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Anyone know anything about Camcorders?...

B

boxed

Member
Well, Christmas is coming up and i'm in need of some shopping help. I've decided to get my dad a camcorder for his present, but yet i don't know which kind...all i know is the price on these are damn high for what i can see are "good ones"... I want to get him something probably digital, where he can just plug it into his laptop to view the footage. Yet easy to work with, not much messing going around.

What do you guys recommand for a nice Camcorder? And from where?...Thanks. I'm looking at spending around $700. Thanks!
 
The Sony DCR-PC350 is on my shopping list before Christmas and it costs about £800 in the UK. In the states using the £ for $ approach you might get it for $800. This is a MiniDV Camcorder and will fit nicely in the palm of your hand. It stores digital video on tape. There are other alternatives such as MiniDVD, only holds about 30mins of Video and DVD which holds a lot more but is significantly larger in size. I would get one with a i.LINK? (DV in / out) connector which transfers Video quickly. 🙂

DCR-PC350
 
I would consider the Panasonic PV-GS120.

Some things to remember, the smaller the chip, usually the worse the low light performance is. Higher megapixel count can also lead to poorer low light performance (grain from gain, loss of color, too dark).

Why I like the GS120. Fits in your range, 3CCD (better color), around 1 lb., and top loading (if you have a tripod, you will understand with some of the new smaller cameras). I was actually thinking of a 120, 200, or 400 as my Glidecam camera at one point, just ran out of funds for the year.

BTW, I have a Sony 520 (which is good, but no longer made) and a Sony VX-2100. I would love a Sony HD FX1, but at $3700... But think what your dad could do with HDV 😀
 
Originally posted by: gsellis
I would consider the Panasonic PV-GS120.

Some things to remember, the smaller the chip, usually the worse the low light performance is. Higher megapixel count can also lead to poorer low light performance (grain from gain, loss of color, too dark).

Why I like the GS120. Fits in your range, 3CCD (better color), around 1 lb., and top loading (if you have a tripod, you will understand with some of the new smaller cameras). I was actually thinking of a 120, 200, or 400 as my Glidecam camera at one point, just ran out of funds for the year.

BTW, I have a Sony 520 (which is good, but no longer made) and a Sony VX-2100. I would love a Sony HD FX1, but at $3700... But think what your dad could do with HDV 😀
Click to expand...


gsellis is correct. A 3CCD does produce better colour. But seriously, all the reviews I have read in "Which Camcorder" and the like about the Sony DCR-PC350 has said that although the PC350 is a single CCD the difference is negligible. Not my words.

It all depends on other factors. MiniDV can give you 3½ hours recording time, they are smaller but they are not classed as a professional Camcorder like the HC1000 or the GS400. 🙂
 
would consider the Panasonic PV-GS120.
Click to expand...
I will be buying the Panasonic PV-GS200 soon. I went to best buy and looked at both and you can tell a diffrence between a 3 ccd camera and a 1 ccd camera. I'm only getting the GS200 because it has more manual options.
 
A slight correction, MiniDV is 1 hr record time. My Sony supports LP mode, which is 1.5 hrs, but I do not use it as drop-outs would increase.
 
My Sony's use the L series InfoLithium. My 950 battery will power my VX2100 for about 520-600 minutes (if the counter does not lie) with the screen open. Of course, the battery weighs as much as a GS120 camera... 😉
 
I like the Panasonic camcorders gs200! check out www.camcorderinfo.com.

Good luck.

Note:Conumer Electronic Show is held January of every year. New models will be announced towards the end of Dec. and heavy discounting of discontinued models will occur probably after christmas.
 
Originally posted by: boxed
these MiniDV can be watched on a laptop right? with a DVD player on it no?...
Click to expand...
MiniDV can be watched if it supports S-Video. Most have Firewire which allows transfer to a PC to edit or connection into a DVD recorder (with firewire) to record direct to DVD.

I capture DV with an editor and cut out all of the ugly bits. I then put it on DVD. I do it for money and have a lot invested, but basic editors start in the $50 range. MS provides one for free that does WMV (Movie Maker), but it requires another app to do DVD (which some DVD burners have for software or I think Nero also does it.)
 
I'll be buying gs200 also
I already tried gs120 and really liked it but then found out that
gs200 can also record mpeg4 video to sd card which I really like for shooting quick clips and easier to transfer to pc if you have a card reader. Also more manual options is my other big seller.

there are some sites like butterflyphoto.com that sell for about $200 off retail price but they try to sell you other stuff when you call them to confirm.
 
Originally posted by: RedFoxDye
I'll be buying gs200 also
I already tried gs120 and really liked it but then found out that
gs200 can also record mpeg4 video to sd card which I really like for shooting quick clips and easier to transfer to pc if you have a card reader. Also more manual options is my other big seller.

there are some sites like butterflyphoto.com that sell for about $200 off retail price but they try to sell you other stuff when you call them to confirm.
Click to expand...
I recommend using epinions.com before you buy from a specific vendor. There are some vendors that are not worth the savings...
 
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