MiniDV Camcorder or Digital Camera

[Drekce]

I've been looking into buying either a digital camcorder or camera for the last few weeks but still have not made my mind up. I know what I want if I get a camcorder (Canon Optura 20 or Sony TRV-38), but haven't done much research into cameras yet. I know that this thread on digicams is floating around, so I don't want advice on what camera to buy. What I want to hear are opinions on whether to spend about $900 on the camcorder (which also takes 1-1.33 MP stills) or much less to get the camera. I really want to mess around with making movies, but I'm worried that after a short time the appeal of that will wear off and I will have a camcorder that I don't use much. As for the camera, because it is small and more portable it would probably be used more often.

 

[fjorner]

i've been considering the same dilemma myself recently... still haven't made up my mind. would really like to know if the digital is that much better/easier to deal with.

 

[hans007]

i've had both. i sold the minidv. i barely ever used it.


my digicam on the other hand (minolta dimage x $200). is very small and goes with me everywhere. plus if you are using a video camera, you are the "camera man" its hard to get involved in whatever you are doing, since you have this dumb camera with you. whereas with a digicam maybe you'll take 1-2 pics. and thats that.

 

[helloedchen]

i have both, but i noticed i used my digi cam more. most likely due to the fact that the minidv is significantly larger in size.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I have the JVC DVP7 which has 1.03Mpixel CCD. It is small, pocket size and the video quality is excellent.

The stills can be a little lower in quality than a dedicated still cam, but it does 1280x960.

The recent replacement DVP9 has a 1.33MP CCD, otherwise is identical.

With a copy of Pinnacle Studio I have had great fun making short movies.