Bonica DV - New Product

[TankBanger]

I am looking at buying the following digital video camera, made by Bonica:

http://www.bonicadive.com/?p2=modules/bonica/product.jsp&productId=45

It is a new product that is being carried by my local dive shop and looks like exactly what I am looking for as a starter. The price is very reasonable, $700, and includes a silicone watertight skin that goes over the camera to protect it on the surface against sand, rain. It also gives it added protection if the housing has a small leak. The housing is rated for 180 feet.

Does anyone have any experience with this camera? If so, I was wondering what the quality of the images are.

Also, it has a 2 GB card. How much video can typically be stored to a 2 GB card?

Thanks

Scot

[dawnskies]

Looks too good to be true! Cant wait to see your results if u get one. My 2 GB card will do about 1hr55min. not sure what quality is like uw. I always want images. One day I will try the video.

[TankBanger]

That's why I'm a little apprehensive. It looks too good to be true. If it is total crap, I would rather spend another $500 and get something decent. Sea Sports hasn't even given theirs a test drive yet. I volunteered to test it next time I'm out in the Flower Gardens.:D The photos in their gallery look decent, but they were all created by their still cameras.

[Far_X]

I am not too sure how much time you get with a 2Gb card. I know when I download my tape to my hard drive it just eats it up. A 2 minute low quality video takes up about 30Mb. I have raw movie files that take up 3Gb alone. I am shooting in HDV so that will take up more space. Are you likely to be doing night shots? How can you get lighting on to the unit? Does it allow you to zoom or not? It looks a pretty neat and compact unity but you have to ask yourself, before spending that much on it, how quickly will you out grow it?

[TankBanger]

I am not too sure how much time you get with a 2Gb card. I know when I download my tape to my hard drive it just eats it up. A 2 minute low quality video takes up about 30Mb. I have raw movie files that take up 3Gb alone. I am shooting in HDV so that will take up more space. Are you likely to be doing night shots? How can you get lighting on to the unit? Does it allow you to zoom or not? It looks a pretty neat and compact unity but you have to ask yourself, before spending that much on it, how quickly will you out grow it?
I anticipate that most of the shooting will be in daylight. Knowing me, I quickly outgrow anything. But if I can get some decent quality video out of it for a year or two, I can always pass it on to my son. That's the nice thing about now having a son that is diving. It's an excuse for me to pass the old stuff to him and buy new.

[Justleesa]

Looks like a good deal, but I know nothing about video...so that doesn't help much. Did I miss something or is there no resolution value with video cameras?

[TankBanger]

Looks like a good deal, but I know nothing about video...so that doesn't help much. Did I miss something or is there no resolution value with video cameras?
The website's not organized real well. There is another page describing the camera. On that page, it mentions 5.0 megapixel. I assume that is what you are referring to?

[Justleesa]

yup, that's it ;) thanks!