What to look for in a Camcorder?

[L'il Bit]

We might be looking for a camcorder pretty soon, and just wondered what anyone had out there that might be worth looking at. We're not looking to spend an arm and a leg, but we know that it costs a lot for good quality.

[Clubqueen]

I'd love to know as well, since I'll be buying one within the next month.

Anyone?

[L'il Bit]

Bump

[BTB]

Digital format. DVD-R and DVD-RAM over MiniDV.

Picture and audio quality ratings.

Image stabilizer!

Optical zoom.

Ease of use - button positioning, on-screen menu, etc.

Brand repair record.

(not necessarily in that order).
We bought the Panasonic VDRM50 last winter and love it. It's barely different feature-wise from it's big brother, CR's #1 rated model, the VDRM70. Actually has an 18x zoom over the 70's 10x, but was cheaper - all models are noticeably cheaper now than they were then, and this was just eight months ago. Technology's depressing that way. :)

[L'il Bit]

Hmmm, okay. What is a miniDV??

So for my reference:
http://image.sears.ca/icat/31/05/570331057.fpx?cell=230&cvt=jpeg
Hitachi® DVD Camcorder DZMV750MA
680K pixels
normal digital still image resolution
16X optical zoom ratio
digital photo software included
USB 2.0
record directly to DVD
2.5" LCD screen
rechargeable battery included
16 x 9 widescreen mode
built-in digital still camera
electronic image stabilization helps keep your picture steady
240X digital zoom ratio
($799.99)
http://www.futureshop.ca/multimedia/products/large/10059845.jpg
Panasonic Palmcorder DVD Camcorder (VDR-M55)
Panasonic's Palmcorder VDR-M55 DVD Camcorder give the best capability to record direct to DVD! With digital-to-analogue conversion, users can transfer old VHS tapes to their DVD-Cam and preserve their precious memories on DVD. The VDRM55 offers an amazing 24X optical zoom, enabling you to get close to the action. ($799.99)

http://www.futureshop.ca/multimedia/products/large/10057955.jpg
Now memories are easy to make and share with the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD203 DVD Camcorder. Capture both stunning videos and more than 2000 still images on a single DVD disc which can be played back on almost any DVD player. Enjoy crisp, clear colours thanks to the exceptional megapixel performance of the CCD imager and powerful 12X Optical zoom of the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens ($999.99)

[Janey]

*bump* in case of further input. :) We'll be looking for one as well here pretty soon. I've been googling around for camcorder info but I'm not sure how old the stuff I'm reading is. Can anybody post a link to a decent Buyer's Guide?

Do camcorders take fairly decent still photos? Do you suppose it's worth it to get a HD Camcorder?

[happygolucky]

Bumping 'cause we're getting one soon and I'm clueless...

[Aimee]

Lil'Bit is a format of digital tape. It was the last evolution of a tape inbetween the High8 format and the straight-to-DVD cameras.

We've got a Sony MiniDV cam and just helped ILs purchase one a few weeks ago. I'd strongly recommend a MiniDV (which uses tiny, digital tapes) as opposed to the cameras that record straight to a mini DVD. The mini DVDs only hold about 20 minutes of video at best quality. The tapes hold an hour or more. Plus, the mini DVDs are rather expensive compared to the tapes.

ILs just bought a Sony that comes with a cradle. Really helpful when you're dumping the video onto the computer to burn it to DVD. It's a bit of a pain to take the interim step of transferring the video to the computer to burn it to DVD, but it's worth it to me for the increased storage space.

Our Sony is about 3 years old, but we still love it. It's got a Carl Zeiss lens and takes excellent video, even in low light. I'm really brand loyal to Sony electronics (except my digital still camera which is a piece of crap). Their camcorders are all of exceptional quality.

I'm not sure what the resolution is on the still cameras that are "included" with the camcorders now. I like my camcorder to take video and my digital camera to take photos and not expect either one to do both things well. It's a nice extra to have in case you want to take a still frame of something as a snapshot, but the on board cameras aren't on par with current digital camera technology.

[L'il Bit]

ILs just bought a Sony that comes with a cradle. Really helpful when you're dumping the video onto the computer to burn it to DVD. It's a bit of a pain to take the interim step of transferring the video to the computer to burn it to DVD, but it's worth it to me for the increased storage space.

Our Sony is about 3 years old, but we still love it. It's got a Carl Zeiss lens and takes excellent video, even in low light. I'm really brand loyal to Sony electronics (except my digital still camera which is a piece of crap). Their camcorders are all of exceptional quality.
I'm pretty loyal to Sony too, so that's good to hear. Although I heard recently that they've been sourcing out their parts to be made in cheaper parts of the world, so it might not be as good? Anyway...
I would definitely like to get storage space over the convenience of straight to DVD. Especially if we go on a trip or something.
How long does it normally take to unload your video on to your computer?

[EmilyZA]

Bumping this up.

I'm leaning toward a straight-to-DVD camcorder, for the simple reason that my PC is getting up there in years and I don't think it will be able to handle transferring my movies to it (it's bad enough I'm addicted to my digital camera.) Plus, my PC doesn't have a DVD burner.

Any advice? I've been eyeing this:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41R014K2IeL._AA280_.jpg
Sony DCR-DVD108 DVD Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DCR-DVD108-Handycam-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B000M3ILF6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-2371785-6985428?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1177860462&sr=8-1)

[Janey]

I forgot about this thread -- I should update it with what we did. We bought a camcorder a couple of weeks ago (blog entry here (http://stfunfw.wordpress.com/2007/04/15/new-toy/)). We bought a Panasonic GS85 (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catGroupId=25002&itemId=110044&modelNo=PV-GS85&surfModel=PV-GS85&catalogId=13401&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702), which was the least expensive model we felt that it was "worth it" to buy right now. It was just under $300.

If I was buying a camera to keep 'forever,' I'd get one with a hard drive. The miniDV tapes are a PITA, and the DVD cameras aren't really any cheaper than the ones with the hard drives. Before we decided to get an inexpensive camera to hold us over until the HD camera we wanted came out, we were going to get this JVC MG155 (http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027855&pathId=119&page=1) model.

IMO, ease of transfer to computer is key. Nobody takes great home videos; editing is fairly crucial. I haven't really figured out how to do that with the Panasonic we bought. I mean, I sorta figured it out, but it's not very easy. I keep thinking, "There has to be an easier way!" I'm hoping the baby will give me a little time to fool with it this week.

[Smittenk]

Janey, what made you want the JVC MG155? Just wondering what you have heard about it since it is the main model we are trying to decide on. I am having the hardest time finding reviews on it compared to the other HDD camcorders out there in the same price range (Panasonic and Sony).

Thanks so much for any help!!

[Janey]

Smittenk - We liked that the JVC camera had a 30GB hard drive (some cameras had 20 GB), it had image stabilization, it was supposed to be pretty good in low-light situations, and it wasn't $900. :p When we were looking, it was $600, but then you got a $50 Best Buy gift card with it, making it a pretty good deal. It just seemed like a pretty good compromise between features/price. Whatever camera you end up getting, I hope you'll come back here and post about it!

[Smittenk]

Smittenk - We liked that the JVC camera had a 30GB hard drive (some cameras had 20 GB), it had image stabilization, it was supposed to be pretty good in low-light situations, and it wasn't $900. :p When we were looking, it was $600, but then you got a $50 Best Buy gift card with it, making it a pretty good deal. It just seemed like a pretty good compromise between features/price. Whatever camera you end up getting, I hope you'll come back here and post about it!

Thanks so much Janey, I appreciate it! Those things are good to know...We are leaning towards the JVC and have to make up our minds by Wednesday. I will definitely come back and update!

[EmilyZA]

I posted here recently, but my search had changed quite a bit!

Originally I was looking for a straight-to-DVD camera, b/c my PC was old and wouldn't be able to work with the large files and editing software. We ended up buying a new laptop that has a DVD burner, so I'm considering all of our options now. I'm still concerned about file size (even though we have a huge hard drive) but I have a portable hard drive so I figure I can just move the files to the portable HD once I've edited them and burned them.

What would you suggest? We really don't want to spend a lot of money... thinking $500 or less. I did see a JVC with a 30GB HD at Circuit City for $400, but I think that's pretty cheap for a hard drive camcoder and I'm wondering if it's any good-- of course I don't remember the model! :rolleyes:

[EmilyZA]

Anyone?

I'm looking at this:

JVC GZ-MG130 (http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027853&pathId=119&page=3)

Also, how does the whole burning movies to DVD thing work? I have Vista if that makes a difference.

[Rosebud]

We're in the market for a new camcorder. I have a 5-year old JVC digital camcorder that completely DIED in the middle of our vacation in Ireland this year. Nice. We're planning to replace it with a Sony camcorder (we get a small discount on their products)... but I have some questions about type:

- Should we get a hi def recorder? We have a hi def TV and it is truly amazing. But hi def camcorders are SO expensive. Anyone have one and want to tell me it's worth it?

- A lot of the Sony camcorders record directly to a hard disk drive instead of miniDV (like my old camera) or DVD. Anyone know what this means exactly and whether it's a good thing?

- Any specific Sony recommendations?

[Janey]

Rosebud - we bought a camera earlier this year and decided against HD for now. I do believe, just like TV's, that HD cameras are the way things are going in the future. We just couldn't imagine spending $1500 or so on a camera when we knew they were going to get better, smaller, with bigger hard drives and more features in the near future.

I like the idea of recording to a HD much better than recording to a MiniDV (tape), but the HD cameras were on the more expensive side. We decided to buy a "good enough for now" MiniDV camera, knowing that we would replace it in a few years with an HD one.

YMMV, and all that. :)

[Maggie8202]

Bump... Any good recommendations? DH and I will be asking for one for xmas.

[boilermaker]

Hmm, I was hoping there would be more info on here about these. We are looking to get one in the very near future and have decided that we are definitely getting one with a hard drive vs any type of tape/DVD. Now we are trying to decide if it is worth it to go with high def at this time or not. I'd like something that we will enjoy using for a good 5 years.

Rosebud, what did you end up with?

[Rosebud]

Bumping again! So, we still haven't bought that camcorder... but now we're really planning to do it ASAP. We're still thinking Sony and possibly HD, but I'd love to hear from anyone who has one.

TIA!

[motownmamma]

We had a "regular" camcorder, but I asked for a Flip (http://www.flipvideo.com/)for my birthday, thinking it would be great to throw in my diaper bag for occasional use.

Since we got it, the camcorder hasn't been out of its case! I love it that the Flip is so small. It's a cinch to use. The user interface software is terrific - it's a piece of cake to transfer videos onto DVD or the internet for sharing just using your own computer. It's one of the better gadgets we've ever had. I'm not sure if we'll ever use our poor camcorder again.

[dana b]

i've been meaning to replace our camcorder with one with a hard drive, but i was totally thinking of getting a flip to keep in my bag as well. glad to hear you like it. i'm wondering if i have a "real" camcorder and a flip, if i'll be able to use the footage from both to make 1 edited dvd?

[mia's mama]

BUMP! Anyone esle have any experience with the Flip?

[Buckeye_K]

We also have a Flip and love it. It is so easy to keep in my purse and pull out anytime we want. I don't think the sound is as good a quality as my regular camcorder, but for the price and convenience, it can't be beat. It has made it a lot easier to take vidoes of DD and send to our relatives across the country. I also find that I take a lot more vidoes cause it is always handy.

[dana b]

ditto to all of that. we just used the flip so much in hawaii and i would have never taken a full size camcorder.

[ambula704]

Bump-
With a new baby coming next spring we are looking into getting each other a camcorder as our Christmas gift. I have no clue what to look for, anyone want to recommend theirs?