Webcam or Camcorder

[EvaNadia]

Hello !

I am thinking about buying a new webcam or camcorder.

How can I get the best quality for my visitors ?
With a camcorder or a webcam ?!?

Thank you very much,
Eva

[michaelb]

with a comcorder..of course

[minniesoporno]

camcordor remote zoom works everytime for my customers

and remote pan and tilt might be my next investment.

[melissastudio]

camcorder with tripode and big conexion internet.

[Jeffrey007]

There are different Camcorders also...VHS, VHS-C, SVHS-C, 8mm, Hi-8, digital, Mini-dv.

With most sites even an 8mm or Hi-8 camcorder will look and work just fine, but as stated in a previous post there is a number of things to get a great picture (If that’s what you are after, or maybe it’s the pan-Tilt zoom feature. High Speed Connection is just as important as a camcorder. I have seen a webcam with fantastic picture with a fast connection (but its also the software used ...java, flash, or others, all makes a difference in the end result of picture quality.

I prefer a Mini-DV camcorder because when in the studio, we record the private shows for actual "Sellable" Content You can also take out the stills or edit a mini-DV with the proper software (with a Fire wire connection), encode it and make video clips easily. But if you are just looking for great quality you can get away with a Hi-8 camcorder (definite step up from a webcam) at a far less cost than a digital, add a Pan-tilt on the bottom for about 100 usd.

But if you are not using a capture card and only a USB connection go with a Digital, no adapters needed.

My all time favorite Camcorder ... ES-55 Canon 8mm with wireless remote (if you can still find them

[GOG]

i have used both in my videochat and i prefer using a camcorder with a capture card.

yes it is quite an investment compared to just operating with a webcam and it can be a little tricky depending on which site you will be working in. there are also some hardware that conflicts with certain capture cards. some sites will offer technical help with a certain brand/s of video capture card/s. is it essential to get a capture card if you opt to run a camcorder? in my opinion yes. the image is greatly improved with it. it is very crisp and very manageable with it.

if you can easily put up the amount to set up a camcorder with a capture card then do so. crisp and clear gets members going and close ups can be awesome. so a digital camcorder with quite an optical zoom will be the way to go.

one thing i did consider though is how i fast i could recoup my investment and how much i will work online. i bought webcams first and invested also in computer hardware, lighting, decor, attires, shoes, etc.

the camcorder and capture card came when i felt comfortable with the traffic and revenues.

resell of content is a consideration too as jeffrey007 pointed out. running replays while offline can earn a few bucks and its a totally different ballgame with video on demand.

these are just my thoughts on the matter. if your major concern is converting videochat let me just say that there are a lot of hosts operating a webcam and earn a lot too. i hope this post of mine helps.

[AWSP]

Mini DV work great i have a few clients who use JVC mini DV cams, they dont have/need capture cards (they were using a decent laptop for being able to do the shows from anywhere in their house.), you can record while your camming, they have remote zoom, but not pan/tilt, easy to fix for the 100usd, the quality is VERY nice in both the recorded, and the live.

I only say anything here cus my clients like their little Mini DV cams, and they seem to work very easy, for just about any application.

**EDIT These video/cams are somewhat old say 3years, and i am not sure exactly if the newer versions work just as well as the older ones or not.

[EvaNadia]

Thank u all for your friendly messages !!

Today I bought a Laptop: HP Pavilion with AMD XP-M 2500+ and 512 MBRam for about 600 EURO . Now I will try to get a good Capture Card for the USB-Port to connect my old JVC-Camcorder via CINCH cable to the laptop.

The laptop has also Firewire, but till now I do not have a digital Camcorder but I will try to get one soon. I do not know, but mayby the firewire is better then USB.

I will post you soon how it works !

Thank you very much for your posts.

Eva

[AWSP]

firewire is faster, thats about the only real difference. Not as common as USB but give it time. Also i think you can have longer wires with a firewire, not positive.

[minniesoporno]

You have longer wires for a camera that isa firewire but they get pretty expsensive

I just stick with my dazzle video capture device and turn on the camera and click broadcast my show.

Simple it works and since I switch my dlink to a dazzle product my camera fee is WAY clearer