me which one and I'll give you a part."

Just as Cameraton's logo starts flashing red, he says "Several cameras stand out but none do it all, some just have more limitations than others. There are things that video-cameras can do but not digital cameras. This includes cross-fades, special effects, subtitles and in-camera editing."

"OK, OK, I get it. Can you just name me some of the best ones out there?"

"I will tell you about five large cameras that allow zooming and sound-recording while filming: the Canon Powershot S1 IS, the Canon Powershot S2 IS, the Konica-Minolta Dimage Z5, the Konica-Minolta Dimage A2 and the Konica-Minolta Dimage A200. Among these, the A2 can't record DVD-quality movies. The A200 is the only one that records 800x600 movies which are better than DVD-quality. The only one with no recording limit, other than available memory, is the Z5. Both Canon cameras won't record more than 1 GB, which is 8 DVD-quality minutes. The A200 will record up to 15 minutes, which is a bit better. The A2 is limited to 6 minutes. The current favorite is the Canon S2 because it can record good-quality stereo sound, has a wind-noise filter and can still take 5 megapixel pictures while filming."

"I really need to think about which limitations I can live with then. Isn't there another way I could manage with just one camera?"

"You can always look for a video-camera that takes pictures. I suspect you'll find similar limitations there too. You'll have to decide if you prefer pictures or video. Maybe www.dvspot.com can help you."

"Thanks a lot Cameratron! Before you go, can you help me remember all that information?"

"Sure thing, Bob. There's a table of digital cameras which record DVD-quality movies and their limitations at www.neocamera.com ," he answers before disappearing in a flash of light.