Need help with camcorder buy

[Bmwgolf]

Hi Bobby...What kinda specs should i look for in purchasing a camcorder to record my swing? Any good affordable models out there that really keep the shaft and clubhead in focus when paused on a computer using a swing analysis software? How about the Proplay as seen on " Fore Inventors Only " show on the Golf Channel..has anyone used it yet? Advice anyone....

Thanks Ron

[Patrick A]

Any good mini DV camera will do. Don't forget to get the tripod.

Make sure you go to the V1 site and get the swing analysis home software free. That's right, the home version is free. Follow this link [URL="http://www.v1golfacademy.com/"]http://www.v1golfacademy.com/[/URL]

Regards,

[Bmwgolf]

Hey Patrick....Thanks for the response...What do you classify as a good mini dv camcorder? Going to need a mini dv cam for shooting indoors here over the winter months and i don't want to see the clubhead and shaft blurred on playback, especially on my downswing using the V1 swing analysis software(many thanks for that suggestion).

Thanks
Ron

[Patrick A]

Ok...If it was up to me I get a Sony with a Carl Zeiss lens. I have two of them, one I bought in 2001 and the other one last year. My later one is a very handy model; the DRC-HC42 ($300). Most of these camera will shoot an average of 30 frames per second (fps), which is nice and it will serve well to the intended purpose. Of course you might be able to get one that shoots 60 fps but they are professional in nature, costly and hard to find a good bargain on them. The military makes one (Phantom V5) that delivers 4,000 fps which they turn it at Tiger for a Nike commercial. Here is the link to the commercial: [URL="http://www.nike.com/nikegolf/swingportrait/index.html?navID=swingportrait_tout"]http://www.nike.com/nikegolf/swingportrait/index.html?navID=swingportrait_tout[/URL] Click on Podcast & Commentary then choose to download. Moreover if you watched the PGA Tour this year you noticed the Minolta slow motions. It's an excellent camera if you have $100,000 + to spare.

Make sure that the camcorder that you choose has an i.Link interface so you are able to connect it to the PC when transfering your videos. Also make sure that you PC has a FireWire (IEE1394) port (is like an USB port but a little bit bigger). If your PC is not older than 2 years it should be a standard on it and you don't have to install one. However check to make sure. You will also need an "DV to firewire" cable as a bridge between your camcorder and PC. Once everything is conected the V1 will be able to detect your camera and you can start transfering and editing your videos.

Shop around for the camcorder at you local Circuit City, Best Buy or Sears Brand Central so you can look at diferent models, feel their weight and size. Once you know which model you want go to [URL="http://www.jr.com"]http://www.jr.com[/URL] and check the price; they usually have very good bargains, they ship superfast and they have never failed me.

Last advice, at the store don't get caught up with the Hard Disk camcorder or DVD camcorder. I can list several reasons but I'm too tired to write... (lol). I'll give you one: The Mini DV is the one that professional (filmakers) use. In the store they will probably try to sell you the Mini DV High Definition (HD). Don't get the HD it only goes up to 24 fps. Also don't get a model with digital still pictures capabilities (memory stick); the resolution is poor (1 to 3 megapixels) and its not worth the buck. You want a model too? ok... the Sony DCR-HC38.

Let me know how it goes...

[Bmwgolf]

WOW.....Patrick....You are informative and i thank you for that. How does your Sony perform indoors when you record your swing, if you do that is?

Thanks again
Ron

[Patrick A]

It performs well, just make sure you have plenty of light. You see, with poor lighting a camcorder (as well a a digital camera in auto mode) will automatically adjust the shutter speed so it can catch more light. That means that the shutter speed will slow down to let more light in. Most of the camcorders (at least Sony) have a "sports" mode. Make sure you use this setting for maximum fps (frames per second).

As far as lighting is concern, most of the light should never come from behind the object you are filming and always try to avoid white backgrounds. Thus if you film outdoors make sure that in mornings as well as in late afternoons the object that you are filming is oposite (facing if you will) of the sun.

I always try to avoid swinging a club inside the house; a lot of things can happen! (lol). But if you must, make sure you have a high ceiling and everything is clear and out of the way. Set the tripod at waist level (maybe a few inches over, no more than 5) and start swinging away!

I hope this helps. Let me know how it goes.

[Bmwgolf]

Hey Patrick...Here's my follow up...Purchased the Sony DCR-HC28 model at my local Best Buy last week. It was a way cheaper than the 38 model with the same specs, except for the zoom, which i really don't need. Tried it indoors recording my swing, since the golf season is over here in Montreal. Looks ok but my club shaft and head is kinda blurry at times during playback especially on impact using the V1 software like you suggested. It's hard to tell where my hands and club head are positioned at impact...Too blurry. I believe it is a question of lighting. Maybe filming outdoors will resolve the issue at hand. Anyhow i got 5 days to think about my purchase . Oh! one more thing, do you know anything about deinterlacing video? Read about it in a few places and was wondering if this would be helpful.

Thanks
Ron

[Patrick A]

Hey Ron,

I'm glad you have taken this seriously and that on your way to good progress. Sometimes you may think that you are swinging the club in a certain way but when you go to the video...well you are not so sure anymore. Videos are good so you know how it "feels" when you swing the club well.

Make sure your camera is set to "sports" mode. That will give you the maximun frames per sencond available. To have an idea of how your camera will deliver once you make all the "tweaks" go to your V1 console (the program) and download a few swings. On the top tool bar click on the 11th icon from left to right (the icon looks like two film reels). You will get a pulldown menu where you will get over 50 PGA tour players swings to download and analyze in your V1 console. I like Aaron Baddeley Irons (face open and down the line). Thats probably the kind of quality you well get on the camcorder your purchased.

Deinterlace? I'm not sure exactly what this does to a picture. I do know that there are two types of picture delivery: the progresive and the interlace. That's about it. The progresive displays every line of the video. A DVD will deliver 420p of progresive nature. HD starts at 720p. The interlace compesates and adjust every other line. HD interlace starts at 1080i. I guess deinterlacing will display/convert a interlaced picture to progresive. But don't take that to the bank.

I hope this helps.

Regards

[Patrick A]

I did some research on the "deinterlace" question that you had.

When you download a video from you camcorder to the V1 home it (the V1 home) automatically deinterlaces the video changing it from 30 fps that you camcorder records to 60 fps which is not bad.

I also confirmed, as I stated before that no consumer level camera will catch more than 29.97 fps.

I just finished recording my cousin and myself this afternoon. Like I said before you don't know what you are really doing until you see yourself on video.

While taking a lesson an instructor might have and idea of what your are doing wrong because of the ball flight, divots, top of backswing etc. However if you want to be certain get yourself on video. The camcorder and the tripod will cost you what 3 lessons do, but I guarantee that you will get out the of it 100 times its worth.


I hope this helps.

[Bmwgolf]

Hi Patrick.....Good to hear from you again....

Been recording my swing at least 3 times a week now and analyzing them religiously on V1 software. I think it was the best golf investment i made thus far and making great progress from the look of things. It sort of brought back the golf bug in me. Let's see what happens this spring

Do you know of any good and inexpensive sites that would analyze my golf swing? Maybe my next step is to find myself a great internet instructor or maybe Bobby could set up something on this site. Hey Bobby....what happened to ya!!!!

Have a good one