Digital Video without tape--any BTDTs?

[RallyJon]

I've been looking at the new breed of DV cameras that record directly to a CF or SD card instead of MiniDV tape.

It looks like the specs are pretty good: you can record SVHS quality 640x480 MP4 video which is very watchable. Two I've been considering:

Aiptek MPVR http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Aiptek-Media-Player-and-Video-Recorder-Camcorder-MPVR-/sem/rpsm/oid/134295/catOid/-13063/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Samsung Ultra Compact MemoryCam (SC-MM10S)
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Samsung-Ultra-Compact-MemoryCam-SC-MM10S-/sem/rpsm/oid/147506/catOid/-13063/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Right now I have a Canon MiniDV camcorder, capture card, editing software, etc etc. Problem is, the process is so time intensive that I never do anything with it. I'd love to be able to shoot 30 sec of video of the kid, copy it to my hard drive, maybe do some very quick editing and titling and post it on the web. I understand there'll be some generation loss starting with compressed video instead of a raw 200mb/min AVI file.

Anyone played around with one of these?

[RickM]

Other than video/sound clips with a digital "camera" I have no true SD based camcorder experience.
But one thing I can offer is that the SD card must be a high speed version or your performance can suffer. Hopefully the digi-corders have a memory buffer to lessen lag, reduiced resolution and other detremental effects.

Personally I'm wating for a memory card based, HDTV version of my Sony TVR-900. When that comes out I'm buying. (It's gonna be a while)

[red-beard]

I'm also waiting on an HDTV compatible camera for my next camcorder.

[StevoRocket]

Try here

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

[5axis]

Based on this thread

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81426

I just bought one of these very cheap cameras for my track bike.

It certainly has it's limits but it's cheap enough to riskit's total distruction for a fun vid.

[RallyJon]

Got the Aiptek this afternoon and been playing with it. It's no MiniDV, but not bad. It's not very happy with low-light conditions, but that's expected. And it can do analog-in so you could absolutely use it with a lipstick camera.

[RallyJon]

Eh--not great, but whaddaya want for $150?

http://www.ppcjunkie.com/vids/charles_stroll.wmv