digital camcorders

[Michaelr]

I am looking into buying a digital camcorder, I was wondering what some of you would recomend for a entry level camera?
Digital 8?
minidv?
I plan on uploading to the pc and making dvd's.

I have kinda taken a liking to the canon zr85 minidv.

any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

 

[Elkhunter]

BTTT for michaelr

 

[Delw]

MIchel a mini dv is the only way to go, I am hoping to get one soon


Delw

 

[browtine]

I have the cannon elura mini dv..i would suggest that

 

[Sako7STW]

I have a Sony Mini DV and it is awesome. Takes great still pics too. Night shot the whole works and easily fits into a coat pocket. The only bad thing is the mini memory sticks are spendy lil buggers.

 

[Delw]

SO give me some ideas on a good cam corder

I need to start shooting some high quality vids( you know with out my feet in them)

Which one is easiest to hook to a PC and what software to use, hows the quality?

I was drooling over that cannon 200 but for $1500 I think I will try something smaller

My camcorder died .


Delw

 

[schmalts]

Delw, if you can affor a grand then there is only one way to go!!!! the panasonic gs400. I bought a Canon optura40 and its great but sucks in low light. Good light the optura picture quality is unreal!! better than broadcast over the air and a hair shy of DVD quality. If the GS400 was out when i was shopping i would have got that one. The only downsize it that is a little larger than a lot of the other minidv units.
But... i did i lot of research when i bought mine and found that if you do not get one with a large size lense you will not get good low light performance.
Get a minidv and then install a firewire card to your PC. I bought one on ebay for 15$ and it came with a 15$ firewire cable, it works great and was 25% of the cost of a store. Why not get on the list to see my Elk DVD and see what i did with just my camcorder and an editing program.

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=2766679/K=ca...SIG=112jp1go6/*-http://www.camcorderinfo.com/
http://rds.yahoo.com/S=2766679/K=ca...orderinfo.com/d/Reviews&level_b=Camcorder.htm

 

[Delw]

This is the one I been looking at,
http://www.ibuydigital.com/main.cfm?fuseaction=all.proPage&product_id=1438

Its a gl2 not a 2000like stated in the above post.
I got to play with one one day and it was awsum.

Ive seen some used ones for about $1000 with warrenties.

I understand about the lowlight stuff and small lens.

some of those ones that are around 300-400 bucks look pretty good as well. I am making a cd catalog for my business and was going to add some vid also.
will do about the elk list
Delw

 

[schmalts]

That is an awsome recorder but the physical size is the only downsize. The great thing about what i got is you can fit it in a fannypack without taking up much room. But if you dont do a lot of pack in trips it wont matter i guess.

 

[antlerrick]

I just bought me a new Canon GL2, but they are a bit more expensive than the $1K you are talking about. I hope to be getting some great video soon with this camera as it has a lot better quality than the others I have used.
I bought a Canon ZR65 last year, but I wasn't happy with it for what I wanted. It is a great entry level camera for not a lot of bucks.. ($300-400 ?)..
Both of these Canons are MiniDV which I think is a good way to go!!

 

[JB Florida]

Great Question!
I'm looking at the minis too!

 

[IdahoBugler]

I have narrowed my search down to two vid's. The Canon ZR90 and the Panasonic PV-GS14. The reports say the Panasonic is rated better and is much better in low-light conditions. If anyone has the Panasonic can they give me their take on it.

thanks,