Last night I stumbled across a used Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 Mini DV camcorder for roughly $650 and bought it on the spot. Even though it’s last year’s model, it’s still available from online stores for between $1,300-1,600. It included all the original accessories, three free Mini DV tapes and a blank Sony 1 year warranty card. And yes, I made sure the serial number wasn’t scraped off.
I can’t believe I own this camera. I took it to bed last night like a teddy bear. It has nearly every feature I ever wanted but thought I could never afford: high resolution, external mic input, records to tape not hard drive, backwards compatible with standard DV video, can be used to convert analog video input to DV, and the lens thread has the same diameter as our old camera so I can continue using the wide angle adapter I already own. The only thing it’s missing is the ability to shoot in progressive scan mode at 24fps, but that can be emulated easily in post-production.
It seems like all new model consumer grade DV cameras are moving to solid state storage with built-in 3GB hard drives. My golden rule for buying geek toys is to never go digital until it surpasses current analog technology, and storing video digitally isn’t there yet. I want to be able to shoot tons of video then cheaply store it in a shoebox until I’m good and ready to edit it. If I were to use a camera with a built in hard drive, I’d end up not only shooting less but also clogging up my PC drives with unedited video.
I WILL get some video edited soon. I left work early yesterday (6:30) to go home and work on the beach babe video, but at the last minute decided instead to window shop in Akihabara. No regrets.
P.S. Be sure to check my eBay auction for one of Andy’s adorable little kidneys. The reserve is set at $650.
Crap that’s cheap, I just googled the going kidney rates and from what I can tell it’s like $1-3K. Film the removal with the new cam and auction that off seperately…some creep will buy it.
wow, congrats on that nice find!
Man does it feel good to get new shit, especially when it’s almost a steal. When I bought my camera I felt like I was adopting a newborn baby, checking the tracking number every day, preparing for it’s arrival (not to say that adopted babies arrive in the mail or anything…or at least legitimate adopted babies don’t)
I kept asking the guys at the store why it was so cheap. They just stuck to the answer, “Because it’s used.” The only things that looked used were the box and the user’s manual.
And it’s not because Japanese don’t like used stuff. There are plenty of second hand stores, and all the major household electronics chain stores buy and sell used equipment. It’s just that they mark up used equipment 100-500% what they offer for it, so it costs just a little bit less than new.
BTW, my favorite name for a Japanese second hand store is “Hard Off.” The same company has a chain of used book stores called “Book Off.” I hear they’re going to start a new franchise that deals in used urinals, but they haven’t come up with a good moniker yet.
Aren’t they the ones who have the bar frequented by obnoxious people called… 😉
Oh yeaaaaah, I’ve been to Book Off in New York before. Great book shop. When I get to Nagoya in four days I’ll have to look up “Hard Off”…ahh, what a name. Maybe “Piss Off” would be a good name for the used urinal selling shop…but that might send the wrong message.
Beach babes…….. beach babes…..
My wife got a look at the raw footage I took at the beach. She was, uh, unhappy. Which means it must be good.
When are you gonna put it to good use? I miss your funny vid podcasts!!! I was in japan March/April this year and im missing it so much now that im back in the uk.
I’m with Jay… how’bout High def beachbabes?!!!
Get started on tha ediding Rich! Please 😉
Buying a hi-def camera a few days ago doesn’t make video I shot a few weeks ago hi-def. But I am looking for an easy-to-use P2P way to distribute videos at full resolution. It has to prevent leeching, not require me to keep a PC running 24/7, and be easy enough to use that I won’t have to provide tech support.
“Buying a hi-def camera a few days ago doesn’t make video I shot a few weeks ago hi-def”
I know Rich but i was just givin’ ideas for future editions of the Herro Flom Japan “beachbabe edition”. ;)))) lol
About the downloding part i’m not really shure but you could use Rapid share. I think they host files up to 300Mb for free.
Going to the beach specifically to video beach babes? Not me. Too pervy.