Good DV Camera for under $500

[777php]

Mt GF's sister is having a baby and we want to buy her a digital video camera so she can capture all the precious moments. What are some good models, and websites? There are sooooo many of them that I don't know even where to begin. Thanks guys.

 

[Lithium381]

fujifilm finepix 2650

great stuff right there, got it for christmas,....oh so sweet! make sure to check that one out, it's only about 200 bucks

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Lithium381
fujifilm finepix 2650

great stuff right there, got it for christmas,....oh so sweet! make sure to check that one out, it's only about 200 bucks

video..not stills He wants a camcorder.

 

[Vic]

Sony DCR-TRV 350

 

[csiro]

Get this Sharp from Amazon.

Link

It's on special for only 289.99 AR AC

It also comes with a free camcorder bag too...

 

[dullard]

Look at the November/December 2002 Consumer Reports - I forget exactly which one it is in - they should be in any library. Consumer Reports tested all the digital camcorders that have any significant sales. To sum it up: any of the digital camcorders under $600 were very poor performers with bad image and sound quality (or in the testers words, "there are better choices").

Do you even need a digital camcorder? There are plusses and minuses for digital camcorders (note: these are general trends, some models will vary).
Pros:
*Better quality if you play it back on a computer or a HDTV.
*Easier to put onto a computer.

Cons:
*Cost hundreds more for similar features to an analog model.
*Can't zoom as well.
*Can't handle low light very well.
*Often much worse battery life.

I just bought a camcorder myself. And since I will never email video from it, or have any need to store them on my computer, the digital models had nothing I wanted. But the better zoom and low light capabilites of the analog models were great (plus I could afford an analog model).

 

[The Stigenator]

If you search you can get the Canon ZR40 for about 500 + tax..

its 599 but there are rebates I believe.. its a really good minidv camera.. I have used this one.. its sweet..

 

[Night201]

Samsung SCD-80 Mini DV Camcorder = $400.00<a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bh4.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=ProductActivator__Aproductlist_html___250960___SASCD86___REG___CatID=1871___SID=F316DB571C0" target=blank>
Samsung SCD-86 Mini DV Camcorder</A> = $480.00

Get a MiniDV, not a Digital8.

 

[Night201]

<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
If you search you can get the Canon ZR40 for about 500 + tax.. its 599 but there are rebates I believe.. its a really good minidv camera.. I have used this one.. its sweet..

Here is that camera at B&H Audio/Video for $420.00. B&H is the biggest supplier of anything audio/video/lighting/photo, etc. I get stuff from them all the time!
Canon ZR40</BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[777php]

The camera is not for me, its for my GF's sister. It needs to be DV so they can send us movies of their baby, that is the whole purpose of us getting them a camera.

They live in Boston so it will most likely be transferred via the net. I'm setting up some storage space for them to upload to.

I'm taking a look at all your suggestions, it doesn't need to be the greatest camera, I know there are going to be some limitations since our budget is so low.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Check out cnet.com

Originally posted by: dullard
Look at the November/December 2002 Consumer Reports - I forget exactly which one it is in - they should be in any library. Consumer Reports tested all the digital camcorders that have any significant sales. To sum it up: any of the digital camcorders under $600 were very poor performers with bad image and sound quality (or in the testers words, "there are better choices").

Do you even need a digital camcorder? There are plusses and minuses for digital camcorders (note: these are general trends, some models will vary).
Pros:
*Better quality if you play it back on a computer or a HDTV.
*Easier to put onto a computer.

Cons:
*Cost hundreds more for similar features to an analog model.
*Can't zoom as well.
*Can't handle low light very well.
*Often much worse battery life.

I just bought a camcorder myself. And since I will never email video from it, or have any need to store them on my computer, the digital models had nothing I wanted. But the better zoom and low light capabilites of the analog models were great (plus I could afford an analog model).

Can't zoom as well? That has nothing to do w/the format and everything to do w/the camrea. Can't handle low light very well? Again, that depends on the camera not the format. And the difference between video shot using a DV camera and video shot using an analog camera is very noticable on any TV.


Lethal

 

[fizmeister]

Define "good."

If you mean "decent," then you can get one for under $500.

I use a couple of $900 Sony DVs, and I think they suck. I'm trying to get a hold of an XL-1 for ~$3k to replace them.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by: fizmeister
Define "good."

If you mean "decent," then you can get one for under $500.

I use a couple of $900 Sony DVs, and I think they suck. I'm trying to get a hold of an XL-1 for ~$3k to replace them.

Of course if your lowest qualification of "good" is a $3k semi-pro camera then yes all the consumer models would "suck." But comparing apples to apples you can get an okay camera for 'round ~$500.


Lethal

 

[AmigaMan]

Check Amazon's Goldbox deals. Over this past Christmas I got a Canon ZR-40 for $382 shipped and a JVC GR-DVL720U for $468 shipped and a $75 rebate and 4 $25 GC's to Footlocker.

 

[apoppin]

IMO, all the entry-level mini-DV cameras are about all the same optical quality - way better than analog and sufficient for anyone wanting to make their own "home" movies.

"Features" are what differentiate most mini-DVs in the sub $900 range. I got a Panasonic PV-DV51 over a year ago for well under $500 and haven't felt ANY need to upgrade.

 

[dullard]

Can't zoom as well? That has nothing to do w/the format and everything to do w/the camrea. Can't handle low light very well? Again, that depends on the camera not the format. And the difference between video shot using a DV camera and video shot using an analog camera is very noticable on any TV.

As I said, and you agree, these are very camera specific. However if you look at the cameras on sale you notice some trends.
1) All analog camcorders with any significant sales have a minimum of 16x optical zoom. Most have 20x or higher. Very, very few digital camcorders that you will see in the stores have above 10x optical zoom. So if you want to do things like record the child on stage, or at graduation, etc, the vast majority of analog camcorders will zoom twice as close or more than the vast majority of digital camcorders. Yes the format doesn't determine this, but the cost does. In an attempt to get digital camcorders cost down, they skimp on the lens. So indirectly the format causes the lower quality lens. And yes you can add a $100 lens to get you that 20x zoom for a digital camcorder. But when he is already looking at the bottom of the barrel (to afford it), there is no room for a $100 lens.
2) The digital sensors don't operate well at low light. Plain and simple. Compare a $400 digital camcorder to a $400 analog camcorder at low light levels and you will see a night and day difference (if you can see anything at all on the digital camcorder). Yes this is camcorder specific, but in an attempt to keep costs down, the low end digital camcorders use cheap parts that aren't very sensitive to light. Yes you can buy a $600+ digital camcorder to fix this, but this thread is about ones under $500.
3) Decent ($300-$400) S-VHS camcorders quality compared to the bottom of the barrel (under $500) digital quality has always been ranked higher in every report I've ever read. So yes the difference is noticible on any TV - the digital is worse.

You linked Cnet (which sadly doesn't review many analog camcorders), so lets look at the editors recommendations. Not a single one on the top ten list qualify for this thread: under $500.

 

[Karsten]

I personaly purchased this Sharp VLWD450U MiniDV Camera for the birth of our second girl (For the first one I got the Canon S20 Still pix )

I could not be happier. Quality is more then good. And i never regreted having bought it. Quirks are the menu struckture which is horrible compared to anything Sony, but if you just make home movies and won't use a lot of special options it works just fine,

Added bonus this cam has. You can import Video via S-Video Cable onto the DV tape. Pulled some shows of my Tivo for a special procet I was working on... worked great!

Karsten

 

[SyahM]

i suggest you go check your local circuit city, all of them since sony DCR-TRV27 open box is selling at ~$680, i know it's a bit more than what you're asking but that is one great camcorder, also dct-trv18 can be had for under $600. Go look and ask, make sure you ask the sales counselor to double check the price especially if the price tag is not current, ie not printed on the same day.