andypugh2000

Sorry if this is done to death but seeing as technology in the camcorder market moves so quick I thought I would ask on here which is the "best" buy in the digital camcorder market these days??

Thanks in advance

andy

beemerboy

think everyone has nodded off mate

BB

andypugh2000

Think you are right BB

andypugh2000

anyone

David Lock

For what it's worth (not a lot!) I have just bought a Sony D8 DCR-TRV460. Very pleased so far. Very quick delivery from Pixmania.com Basic price about £340 - Sony shop price £499.

I have spec if you need more info. D

Brendan Hughes

Helps if you define what you're looking for. Format - MicroDV, Mini-DV tape, Hi8, or straight to DVD? Size and Price? (you can spend 2k on a semi-pro model if you want). Etc.

I think a number of SNetters are on this forum - http://www.simplydv.com/

davyboy

I just got the Canon at the top of this page. Seems to have gone up £20 since I bought it. You would need to budget for an extra battery and tapes. I am fairly pleased so far, does every thing I need.

http://www.digital-cameras.com/Digit...ital_Video-19/

workshy_fopp

Davy - Did it come with a firewire cable or any editing software? I'm looking at either the Canon M700 or JVC GR-D23EK, both around £249

davyboy

Came with pinnacle 8, and I had to buy a firewire cable (less than £10)

The bonus for me was it had an AV in.

andypugh2000

What I'm mainly looking for is to film holidays etc and also get a screen mount for the car, very good sound and picture quality, to be able to put it onto vcd to view in my dvd player, have not got a dvdr I know absolutely nowt about video cameras so any recommendations as to what I might need will be helpfull

andy

CooperS

I bought a DVDR91E off Ebay brand new for £345 and they're £500 in the sony shop: It's awesome, I used it at the rally this weekend.

Andy

Brendan Hughes

Andy, I've never owned one!! but have been constantly looking into them and gleaned the following...

DVD ones only take 20 mins of film before you have to put in a new DVD (So I Heard)
MicroMV is wonderful for portability, they're not much bigger than a *** packet, but is only a Sony product and is probably about to die out
MiniDV is the industry standard, with tapes half the size of the Hi8 ones (so equipment is much smaller, more convenient when on holidays).
Must have DV in and DVout to be able to do editing - the cheaper cameras don't have one of these.

I'm looking at (and procrastinating over) the Sonys DCR-HC40 or perhaps the DCR-PC105, or maaaaybe the DCR-PC330. I can tell you that I haven't looked at any other brand (Panasonic, JVC etc) as I don't have the time - it's too confusing inside one model range! Oh, if you're a gadget freak, look at the DCR-TRV80 - it has Bluetooth! Some of the Sonys are being criticised for putting most controls on a touchscreen menu rather than in buttons - can be an annoying format for those who don't like touchscreen, and can be tricky in bright light.

Couple of info/reviews pages here:
http://www.dvspot.com/reviews/cameraList.php
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

andypugh2000

Thanks for your info guys, looks like i may buy a PANASONIC NV-GS200EB DV Camcorder, lot of money but a brilliant little machine judging by the reviews

andy

CooperS

20 minutes on HQ, 30 mins on SP or 60 mins on LP.

HQ is absolutely awesome quality, so if you get a few DVD RW's you're laughing, SP is brilliant TBH too, LP can be slightly grainy but still very good.

I just rip mine to my laptop and then burn to a standard DVD, then format them and re-use.

Andy