Video Cameras

[Hambo]

I am in the beginning stages of looking for a video camera :scratchhe . Are there any features that I should be looking out for? Are there any brands that I should gravitate towards or stay away from? Any and all advice is much appreciated. :skew:

[smokem94]

My sister just got the Sony that records right to a DVD. She is real happy with it. It is small and also takes digital pictures.

[N2Advnture]

Can't go wrong with Sony or Canon.

It really depends on your price range.

These have all had very good reviews:

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 - $860
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=5638311&SourceID=k15505

Panasonic PV-GS250 - $733
http://www.mpsuperstore.com/Video/discr160053.htm

Canon ELURA 90 - $483
http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?ref=cnet&sku=ELURA90

Canon Optura 50 - $540
Canon ELURA 80 & 85 - $375-425
Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 - $425
Sony Handycam DCR-HC40 - $475

[joshua]

If you hurry up and go to http://woot.com/ today they have a high-8 for $150

Probably not what you are looking for, but I am tempted just to pick it up at that price. Its refurb but $100 less than elsewhere.

My grandfather has been an amateur videographer for a long time and he recently bought whatever the top of the line consumer sony model is (besides the new HD model coming out). I swear whenever we go to visit him its unusual for to NOT have a camera to his face.

[jordon]

Can't go wrong with Sony or Canon.

what he said. I have Canon (ZR10 or something like that) - they have a great image stabilizing system.

[Eric]

If you hurry up and go to http://woot.com/ today they have a high-8 for $150

Probably not what you are looking for, but I am tempted just to pick it up at that price. Its refurb but $100 less than elsewhere.

My grandfather has been an amateur videographer for a long time and he recently bought whatever the top of the line consumer sony model is (besides the new HD model coming out). I swear whenever we go to visit him its unusual for to NOT have a camera to his face.

WHAT THE WOOT? Woot went corporate-style with their site. When did that happen?

[Hambo]

If you hurry up and go to http://woot.com/ today they have a high-8 for $150
I saw that but I decided I shouldn't rush into anything. Thanks for the heads up though.
Can't go wrong with Sony or Canon.

It really depends on your price range.

These have all had very good reviews:

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 - $860
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=5638311&SourceID=k15505

Panasonic PV-GS250 - $733
http://www.mpsuperstore.com/Video/discr160053.htm

Canon ELURA 90 - $483
http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?ref=cnet&sku=ELURA90

Canon Optura 50 - $540
Canon ELURA 80 & 85 - $375-425
Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 - $425
Sony Handycam DCR-HC40 - $475
Thanks for finding those for me. I do like cannon a lot. What storage format is best do you think? Hi8, MiniMV, digital8? I am mostly going to be doing home movies and events. Thanks for everybody's comments so far.

[N2Advnture]

...What storage format is best do you think?...

These:
MiniDV
Digital8
MicroMV
mini DVD-R/RW/RAM
Microdrive/CompactFlash

MiniDV or Digital8 are going to be the 2 most common. I believe the "Hi8" is a Sony thing, like the memory stick.

[sb1396]

Can't go wrong with Sony or Canon.

It really depends on your price range.

These have all had very good reviews:

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 - $860
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=5638311&SourceID=k15505

Panasonic PV-GS250 - $733
http://www.mpsuperstore.com/Video/discr160053.htm

Canon ELURA 90 - $483
http://www2.butterflyphoto.com/shop/product.aspx?ref=cnet&sku=ELURA90

Canon Optura 50 - $540
Canon ELURA 80 & 85 - $375-425
Sony Handycam DCR-HC32 - $425
Sony Handycam DCR-HC40 - $475

The Panasonic GS250 gets great reviews. You can save your self a couple hundred and go with the GS150 which is just about as good without a couple bells and whistles. The Sony HC90 is also supposed to be great.

Be careful about low-light filming. Many cameras are not very good but it depends on if that is important to you.

Here is a great site to read reviews from people who really know the business.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ratings.php

[PetersCreek]

I did a lot of research before buying mine for our honeymoon trip last year. I settled on the Sony DCR-HC30. It was one of the better rated camcorders in it's price range. I think the equivalent model this year is the DCR-HC32 (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=DCRHC32&Dept=cameras&CategoryName=dcc_DICamcorders_MiniDVHandycamCamcor ders), which is rated #21 at the camcorderinfo.com link, above.

Mine has been a great 'corder. Small, easy to use, great battery life...although I did opt to splurge on the super-mondo-capacity battery. Good video quality. Accessories are readily available.