hi,

could anyone recommend a good camcorder?  i'm looking for one in the
price range of $500 or less

thanks

xion***@my-deja.com wrote:
www.camcorderinfo.com has many good camcorder reviews. Good place to start.

A Cheap one!
    Sharp VL-Z3U and similar models for <$180 on ebay.com
    Solid, basic camcorder. Just don't expect a lot of video resolution
here.

A cheap 3CCD!
    Fry's electronics in CA, CircuitCity and GoodGuys open-box and end
of season models, etc.
    Can easily get a Panasonic 3CCD for <$500.  Much better video
resolution vs. the common lot of Sony, Panasonic, etc. DV camcorders
with 1CCD for the consumer sold in stores today.

A cheap DVD model!
    See www.fatwallet.com/c/18/ and search for 'hitachi dvd'.  That one
website authorized by Hitachi to sell their refurbished DVD camcorders
at $300-$350 is a steal vs. the $600+ they normally go for.

A flash-card based model!
    Rather than going tape, try tapeless!  The latest digital cameras
(Casio 7MP model, etc.; Sanyo Xacti C4/C5 models; Sony DSC-M1 model;
That one Samsung sold at BestBuy) etc. all record in MPEG-4 640x480
30fps format to flash cards.
    Far lighter than any camcorder, shock proof (no moving parts), and
offers quicker transfer to the PC for editing than tape - these digital
camcorders also offer built-in 4+MP digital camera capability, and much
more.
    Really the wave of the future, and you really get much nicer quality
off these than most cheap 1CCD camcorders sold today.

That CVS pharmacy store model for $25 or so.
    Search the web for hacks on modifying this one-time-use camcorder
for multiple uses, your own downloads to your PC, mods to let it record
in 640x480 resolution, etc.
    Really nice if you're thinking of attaching the camcorder to a toy
plane or remote controlled toy and don't want to crash a $$$$$ camcorder.

Panasonic's bottom-of-the-line 3CCD machines do not produce better video
than Sony and Canon's top-of-the-line 1CCD models.  Small sensors, cheap
glass and crappy electronics will produce bad video, regardless of how many
sensors there are.

DVD camcorders are consumer toys designed for people who have no interest in
producing quality video.  They are the worst of the lot.

I assume when the OP used the word "best" it was because he was interested
in something that would produce the best video.  These silly toys barely
produce video at all.

What they don't offer is decent video quality.

Only the far, far future.  Tape will continue to dominate for at least the
next decade.

Completely untrue.

You've got to be kidding.  The OP asked about camcorders, not toys.

Show quoteHide quote

PTravel wrote:

Granted, but the Pannasonic GS200 produces a very nice video. It is, as
most every review will tell you, not very good in low light, but in
daylight or a well light indoor setting, it will produce an excellent
video with clear and vibrant colors. For under $800, its probably
cheaper than the to of the line one chippers.

RS

Show quote Hide quote Most any miniDV camcorder will produce good video in bright daylight.  It is
cheaper than the top-of-the-line single chippers, but I haven't seen
anything which suggests it is comparable.


Show quoteHide quote

PTravel wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteAgain, you are technically right, which of course is the best kind of
right to be.

So, how much are you spending on this top of the line one chipper? It's
all find and good to compare, but when it comes to pulling out the
wallet, things suddenly become relative.

Did a little two camera shoot a week ago. One camera was a GL1 from the
cable access studio and the other my GS200. After looking at the
footable of the two side by side, my crew and I agreed that the GS200
was slightly more vibrant, but also a tiny bit hotter. We felt however
that we could have eliminated that had we had the time to do manual
exposure control. The GL-1, while softer on the colors, had a slight
tendency to overexpose one on reflections, such as light off a bald
persons head, but again, we can compensate for this in post, or could
have eliminated it had we had time to do detailed setting of the studio
lights.

So, yeah, I think it's actually comparable. And as its at least a
thousand less than anything considered 'top', and since I'm not a making
any money doing video, its what you call the best bang for the buck.

Show quote Hide quote I don't have one, but I understand they are in the $1200-1500 range.


The GL1 is not a good camcorder.  The GL2, on the other hand, will do much
better than a GS200.  A VX2100/PD170 will do far better than all of them.

Show quoteHide quote

thanks for the reply

i'm looking for a decent camcorder for recreational purposes, i.e.
travel, outdoor activities, etc...

i think i need it to be compact, long battery running time, reliable,
and good built quality, and my budget is around $500.  what's the best
camcorder to fit into above criterion is what i want

On 9 Sep 2005 23:38:21 -0700, xion***@my-deja.com wrote:

If someone already has suggested this, my apologies.   Anyway, check
out the new Sanyo VPC-C5.  Here's a review at Steve's Digicams:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/c5.html

In addition to MPEG4 videos, it also take 5 megapixel stills.  If you
shop around you should be able to find it in your price range.

Good luck!

Hal Lowe

http://www.halogos.com (logo t-shirts, mugs, etc.)
(make sure to check out the digiphoto t-shirts)
http://www.halowe-graphics.com/photo.html (digiPhoto)
http://www.halowe-graphics.com/music.html (Music Central)
http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=7391019 (web hosting)
http://www.halowe-graphics.com/tinc?key=0TmhZVQ5&formname=web_email

Show quote Hide quote The camera compresses to mpeg4 on the fly, resulting in poorer quality video
than you'd get from a miniDV machine.  In addition, the resulting video
can't be edited, with re-transcoding to some other format -- certainly none
of the "mainstream" editors can handle mpeg4.  Add to that the fact that,
judging from the lens size, the sensors must be microscopic and of
ridiculously high-density, and it's going to have horrendous low-light
performance.


Show quoteHide quote

xion***@my-deja.com wrote:
Stick with minidv, unless your top consideration is quick and easy. The
Mpg4, or minidisk units will compress your video into a dvd ready
format, which tends to make it more difficult to do any detailed editing.

But again, if your NOT wanting to do any detailed editing, perhaps just
quick cutting and or titles, these new units might fit your needs. But
overall, miniDV units will are the most flexible.

Minidv is tape format, right?

i'm a novice as of camcorders,  i think i saw this mini tape format
before, how does this being played in VHS recorder?  it's too small to
fit in

also, from what i researched, it seems that low-light recording is a
big problem for many types of  camcorders, is it possible to find a
camcorder capable of doing recording in low-light condition for under
$500?

one more question:
what's the typical battery life time for the camcorder?  can the
camcorder be charged using both 110v and 220v AC?  i'm asking this
because i plan to have a vacational trip to asia by the end of the
year.  and i want to make sure whatever camcorder i'm getting is
compatible with 220v AC used by most asian countries.


thanks

xion***@my-deja.com wrote:
Yes, its the little DV tapes. No, they won't play in a VHS. If you
require VHS, then you would need to hook up the video and audio output
cables to your camera, hook the other ends to the inputs on your VHS,
make sure your VHS is set to record the input from that source and then
press play and record on camera and VHS. (VHS! My god man, you can get a
cheap DVD player at Kmart for $40!)


Probably not. The size of the 'chip', which is the light sensitive
component in the camera is usually proportional to the cost of the
camera. I have an older Sony TRV320 which does better in low light than
my more expensive GS200. But better is a relative term. A gloomy indoor
setting will give me a viewable, but rather grainy picture.



Maaaaan don't be one of those annoying camcorder tourists!

thanks

for your last comment:
i don't know what domain your creative mind has ventured into, but
that's certainly not the case here

i've bought a 70-210mm f4 camera lens to go with my minolta maxxum 5
camera, having a camcorder will complete my traveling set for
sightseeing and touring in eastern asian countries

xion***@my-deja.com wrote:
The power supplies typically run on 100-240 volts AC input. You just
need the plug adapter for the location.

       -Bill

ok thanks

it sounds similar my IBM thinkpad computer, running on 100-240v AC
input with its supplied adapter

xiongnu wrote ...
Correct. DV tapes come in two sizes, and "mini-DV" is the
smaller size which most small camcorders use.
VHS recorders will play only VHS tapes. Not DV, not
mini-DV, not 8mm or Hi-8 or D8 or Beta or any other
kind of tape format.

But then VHS is a dying format, replaced by DVD mostly.

Maybe. You will need to research the camera reviews to
find something that has good low-light performance AND
under $500.  Such a thing MAY not even exist.

There are too many different camcorders and batteries to
come up with a "typical" number.  I would not buy any
camcorder that wouldn't at least shoot a whole (1 hour)
tape with a single battery. For many camcorders, there
are both OEM and 3rd party batteries that offer extra
capacity

Most camcorders come with power supplies/chargers
that run on 100-240 V @ 50 or 60 Hz. Because they
are switching supplies, they are designed to handle the
wide range of international mains power. However
never buy something without confirming this for the
item you are buying.

thank you

if not through VHS, then how do i playback these miniDV tapes?  is
there a miniDV player or sth?

i have read reviews on different camcorders, and found Panasonic
PV-GS35 MiniDV Camcorder w/30x Optical Zoom generally received good
reviews, amazon.com has it for
$458.94,  do you think this is a good choice?

here's the highlights of the features:

Features of the Panasonic PV-GS35:

Compact design
Still picture capability
SD slot
30x optical zoom
LED light
Color viewfinder
1000x digital zoom
Electronic image stabilization
3 hour battery
USB 2.0 high speed
Motion DV Studio video editing software for PC

xion***@my-deja.com wrote:
a) Use the camera as you would a VCR connecting it to the TV.
b) record them to your VCR (as mentioned)
c) record them to a DVD recorder (probably the best)
d) use the camera's firewire out (I'd not buy a camera without 1394) to
transfer the recording to your computer where it can be edited (if you
wish) and then burned to a DVD.

        -Bill

Captain Slick wrote:
Show quoteHide quoteYou can play your tapes back right from your camera.

Or play from your camera into the new Sony VRD -VC10
(stand alone) DVD burner (about $199-$250) for excellent
results and you won't need a computer.

If you ever tape something newsworthy, you can use a
MiniDV to DVPro adapter to transfer directly to news (TV stations)
media tape machines. I do it all the time with my DCRVX-2100
MiniDV camera. (List $3100).

KM

<pobo***@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
Show quoteHide quoteAlso if it real newsworthy, they can play anything on tv news, CNN was
showing videocaptured on people's cell phones!
Can you imagine the poor video quality of a cell phone being broadcast on
nationwide news?
They cropped it with a black border and cleaned it up as best they could but
you still seen compression effects big time,
but if newsworthy, who cares!
AnthonyR.

<xion***@my-deja.com> wrote in message
There are miniDV decks, but they're very expensive.  Most non-European Union
miniDV camcorders will play back like a VCR -- they have video adn audio
outputs, and you just plug them into your television.

However, many people capture the video to their computer, edit it, add
titles and effects, and then burn it to DVD.

I don't know enough about it, sorry.

Show quoteHide quote

thank you

that's very helpful

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