Hi,

I am looking to buy my first digital camcorder. I am aware that most of
the single CCD cameras have problems with digital artifcating,
especially aliasing which can be quite annoying. I understand that most
of these problems could be avoided with 3 CCD camcorders, which are
expensive.

Could somebody recommend a camcorder in the $500 - $700 range with
minimal artifacting, aliasing problems?

How are Canon Elura 80/85/90 and Sony DCR-HC 30/40 ?

Thank you in advance

The problems you mention (digital artifacts, aliasing and I'll add "poor
resolution and low-light performance") have more to do with poor camera
design and SMALL CCD's, not necessarily the number of CCD's. (though
generally 3 chip is better than 1... I'll take a single 1/2 or 3/4 inch chip
over three 1/6 inchers...)

In your budget, my recommendation is BUY USED. Even at double or triple your
budget - buy used.

You can get low-time miniDV and Digital8mm cameras DIRT CHEAP with a bit of
looking. The picture quality of a Sony TRV120, 320, 520 or 720 from 3 or 4
years ago - at between $200 and $300 - is better than most of what's on the
shelf at Bestbuy for three times the price. All of those models are
Digital8, a format that uses "Hi-8" 8mm video tape. The tapes (and cameras)
are physically larger than most miniDV cams but the *data* stored is
identical.

(I'd like to hear comments on the previous generation TRV6, TRV11, TRV20
etc - I hear they do great jobs too)

Now, if you have a bit more money and want to jump up in picture quality,
look for a used Sony TRV900, 3-CCD (seen for as little as $800 on eBay
though usually more) which is miniDV and orders of magnitude better than
anything available now for under $2,000 new. Many would argue it's a
professional/prosumer camera that was marketed as a consumer camera.
Personally, I'd recommend you up your budget to $800 or $900 and get the
TRV900. You WON'T be disappointed with that camera.

Next jump up is a $1,300 to $1,500 used Sony VX-2000. Though labelled a
"consumer" or "pro-sumer" cam, it (with a PD150) was used to shoot the
Lion's Gate movie "Open Water." I don't think much more has to be said about
it than that. Low-light performance of a VX2000 or PD150 beats anything in
it's class. Others to consider in the VX' class include: Canon GL1, XL1,
XL1S, Panasonic DVX-100 & DVC-80.

Anything beyond that, you're in to new or very high-end used professional
cameras.

Hope this helps.

C.



<gsmgsm***@bumerang.ro> wrote in message
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gsmgsm***@bumerang.ro writes:
Get a hi-8 camera, no digital artifacts at all.

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