Re: [tlug] Linux / MacOS X and dv cameras

["Josh Glover" <jmglov@example.com>]

On 20/07/07, Darren Cook <darren@example.com> wrote:

> Are you pregnant?

I'm not, but my wife was until about 10 weeks ago. :)

> You only need to watch the TV ads to see that "filming
> our little darlings on sports day" is the main driver of camera sales.

Witness the covers of two different camera magazines that I picked up at Bic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmglov/862311814/in/set-72157600933778635/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmglov/862311294/in/set-72157600933778635/

> I've heard the HDD tapes are considerably more expensive.

You heard right. The price different seems to go like this:

Tape: baseline
DVD: + 30,000 yen
HDD: + 50,000 yen

> I like tapes as they record in lossless AVI,

Well, that may have sold me right there.

> I have got the impression that the firewire interface for controlling
> playback on the camera is standard, not manufacturer-specific. (I didn't
> install any drivers.)

Yeah, I am sure you are right, but that will not stop manufacturers
like Sony from doing something stupid and bullshitty.

Sony's professional stuff has to conform to standards--I would
imagine--or Hollywood would not use them. But their CE stuff is
probably just like all Sony CE gear: fucking proprietary whenever
possible.

I hate Sony and will not buy one of their products unless I have no
other choice.

> If Bic offer you the 5 year guarantee in exchange for 5% points I think
> it is good value. Our first camera went wrong after 4 years. (I bought a
> new camera, then 6 months later stumbled across the 5 year guarantee -
> you can imagine the mix of emotions!)

Yeah, I tend to go for the long warranties, but I need to make sure
that Bic will honour that shite if I am not in Japan in five years,
which is a distinct possibility.

Which I doubt they will, so I may try to buy a extended warranty from
the manufacturer.

> > (I heard that Yamada Denki moved
> > in right by the south exit at Ikebukuro Station and triggered a price
> > war over there, so it is the best place in town to buy CE right now.)
>
> Bic Camera seems to own half the real estate in Ikebukuro, so I wonder
> how they let that happen!

According to my source (Fuminori-san, for those of you who came to
either the TLUG BBQ[1] or the most recent post-tech meeting
nomikai[2]), Bic is 基本的に located by 駅, whereas Yamada is situated for
easy access from the 高速道路; Yamada decided to start some shit in
Ikebukuro, which--as you noted--is traditional Bic turf. And thus
started a gang war that makes the Crips[3] and Bloods[4] beef pale in
comparison, but is great for the consumer.

And *this*, Keith, is why I am a Captialist Bastard(TM)! ;)

--
Cheers,
Josh

[1] http://www.tlug.jp/meetings.php?year=2007&month=5
[2] http://www.tlug.jp/meetings.php?year=2007&month=7
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crips
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloods