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Sony HDR-HC7 HDV Camcorder
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HDR-HC7 Manual & Model Specific Website + Sony HDV Info HC7 Forum
Re-run for convenience of everyone. From original post #50.
TechOnWeb.com lists the AC-VQH10 for $85.60 and the NPFH100 for $104.87. Neither is in stock, though. http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=D47393 http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=D47398 I've never purchased anything from them, but they seem to have good ratings.
SAVE $98 On Charger & One Super Stamina Battery
I'll definitely be buy those two parts from them.
For me, that's $153 less than paying list price at B&H. I need 2 of those large batteries and the charger. Such a deal.
$43 less for the charger and $55 less for each battery. Really appreciate your sharing with us your great savings find Murk.
Excellent find. Thanks. They're in Dallas Texas so probably very reliable. Don't mess with Texas.
I'll definitely be buy those two parts from them.For me, that's $153 less than paying list price at B&H. I need 2 of those large batteries and the charger. Such a deal.
$43 less for the charger and $55 less for each battery. Really appreciate your sharing with us your great savings find Murk.
I hope you have good luck with them. I will probably buy from them also. Of course I'm sure the price will drop at other sites soon. B&H knocked $100 off the price of the HDR-HC7 already. I think I will wait until everyone has them in stock and the prices settle before I hit the buy button.
The whole new item price dance stuff makes me happy I went with Amazon. I actually hope Amazon slashes the price in the next 30 days. For anyone interested in going this route, be sure to purchase from Amazon and not one of the other sellers. HDR-HC7 from Amazon After you order, put another in your cart and save for later to help track the price. You may also want to use PriceProtecr to track the price. I'm not sure if they can handle the "put the item in your cart to see price" trick, so I also use the method mentioned above. Even if they can't track the price, they will notify you when your 30 day period is up. If the price drops go to Amazon Refunds and ask for a refund via the email link. You can do this more than once, if the price continues to drop.
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$1137.81 ProVantage® Sales Page Back Up
This link to the HC7 order page at ProVantage in North Canton Ohio for only $1137.81 plus $12.95 shipping to CA is now working normally if you want to buy it for the lowest price on the web. You have to be patient and wait a little longer for them to send to you while they wait for their distributor to get more product. But you save about $110-$150 which will almost pay for the $180 four year Accidental Damage Sony Extended Warranty.
ProVantage has never tried to sell me anything besides this camera. I've been on the phone to them several times and they have not once asked me if I wanted to buy anything else. They're just good honest midwestern people.
This link to the HC7 order page at ProVantage in North Canton Ohio for only $1137.81 plus $12.95 shipping to CA is now working normally if you want to buy it for the lowest price on the web. You have to be patient and wait a little longer for them to send to you while they wait for their distributor to get more product. But you save about $110-$150 which will almost pay for the $180 four year Accidental Damage Sony Extended Warranty.
ProVantage has never tried to sell me anything besides this camera. I've been on the phone to them several times and they have not once asked me if I wanted to buy anything else. They're just good honest midwestern people.
External Cold Shoe Bracket & External Mics At B&H RODE VideoMic
This Bescor VB-50 Universal Shoe Mount Adapter for $9.95 looks promising.
Here's the complete Bescor Video Accessories Catalog if you want to go crazy.
Here's a lot of camcorder microphone choices listed at B&H. This set of choices is by no means all that's out there.
A lot of people like this RODE VideoMic for $149 at B&H.
This is a link to the RODE VideoMic page at RODE Microphone's website.
This link gives you a high quality QT movie on how the RODE VideoMic works as explained by its inventor.
Thanks for pushing the dialog along. I have a lot more info on this front that I haven't posted due to lack of questions. So keep on asking.
Here's photos of the RODE VideoMic & the Bescor VB-50 Universal Shoe Mount Adapter:
Here are the cold shoe brackets at B&H for holding more beyond the hot shoe on top.
This Bescor VB-50 Universal Shoe Mount Adapter for $9.95 looks promising.
Here's the complete Bescor Video Accessories Catalog if you want to go crazy.
Here's a lot of camcorder microphone choices listed at B&H. This set of choices is by no means all that's out there.
A lot of people like this RODE VideoMic for $149 at B&H.
This is a link to the RODE VideoMic page at RODE Microphone's website.
This link gives you a high quality QT movie on how the RODE VideoMic works as explained by its inventor.
Thanks for pushing the dialog along. I have a lot more info on this front that I haven't posted due to lack of questions. So keep on asking.
Here's photos of the RODE VideoMic & the Bescor VB-50 Universal Shoe Mount Adapter:
Attachments
It has fallen another $30 at Amazon. Now $1238.99. Already fired off my request for a refund. Boy are they going to get tired of me!
P.S.-PriceProtectr can get around the put item in cart to see price. I get a notice for each drop. It dropped $10 yesterday, but I thought I should wait for a bigger drop. $30 must be my trigger point.
P.S.-PriceProtectr can get around the put item in cart to see price. I get a notice for each drop. It dropped $10 yesterday, but I thought I should wait for a bigger drop. $30 must be my trigger point.
By UPS tracking my HDR-HC7 should arrive on Monday. The SanDisk 2 GB Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo I ordered at the same time hasn't shipped yet. I can't understand Amazon always splitting orders up, especially with free shipping. Of course I know everything comes from a different warehouse, but how can they afford to do this? I wish I could ship at their rate.
Sony 8GB Memory Stick PRO Duo $250 At Fry's This Weekend
Last week I bought a 4GB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO duo with Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for $60 after $20 rebate. Offer still stands this weekend as well. How much was your 2GB stick? Fry's just started selling 8GB MSPDs for $250 this weekend. Such a deal.
Last week I bought a 4GB SanDisk Memory Stick PRO duo with Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for $60 after $20 rebate. Offer still stands this weekend as well. How much was your 2GB stick? Fry's just started selling 8GB MSPDs for $250 this weekend. Such a deal.
I paid $48, but now it is up to $53 at Amazon. Sounds like you got a great deal. The HDR-HC7 just dropped to $1218.95. Wish I would have waited a few hours to send my request for a refund. I will have to hit them again. Going to see just how far I can push this 30 day price protection plan.
P.S.- Thanks for all the info you've given. I got my new monopod and the Raynox 2.2 Telephoto you mentioned from B&H today. Now I'm thinkng about the microphone. Hey, you're costing me a lot of money here!
Your link to the VariZoom controllers also has me interested. I wish they offered the ability to trigger a photo. I know the HDR-HC7 photos won't be the best, but they should be pretty good and I plan to use the dual record feature while shooting video. I still have my trusty 20D for other situations. I would buy the VZ Rock if it only had this extra button.
Phone Varizoom Monday
Be proactive. Phone Varizoom Monday to voice your request for a photo button on their remotes. Perhaps there is one. I know Sony makes a remote with photo button on their inexpensive tripods.
Worse than my HC3
Got my HC7 and it's going back to the store (glad I can return it). Compared to my HC3 it is:
1) MUCH more expensive (which wouldn't bother me if the below weren't true):
2) Bulkier and boxier looking. I didn't think the extra 50g and 4 mm on each side would feel too different--it does.
3) Lens cover is obnoxiously loud
4) Constuction seems cheaper. For example: the HC3 has a nice rubberized grip near the index finger while the HC7 has patterned plastic. I also think the dark grey/black colored body looks nicer than the all-silver HC7.
5) I didn't notice any difference in video quality
It's a shame. I really wanted to like the HC7, but it looks like I'll stick with the HC3 until I have a chance to take a look at the JVC HD cam in the next few months. I'd jump on the Canon HV20, but it's one of the uglier cams on the market.
Got my HC7 and it's going back to the store (glad I can return it). Compared to my HC3 it is:
1) MUCH more expensive (which wouldn't bother me if the below weren't true):
2) Bulkier and boxier looking. I didn't think the extra 50g and 4 mm on each side would feel too different--it does.
3) Lens cover is obnoxiously loud
4) Constuction seems cheaper. For example: the HC3 has a nice rubberized grip near the index finger while the HC7 has patterned plastic. I also think the dark grey/black colored body looks nicer than the all-silver HC7.
5) I didn't notice any difference in video quality
It's a shame. I really wanted to like the HC7, but it looks like I'll stick with the HC3 until I have a chance to take a look at the JVC HD cam in the next few months. I'd jump on the Canon HV20, but it's one of the uglier cams on the market.
None Of Your Objections Would Detract Me From Wanting It
This reads like you are much more concerned with the aesthetics of how your camera looks and sounds than how well it records images and sound.
It costs more because it has more better features.
We have plenty of photos to know what it looks like in advance of receiving it.
May need to be broken in or if the noise persists it can be repaired under warranty.
We know it's all silver from pictures.
Probably didn't have enough time with it to tell it has a much higher count sensor not to mention manual audio gain/external in.
Only #3 would worry me if I didn't leave it on most of the time. It also might take a number of openings and closings to quiet down after it breaks in. But It might also be a unit specific issue that could be repaired under warranty.
This reads like you are much more concerned with the aesthetics of how your camera looks and sounds than how well it records images and sound.
Me!
I think it's clear that people look for different things in a camera. Personally, aesthetics and compactness are high on my list. I find it ironic that someone on a Macintosh forum (some of the most aesthetically pleasing hardware there is) would make a comment like "who cares what it looks like".
I know it costs more because it has extra features, but I don't think the value added is worth the $500 premium. Although I'm willing to admit I would have paid it if this wasn't a cosmetic downgrade.
Photos really don't do an item justice, and you certainly can't gauge the weight by looking at a picture. All the photos I've seen look great, but I knew the moment it was in my hand that it wasn't for me. Yes, I knew it was silver from the pictures, but that's not the deciding factor in my decision to abandon it.
If I didn't own an HC3 already, I wouldn't have these comparisons and I probably would have been very happy with this new one--which I'm sure the rest of you will be. For me, I'm going to save my $1300 and wait a few more months for a true upgrade.
I think it's clear that people look for different things in a camera. Personally, aesthetics and compactness are high on my list. I find it ironic that someone on a Macintosh forum (some of the most aesthetically pleasing hardware there is) would make a comment like "who cares what it looks like".
I know it costs more because it has extra features, but I don't think the value added is worth the $500 premium. Although I'm willing to admit I would have paid it if this wasn't a cosmetic downgrade.
Photos really don't do an item justice, and you certainly can't gauge the weight by looking at a picture. All the photos I've seen look great, but I knew the moment it was in my hand that it wasn't for me. Yes, I knew it was silver from the pictures, but that's not the deciding factor in my decision to abandon it.
If I didn't own an HC3 already, I wouldn't have these comparisons and I probably would have been very happy with this new one--which I'm sure the rest of you will be. For me, I'm going to save my $1300 and wait a few more months for a true upgrade.
Don't get me wrong, I like aesthetics and all. But I use a Mac because I like the way it works, not how it looks. I mean, I could see if it was god-awful ugly. But it doesn't look that bad. Neither does the HV20 IMO. The HV10 maybe, but not the others.
To each his own I guess.
I have a 4 year old Olympus C4000 Zoom (4MP) camera, and a ~2 year old Sony DCR-HC65. I'm convinced about the HC7's video capacity, but I'd be interested in combining both of these devices. So far, the only review about the still shot capabilities are on amazon, where the guy essentially says that the photos are so great that you can't tell the difference in an 8x10 if you put it side by side. Would the quality of the HC7's 6.1 MP still camera meet or exceed that of my old Olympus?
Still Pictures Quality Yet To Be Determined
The few samples I've seen show red/green/blue pixels in the "blue" sky and rainbow edges on shadows of trees on asphault. So I have not been impressed thus far. But I bought a 4GB memory stick pro duo for my yet to get but still on order with ProVantage HC7 so I will be giving it a go and report back here with samples as soon as I can. Others here who have the camera might posts some pics please?