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DIGITAL CAMCORDER, WHAT BRAND?

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xJUANGRAMx

Member
Sup guyz, I was thinking of buying myself a digital camcorder, however I don't know what to look for. I mean I did look up info and stuff like that but, what are good brands to be looking at? I mean I'm going to be using this for just pure fun, just messing around, in the room, the zoo and stuff like that. Anybody want to give me their input on what brand, etc to be looking at?
 
Sony TRV22 if you can still find it. I couldn't (it was last years model) and so I decided to get the 2004 model DCRHC20 also by Sony. It bought it for $499 last week. If you want to get a digital still cam built in, the HC30 model is $100 more.

Here's a few things I've learned while researching into buying a camera:

1. Stay away from the Canon ZR series camcorders! Their outdoor shooting is great, but when you take shots indoors in low light, the quality is crap.

2. Go to www.camcorderinfo.com and read up.

As I said, I would have bought the Sony TRV19 or TRV22 if they weren't sold out everywhere. So I ended up with the HC20 and it's great. So I would reccomend a Sony (most likely TRV22 if you can find it).
 
sony all the way. Look go good optical zoom. Also if you want to have some cool features like the light, microphone plugins, headphone sockets ect just look out for them models. I have a sony in which i wish to upgrade it soon, but its great. I want one for better quality as I have a digital 8 and want to get the one up..
 
Nice, nice...that website has some pretty good information. Also, I'm assuming they all use different types of storage media, like secure digital and all that bullshizzle? $500 bones sounds like the price I wanted to pay, so I'll try to look for that camcorder.
 
you know, I was noticing that the camcorder that was recommended has still quality pictures @ just about 1 megapixel. That's a lil bit lower than I wanted, but I guess anything better would be a more expensive camcorder? Hmm...well, I guess it's not something that is needed if it will affect the price GREATLY, but it would be nice to have something better. Also, they don't have built in lights? So i gotta set up my own lights and shizzle? I guess I should've mentioned that I'm mostly going to be using this indoors, in not-so-well-lighted-motels...
 
I hear that it's a good idea to get a digial camcorder with pass through video so it's easy to digitize old VHS tapes.
Can anyone comment on that or recommend models with that feature?
 
Originally posted by: Slogun
I hear that it's a good idea to get a digialt camcorder with pass through video so it's easy to digitize old VHS tapes.
Can anyone comment on that or recommend models with that feature?
Click to expand...

The middle to high end Sony HC series do that (HC3--40).

you know, I was noticing that the camcorder that was recommended has still quality pictures @ just about 1 megapixel. That's a lil bit lower than I wanted, but I guess anything better would be a more expensive camcorder? Hmm...well, I guess it's not something that is needed if it will affect the price GREATLY, but it would be nice to have something better. Also, they don't have built in lights? So i gotta set up my own lights and shizzle? I guess I should've mentioned that I'm mostly going to be using this indoors, in not-so-well-lighted-motels...
Click to expand...

Camcorders that have a built in Digital Camera in them are not worth it IMO. The most you are going to get in a camera is like 3 megapixels and those models are expensive. Get yourself something that takes good videos and run with it. The cameras do not have built in lights, but you can add a light to it. Or you could just turn on a light in the room, which works best.

 
I guess I should've mentioned that I'm mostly going to be using this indoors, in not-so-well-lighted-motels...
Click to expand...
I wonder if that means what my dirty mind thinks it means 😕 Sorry to crap on the thread, but that sounds too funny! 🙂
 
It's either Sony or Panasonic... there is nothing else (except the maximum pwnage that an Ikegami provides but those are way out of your league 😉 )
 
Originally posted by: kamper
I guess I should've mentioned that I'm mostly going to be using this indoors, in not-so-well-lighted-motels...
Click to expand...
I wonder if that means what my dirty mind thinks it means 😕 Sorry to crap on the thread, but that sounds too funny! 🙂
Click to expand...

Well, yes, i kinda didn't want to say it directly, but at least you helped everyone else realize what that train of thought meant. I'm not a rich guy, and I have to get a motel room every week. So I usually go to the Super 8, which has a pretty decent price, $65 bones after tax for the night, but the lighting is REAL sh1tty there. I turn on all the lamps, and there's usually 1 lamp that doesn't come on, and the lights are just way too dim...which is why a camcorder w/built in light / lamp, etc would be nice, however I noticed you can attach stuff to the "head" or whatever it was called on some of the camcorders? Oh well, either way, I guess I just gotta start bringing my own lighting.
 
i have a sony pc5, which is one of the smallest minidv camera available. i must say that in good light or outdoors, it is excellent, but indoors it does suffer as the lens is small.

as far as the analog->digital converter, it is excellent. i can take video form any sorce via a rca or s-video device and use the camera as a mini vcr. then get the now digital video into the computer for some editing.

for the not-so-well lit motel rooms, i would definately suggest a camera with a larger lens like the others have mentioned.
 
I was reading the review of the DCR-HC85, and it got a GREAT review. Yes it is $1000, but, what the hell, it's not like i'm going to be buying a camcorder every month. It says it works EXCELLENT in bad lit conditions, which is perfect for what I want.
 
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