Camcorders

[clones_jer]

Need recommendations on camcorders.

Price range: <$300, but the cheaper the better

Customer description: Haven't used a camcorder in 10 years, mildly technically competant - but don't need a ton of extras. (I didn't even know my cell phone had a flash drive until I'd owned it for a year) Baby on the way and would like to get a camcorder by the end of the year.

Do I need HD? Can it double as a camera? What storage type is the best? What comes with the easiest software, etc, preferably nothing that links you up to a bunch of internet garbage ala my last Kodak digital camera.

 

[CyGuy33]

Great question, I have a baby on the way and the in-laws want to get us one for Christmas. I don't have any idea what to look for. I would like to be able to upload to the computer

 

[clones_jer]

Great question, I have a baby on the way and the in-laws want to get us one for Christmas. I don't have any idea what to look for. I would like to be able to upload to the computer

thread leech

 

[Angie]

I got this last Christmas and really like it:

Amazon.com: Canon ZR830 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom: Camera & Photo

 

[isucyfan]

I got a Sony recently that has both the capability to record to an internal hard drive or to mini-DVDs. I couldn't decide which one would work best for me, so this hybrid one is great.

It's not HD...that wasn't a priority for us at the time, but it looks pretty good on our TV. Do you really want to see yourself in HD anyway??:wink:

I use Pinnacle Studio to edit stuff together, although I haven't had much time at all to do much of this.

 

[Whin4Cy]

We got a Sony - Handycam Camcorder and love it. It is not HD, but you are going to pay for HD. The best thing about this is that it has a built in HardDrive, which means no tapes, cds, etc. to carry around. Has a very good optical zoom (40x) and is very easy to use.

Sony - Handycam Camcorder - Black/Silver - DCR-SR45

 

[Jetta]

Is everyone having babies to get camcorders?

 

[Whin4Cy]

Is everyone having babies to get camcorders?

Just try getting a new vehicle - got to have 2 kids to get approval for that!!!

 

[Jetta]

Just try getting a new vehicle - got to have 2 kids to get approval for that!!!

I want a sport bike. I think you have to have negative kids for that.

Besides, the only "new" vehicle I've known anyone to get because of kids was a minivan.

 

[jumbopackage]

I got a Sony recently that has both the capability to record to an internal hard drive or to mini-DVDs. I couldn't decide which one would work best for me, so this hybrid one is great.

It's not HD...that wasn't a priority for us at the time, but it looks pretty good on our TV. Do you really want to see yourself in HD anyway??:wink:

I use Pinnacle Studio to edit stuff together, although I haven't had much time at all to do much of this.

Don't waste your time on mini-DVDs. They are expensive, useable once, and don't hold much.

I'd stick to a CF or MiniDV-based camera (or miniHDV if you're doing HD).

If you just want something basic, I think the Flip (Flip Video) is a pretty cheap, simple, basic way to capture good quality video. Plus it's not a huge pain to carry around, so you're more likely to have it with you and use it often. No cards to carry around, no tapes to mess with. Maybe it doesn't have all the features in the world, but it's super cheap.

 

[isucyfan]

Don't waste your time on mini-DVDs. They are expensive, useable once, and don't hold much.

Not true. I can use them over and over and even erase portions and format in-camera. I don't use them a ton, but it's nice to know that you can still record something if the hard drive fills up and you are away from your computer.

 

[jumbopackage]

We got a Sony - Handycam Camcorder and love it. It is not HD, but you are going to pay for HD. The best thing about this is that it has a built in HardDrive, which means no tapes, cds, etc. to carry around. Has a very good optical zoom (40x) and is very easy to use.

Sony - Handycam Camcorder - Black/Silver - DCR-SR45

The only thing I will caution you on all digital recorders is that you don't end up with an archival backup unless you make one. I.e. with Tape-based recorders, you have the tape. Store it properly, and you'll have the original no matter what happens to hard drives or computers. If you accidentally delete a file, it might be gone forever. So some sort of archival storage solution is required, IMO, if you go to a flash/HDD based recorder unless you're willing to risk all the memories you're trying to save.

 

[SmokinH2O]

My wife and I had a baby back and June and I was looking for the same thing (video and pics) and I came across the Canon Power Shot Tx1. A great combo for both that provides HD video and 7megapixle photos. There are good things and bad things about the camera but for me...small, compact, 10x zoom, pic's, video (hd), hooks directly up to TV, moderate price....it was just right. The few bad things, video size is an issue (HD 10 seconds will run you 100+meg), no aux power (battery only), and a few other minor issues. It's built solid, hardly any plastic at all. If you want better still pics there are better cameras. If you want better video there are better cameras but for the price, capability and size, this was the ticket for me. Here's a YouTube video showing it. Let me know if you have any questions and I can give you some feedback.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OQo57RAnBM"]YouTube - Canon PowerShot TX1[/ame]

 

[SmokinH2O]

By the way, I bought a 4 gig flash card. I've filled it up but it took a few months to do so b4 I unloaded onto a PC.

Cost when I bought it was ~$500, now I see them for ~$280 - $500 +

 

[clones_jer]

Is everyone having babies to get camcorders?

for the german engineering.

 

[clones_jer]

Don't waste your time on mini-DVDs. They are expensive, useable once, and don't hold much.

I'd stick to a CF or MiniDV-based camera (or miniHDV if you're doing HD).

If you just want something basic, I think the Flip (Flip Video) is a pretty cheap, simple, basic way to capture good quality video. Plus it's not a huge pain to carry around, so you're more likely to have it with you and use it often. No cards to carry around, no tapes to mess with. Maybe it doesn't have all the features in the world, but it's super cheap.

I saw that Flip on Buy.com for $149 ... wonder how that bad boy works anybody have one?

also ... $475+ for a couple of those recomendations at the top of the thread. yikes

 

[Jetta]

for the german engineering.

I had to figure there was a catch to some woman agreeing to have your child.

 

[Angie]

I saw that Flip on Buy.com for $149 ... wonder how that bad boy works anybody have one?

also ... $475+ for a couple of those recomendations at the top of the thread. yikes

I have a friend who has one and loves it. I think he can really quickly transfer it to his PC. It's really portable - he just throws it in their baby bag.

Wow - sorry about mine being expensive. We got it for $265 or so last year after Christmas. Maybe they were running a special???

 

[Jetta]

Wow - sorry about mine being expensive. We got it for $265 or so last year after Christmas. Maybe they were running a special???

We got ours at an amazing deal the day after Thanksgiving. If your due date is far enough out and it's worth it to you. . .

 

[Angie]

We got ours at an amazing deal the day after Thanksgiving. If your due date is far enough out and it's worth it to you. . .

That's a good point - I'm guessing the black Friday ads should be coming out soon online, shouldn't they? That's probably a good time to get it. We got ours from Amazon - and I know Amazon does some kind of black Friday thing.