Digital Camcorders - Need advice.

[Mac]

I want to purchase/order a digital camcorder in the next 48 hours to take on a vacation to Cancun next week. Don't know a thing about what are the good values and important features so hope there are a few who frequent this board that can steer me to the right choices.

Here is what I believe to be other pertinent info:

1. Ability to capture still pictures is not important. I already have a 3.0 MP camera.

2. Have an original Radeon All-in-Wonder card with the S/W to do video editing. It has a S-VHS input connector and regular RCA video input.

3. Do not have a firewire connection but planning on upgrading to a SB Audigy, so, will have that soon.

4. Aside from making new movies, plan on converting/editing a library of old VHS movies of the family to digital and burning to CDR....do not have a DVD burner and not sure when I plan to purchase. Suppose I could/would use the digital camcorder to consolidate these on digital tape after editing but not sure.

5. Do not have digital tape player but do have a high-end Sony Super VHS VCR with front side jacks for playback through a Hitachi Super VHS capable TV...not HDTV but was top of the line when I bought it. No immediate plans to purchase an HDTV.

6. I would like to keep the cost under $650 (delivered) if possible. Prefer to stay away from close outs...

Taking all of that into account, I would appreciate some suggestions and best places to shop. Any relevant review sites would also be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mac

 

[LethalWolfe]

Grab a miniDV camera. MiniDV will give you the highest quality video, by far, for what yer looking for and Firewire is much easier to use than messing w/analog video (in regards to getting it onto/off of a computer). Check out c|net. They usually have good reviews IMO.


Lethal

P.S. pet peeve here it's not an S-VHS input, it's an S-Video input. S-VHS is a tape format.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Take a Sony or Panasonic, as recent reviews show they are best. Stay away from Canon, JVC and Samsung - although some models are good, their overall quality is average.

The Digital 8 format uses slightly larger tapes than DV, but the same resolution (digital, eh!). The advantage is that you can use, if nothing else is available, the regular 8 mm format tapes, which are dirt cheap and easy to find everywhere in the world. You can also use the already existing hardware infrastructure (for instance there are tape rewinders for 8 mm, just like for VHS, which ease the strain on your motor, but I'm not sure if they made one for DV yet)

Make sure your camcorder has complete A/V inputs as well as outputs.

As a starting point, try the DCR-TRV 120 from Sony, you will be surprised at the quality and features.

 

[Mac]

Well, I have done some homework during the interim and about ready to make a purchase decision. Leaning heavily toward the Sony DCR TRV-240 but have one more question regarding firewire.

I had originally planned on purchasing a new Sound Blaster Audigy card, primarily to get the firewire connection. I am now considering on purchasing the camera from Best Buy because of a special offer that includes the Pinnacle Studio 7 software and firewire card. Seems like a pretty sweet deal.

Regarding my current sound card, it is a SB Live 5.1 Value. I am more than satisfied with the sound so wondering if there is some other value in going with the SB Audigy or if the separate firewire card is a better way to go. Slots are not an issue but IRQ's may be. Assume the firewire card will require one and wondering if the SB Audigy will require an extra IRQ to support the firewire port. Can anyone clear this up?