I'm looking at buying a simple, inexpensive video camera. One of the buyer complaints I read online was that it captures video in the same format as movie DVDs and if you want to post videos online that you need to convert the files to different file formats (such as WMV). The manufacturer's spec page shows that the camera captures in MPEG-2 format.

1. That's a pretty common format isn't it?

2. How complicted is it to convert video files to alternate formats? Can it be done in Windows Media Player? I have software that can do the conversion and basic editing but it's somewhat complicated and clunky to use.

The camera in question can capture video direct to DVD or to memory card, I'd likely use the memory card option most of the time since I already have a number of fairly large ones that would be compatible.

Windows Movie Maker should work for you, Rich, and it'll import directly from a video device. Another I've only heard about is VirtualDub - http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Virtualdub

Windows Movie Maker should work for you, Rich, and it'll import directly from a video device. Another I've only heard about is VirtualDub - http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Virtualdub

VitrualDub is the editor/convertor I mentioned above. It seems pretty powerful but requires a whole host of settings (depending on the file format) which are all Greek to me. It's geared a whole lot more to someone with much more technical knowledge than I ever hope to have.

Rich, I just bought a Casio EX-Z80 yesterday. It is a basic, simple to use camera I got for my wife. I got it at Staples clearance priced at $99. Regular around $149. It is advertised as having the movie recording format that you can upload straight to youtube. I did shoot some video with it and it looked OK. This wasn't why I bought it, but it is one feature. It has a rechargable lithium battery. Easy to use, gets decent reviews from amazon users and it's a good deal if you can find one at Staples. I got the last one the local store had.

My digital stills camera can shoot video too but at only 320xwhatever resolution. I think that's good enough, I've decided not to drop any more cash on something I really don't need right now anyway.

Cheap refurbished F360 Flip Camcorder. Today's Woot. (http://www.woot.com/) Got until midnight or until out. :)


http://sale.images.woot.com/Pure_Digital_Mino_60_Minute_Camcorder1v7Detail.jpg