Buying SD or HD setup?

I am considering buying my first video setup and needing some advices. This is just a hobby and I am doing 40-50 dives year. I have found some good deals for SD cameras like the Sony VX-2100 and L&M housing and equivalent, but will it be “crazy” to buy this type of setup in these HD days? Thanks

40 to 50 dives is still quite a few dives per year.

The main thing is the new HDV cameras shoot wide screen 16.9, all those old DV cameras shoot 4.3 or a pretend 16.9 format.

I would go for a small 16.9 HDV setup if I was you.

What kind of budget have you got.

I am willing to spend around USD 4000 for a setup.

For $4,000 you can get a pretty good setup. Is 4k your budget for camera and housing, or camera, housing and lights. A Very Nice camera, housing and quality optic can be had for $4,000.

Hi, One thing to consider before you buy any system whether it's SD or above is what software/hardware, etc. do you have to actually bring the video into your computer? HDV, HD, and AVCHD video eats up lots of storage space.

Hi

The plan is to do some editing, so I will bring it into the computer. I am looking at this system on eBay, and it looks like a great deal to me. But then I will end up with the old technology.

Thanks

That is a very nice system and a great deal considering what those systems were new five years ago. The only thing is of course it is SD. Depending on your needs and desires, SD may be perfectly fine. If you have a nice big flat screen HDTV at home, you will miss not having the HD though. HD is definitely a big difference in image quality...and with that of course does come the need for power as Pete says above.

However on that note, most of today's computers are able to relatively handle small video editing on basic editing platforms (Final Cut Express, Pinnacle, and Sony's basic editing software). I think you need to ask yourself a few questions before deciding, as none of us on here can really make the decision for you.

1. Do you want your system and your investment to last you a while?

2. What are you doing with your video and how will you be displaying it?

3. What kind of diving do you do? 40-50 dives a year is a good amount so your system and investment will get good use out of it.

A nice HD system like the HF S10/HF S11 will easily get you 3-4 years as just a casual user, where as going with SD, you are VERY likely to fall in love with shoot UW video and be disappointed you did not go HD.

Maybe this is suitable for me as a beginner? I don’t know how easy it will be to sell this again after a year or two if I want to change to a HD system?

1. Do you want your system and your investment to last you a while?

It should last for at least 4-5 year before any upgrading.

2. What are you doing with your video and how will you be displaying it?

This is just a hobby, but I will burn it to DVD an show it on flat screen HDTV.

3. What kind of diving do you do? 40-50 dives a year is a good amount so your system and investment will get good use out of it.

Most of my diving are done in Indonesia, Thailand and the Phillippines.

That is a very nice system and a great deal considering what those systems were new five years ago. The only thing is of course it is SD. Depending on your needs and desires, SD may be perfectly fine. If you have a nice big flat screen HDTV at home, you will miss not having the HD though. HD is definitely a big difference in image quality...and with that of course does come the need for power as Pete says above.

 

However on that note, most of today's computers are able to relatively handle small video editing on basic editing platforms (Final Cut Express, Pinnacle, and Sony's basic editing software). I think you need to ask yourself a few questions before deciding, as none of us on here can really make the decision for you.

 

1. Do you want your system and your investment to last you a while?

 

2. What are you doing with your video and how will you be displaying it?

 

3. What kind of diving do you do? 40-50 dives a year is a good amount so your system and investment will get good use out of it.

 

A nice HD system like the HF S10/HF S11 will easily get you 3-4 years as just a casual user, where as going with SD, you are VERY likely to fall in love with shoot UW video and be disappointed you did not go HD.

Thank you for the answers. Personally if it were me Id be going with an HD system, be happy and set for years to come. You can get into a very nice HD system for $4k (Canon HF S10, Sony Xr 500, either with a Gates or L&M set up and nice optic)

The set up you are looking at really is nice. Its a shame the port will not work with newer housings than it would be a real steal! That port alone was close to $4k originally.

Indo, Thailand and Philippines have amazing, rich colors. You are playing your footage on a flat screen HDTV...I think the moment you shoot video on the SD camera and play it, you will be very excited, yet immediately envious and disappointed it was not HD.

Totally agree with Mike, and now with the cost of Blu Ray players coming down I reckon the demand and hence the cost of disks and burners as well will drop. If you have 4K to spend but the latest equipment you can for the money and you will easily get 4 years out of it.

It started off as 'just a hobby' for SO many of us! I'd go HD. Some of the small HD set ups are capturing unbelievable quality images.

It started off as 'just a hobby' for SO many of us!

And now we are all broke!!!!! LOL

And now we are all broke!!!!! LOL

But Happy Until the next toy is released

Thanks for your good advices and recommendations. I have more or less decided to go for the L&M Stingray Plus housing, Sunray 600 LED lights and a Sony XR-520 camcorder. This set should be easy to travel with and give some great results.

Thanks for your good advices and recommendations. I have more or less decided to go for the L&M Stingray Plus housing, Sunray 600 LED lights and a Sony XR-520 camcorder. This set should be easy to travel with and give some great results.

To quote Mike L.:

The new Stingray Plus handles and housings with MWB capability are now starting to ship. Light and Motion has many new products, including a new round up of lights (Sunray 1200x and Sunray 2000x). Plus many changes to the housing line up.

 

The new MWB handle for the Stingray Plus is a definite winner. Its a bit pricey for the upgraded handle, but still a lot cheaper than before when you had to buy the Bluefin in order to get MWB capability. Still lots of nice additional features on the Bluefin housings...at least now the most important feature is available on all of their housings.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4953978-post9.html

You may want to consider the CX-520 instead as L&M just started shipping handles that incorporate MWB control using that camera. I believe it only works the the CX series due to the electronics involved.

 

To quote Mike:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4953978-post9.html

That is correct. The Stingray + housing now has an optional handle that will allow you to MWB and access all the camcorder controls if you have the CX series camcorder. (Don't know about the other camcorders) No way would I now buy a Stingray + system without that option. As important as MWB is suppose to be, for perhaps a little more you can have a system that does it all!

To clarify, on the 2010 Stingray + the manual white balance button (r handle) and "dummy" left handle are standard equipment, and the new retail price is $2799.

Will the Stingray Plus housing also support the new CX-550?

I am waiting for a response from L&M on that, but I imagine it will. If not right away, i have no doubt L&M will make it happen.

I'm very content with my HDV based system for my consumer grade home videos.

Recommend you get a setup that will allow MWB (you may find having this option useful later), add some good lights, get as good quality port as your budget will allow and you will be able to take some good videos with such a rig.

Samples of my recent videos all taken with a Sony HC7 HDV camera in a Gates Housing can be found at this link.

http://www.youtube.com/wolfeeldiver

Here you'll see some videos taken during "tropical" dives, some green water dives, and in-between.