Camera for ski use

[jim-ratliff]

Any recommendations for a camera/camcorder so Midwif and I can film video each other while skiing?
Any suggestions for features that I should look for?
Requirements:

• Optical viewfinder
• Optical zoom
• Slow motion.
• Image stabilization
• Inexpensive enough that falling on it is no big deal.
• Small enough to fit easily in pockets (this is true of most small camcorders, but no optical viewfinder).
• Ability to also take still pictures

[Svend]

Can't help you, Jim.  But didn't Gary just buy a GoPro with a bra....er, a chest harness, that is...? Is that what you're looking for? You could use it to ski behind Lynn while filming, and then watch on video replay as she becomes a fading speck in the distance, reliving every anxious moment as you attempt the pursuit.....   

Actually, my little Sony digital point-n-shoot takes pretty good video.  And one feature I love is the burst sequence of still images.  Just hold the shutter button, and it bangs off about 5 to 10 shots in a row.  It is adjustable for the number of frames/second, up to about 5 f/s, I think.  It is brilliant as a training tool to catch the different parts of a turn, for instance.  Terryl uses it for her soccer coaching, to capture the motions of a kick, a header, etc..  Brilliant tool for that sort of thing.

[jim-ratliff]

What is your Sony pt-n-shoot.  No, don't want a GoPro type of camera.


I'm wanting to ski down the hill ahead of Lynn and then video while she skis by.  I have a Sony HandyCam, but can't see the LCD in the bright sunlight, and still difficult even when I stand in the shade.
Most importantly, hard to focus on the person and keep up with the zoom when looking down at an LCD screen.  And, because of Laser surgery, Lynn can't get the LCD screen far enough away from her eye to see it (without digging out her reading glasses)
Would like to have something like the HandyCam but with an optical viewfinder.


I really want to be able to zoom in pretty close so we can see what the feet are doing.

[Svend]

It's a DSC-WX7.  But it doesn't have a viewfinder, which I really miss actually.  I haven't used it in snow on a sunny day (just got it this May), but in bright summer sun, the LCD is useable but not great.  Brightness of the screen is adjustable, which is nice, but I'm going to bet that a bright sunny day on top of a Utah mountain is going to make the LCD useless. 

But....that burst sequence is really terrific.  I will email you some sample pics of a soccer player kicking a ball that will hit home the value of 5 frames per second.  Most run-of-the-mill point and shoot cameras can do about 1 frame per second or less, which is fine for long ski turn sequences, but if you really want to break it down into fine segments, faster is better.... 

BTW, my little Sony can take HD video, and in 3-D too! Cool!  Just need a 3-D television to see it 

Edit:  correction -- the camera can do 10 frames/second.

[jim-ratliff]

Sounds a little bit like the Nikon V1 that we looked at. Camera like body that also took video.Did also have a eye level viewfinder, but viewfinder didn't stay active when shooting video.
Thanks, Svend.