Help Me Buy A Video Camera

[Joe the Photog]

Given my day job, you might would think I own a video camera. At one time I did but while I was in school, I pawned it as well as a 200 to 500 mm lens for my Elan 7. Well, now I'm back in the market for one and honestly do not know where to start.

Here's what I would like --

-- Decent zoom

-- Record to DVD, which presumably would make transfering it to computer really easy (just pop it in and voila, right?)

-- Tripod mount

-- Feels like a camera and not a phone

-- Decent quality to post to web and luckily if I catch news while it's happening, I can use it on my TV station without embarrassing me or them

-- no more than 500 dollars

I'll be doing some web searhes on my own and I'm about to go window shopping at Best Buy, but I'd like to know what others use and what suggestions they have.

Thanks,


Joe

[Wizzo]

I looked at record to DVD and disk based cameras before settling on miniDV tape.

Tape has been around for some time and is pretty reliable - My camera is used in a Land Rover Defender on a dashboard mount for offroad filming so its a pretty harsh environment with plenty of bumps and shakes.

Disk has the disadvantage that once its full its full, tape or DVD you can change for a fresh one and keep shooting. I chose tape because I think its more robust.

I don't know about transferring from DVD - not sure which format they record onto the DVD with. Transferring from tape is easy from the supplied base station, the video ends up as AVI files on the harddisk. Warning - purchase a firewire lead to attach the base station to the PC with. Quality of output transferred via USB is rubbish.

I ended up with a Sony Handycam. If I purchased again I'd have a higher spec handycam that has an accessory shoe for a better microphone. I'd imagine you should find the lower end models within your budget in the U.S.

I purchased a spare, higher capacity battery with my camera and a full charge on that will do around 3 to 3.5 hours recording, usually more than enough for one day.

[Joe the Photog]

Well, I went to Best Buy and after staring lovingly at the 40D package with the 28 to 135 mm lens for a few hours (or a minute or two) I went over to the camcorders. Got some helpful advice from a man named Jim and I believe the Handycams are indeed the way to go. Just got to figure out the best option for our milimted budget. I hate that there did not appear to be a way to hook up an external mic or a way to adjust the exposure 100% manual. I guess these options come with more money.

It felt odd looking for one of these cameras. I am more adept at these models

http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/HVX200/front.jpg

(which cost my station 6000 for the body only and is worth about what I'm going to pay for a Handycam. Maybe)

or

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/401787.jpg

than I am these

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/418491.jpg


Joe

[Joe the Photog]

I read the "Camcorder" thread a few down from this one and saw the interesting tape v. DVD discussion. I hesitate to try to plug the camera to the computer. I had no luck doing that wih my works HVX-200 camera and my sisters hi-8 that I borrowed. I've shot many train videos lately, but have no way of getting them on this computer. I presumed DVD would be the way to go. Now I wonder.


Joe

[Wizzo]

Well, I went to Best Buy and after staring lovingly at the 40D package with the 28 to 135 mm lens for a few hours (or a minute or two) I went over to the camcorders. Got some helpful advice from a man named Jim and I believe the Handycams are indeed the way to go. Just got to figure out the best option for our milimted budget. I hate that there did not appear to be a way to hook up an external mic or a way to adjust the exposure 100% manual. I guess these options come with more money.


I know what you mean - I want a 40D as well :)

I'm sure that some of the higher end Handycams have an accessory shoe on the top next to the viewfinder that you can attach an external microphone to. The internal mike on mine is actually quite good if you tape some foam over it to eliminate wind noise. Exposure is 100% auto, but so far I've had no issues, but then I purchased mine for a bit of fun while pursuing another hobby. The fact it has shot some decent railway footage as well is a bonus.

[CSXJOE]

trust me you dont want a mini dvd camcorder. i would get a Hard disk camcorder. Heres the one i got. if you wanna see some of the videos it can take on youtube look up CSXJOE.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8219643&type=product&id=1166236107365

[Frederick]

Anyone have experience with the Canon HV10? An HD camcorder for $5-600 would be a steal. (It has been out for about a year, I think.)