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Getting a camcoder

N

narcotic

Golden Member
Anyway, I've never before owned a camcoder, so I don't really know what I really need.
I know I want to be able to also take decent still pics with it, shot in the dark (night conditions), and I guess it needs to have a nice zoom, decent battery, easy to edit/watch, and finaly needs to be light weight, and reliable, and well, I guess not too expenssive...
Maybe that sounds like alot of demands, but I think those are probably basic demands from most modern camcoders anyway, so I don't think it exceptional...
Also I hear a little about miniDV (or somthing like that) Vs. DVD camcoders, I really have no idea which way I should go, though from the single article I've read, they say miniDV's are better...
Anyway, I'd appriciate your input, prices, recomendations, links, whatever... Thanks.
 
Originally posted by: narcotic
Anyway, I've never before owned a camcoder, so I don't really know what I really need.
I know I want to be able to also take decent still pics with it, shot in the dark (night conditions), and I guess it needs to have a nice zoom, decent battery, easy to edit/watch, and finaly needs to be light weight, and reliable, and well, I guess not too expenssive...
Maybe that sounds like alot of demands, but I think those are probably basic demands from most modern camcoders anyway, so I don't think it exceptional...
Also I hear a little about miniDV (or somthing like that) Vs. DVD camcoders, I really have no idea which way I should go, though from the single article I've read, they say miniDV's are better...
Anyway, I'd appriciate your input, prices, recomendations, links, whatever... Thanks.
Click to expand...

Go Sony. I have had a couple and the mini DV from Sony is head and shoulders above. If you are looking for professional gear, that is an entirely new horizon. My favorite is my Sony PC-105 with the touch screen. Newer version is probably better.

 
Originally posted by: yellowfiero
this is a good thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1765646&enterthread=y
Click to expand...
I just added to that thread. Do not ignore the Canon Optura 60 and 600 depending on budget. Other wins going higher in price are the Sony PDX-10 for widescreen ($2k). The Sony PD-170 and VX-2100 for best low light ($3k, $2k). The Sony FX1 and Z1U ($3.5k, $5k) for HDV 1080i. The Canon H1 for the best 1080i HDV (at $10k).

Oh, the Panny 150/250/400 are top loaders compared to some of the other sub-1k models. It really sucks to have to take a camera off the tripod and possibly have to remove the quick release to change a tape.

 
I recently bought a Sony DCR-HC42. I love it. It has a native widescreen LCD, good zoom, Great PQ, small size, and a really nice touchscreen lcd. I Originally bought a Cannon Elura 85, which was $50 cheaper, but it wasnt as good. The controls were funky and the LCD was horrible. I would have lived with it, but I accidentally fried it when I plugged it into the firewire port on my comp(I guess it was wired wrong?) Luckily, I returned it and ordered this camera instead. Camcorderinfo is a great place. I also reccomend Crutchfield.com. Their customer service is top notch. Prices arent too bad either.
 
Thanks for the help, I was wondering though what would be best for me, I mean I can probably afford right now a $800-$900 camcoder, but I wonder if I shouldn't settle for somthing much cheaper like the GS150 (I think its aprox. $450 now), which might work well for me?
I want the camera mostly for family events, and for trips abroad, I don't have any intentions of anything more advanced at the moment...
so what do you think?
 
Yep, it's interesting. I'm NOT buying at the moment, but you are. Personally, low light is a HUGE issue to me. EIS is a given, which may be a missing feature on that 150. I also would like the 3.5" LCD, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get that. I may not even go with Panasonic by the time I'm ready to buy, but that's some of the criteria I'm interested in.
 
Originally posted by: Ornery
Yep, it's interesting. I'm NOT buying at the moment, but you are. Personally, low light is a HUGE issue to me. EIS is a given, which may be a missing feature on that 150. I also would like the 3.5" LCD, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get that. I may not even go with Panasonic by the time I'm ready to buy, but that's some of the criteria I'm interested in.
Click to expand...
Adding... I recommended the Canon additionally because it has OIS, which is superior to EIS. Since the Optura 60 is CMOS, it has color in the same range, and possibly better than 3-CCD in small forms. Some of the DV guys I know who use more expensive cameras like it (I use a Sony VX-2100 - the king of low light under $10k). But, I do like the Pannie 400 and the 250 is not that far off that mark.

Edit - just got to the part in the video where the 250 replacement (270?) adds OIS. That could be a home run!
 
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