Just looking to buy the best digital video cam for the buck. We'd like
to spend under $300...nothing super fancy, just filming the kids around
the house, etc. I've been buying Sony analog cameras and frankly have
gone through 2 or 3 of them in rapid order, so I'm a bit leery of them,
but maybe the digital is better.

What can you guys recommend? I just want an affordable digicam that
will WORK!

Suggestions, guys?

Thanks!

Jeff

cornch***@hotmail.com wrote:
I'm wondering what it is that happens to your recorders. My two Hi-8
recorders, one over 10 years old, still work fine. They have been taken
skiing, rafting, kayaking and hiking and have had some pretty rough
treatment. It just might be that your problem is in wanting a camera
for under $300. I have gone the Digital8 route and I  like both my Sony
TRV 103 and my Sony TRV 350. You could probably find a used one for
your $300 goal, same thing for a better grade Mini-DV.

Dave

Could be the pricing is the problem! At work I have a Sony digital 8
and it -- and our two analog 8mm Sonys -- have gone through what I
guess is a common problem in which we get a flashing code with a C:
something or other and the battery has to be taken out and the power
supply unplugged. I looked it up online and apparently it happens with
that line of Sonys. We've learned to live with that, but in the case of
our two dead Sony analogs, both seem to be physical probems. One still
records fine, won't play back since the row of "playback" buttons fell
completely off the camera! The other had an ejecting problem and simply
won't take tapes any more.

So you're good with your Sony digital? I liked our Sonys very much as
cameras; they just both quit working.

Thanks for the suggestions, at any rate...

Jeff

<cornch***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
Here's a good place to start http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ratings.php . Best
rated cameras in your price range are the Canon Elura 100 and the Panasonic
PV-GS39. Mini-DV (not DVD) is probably the way to go unless you need
backward compatibility with old analog 8 tapes for which you would get a
Digital 8 camcorder. The latter technology is stagnating and only Sony even
sells them.
Show quoteHide quote

cornch***@hotmail.com wrote:
If you ca find a used Sony DCR TRV 730 on ebay, there one of the best,
bought a new one retailed for around 1000 and its worked perfectly, not
to mention has one of the best resolutions and optical zooms.

      DCR-TR730 Specifications

Crystal-clear Digital8™ pictures and CD-quality digital PCM 12- or
16-bit stereo. And with the DCR-TRV730, you can enjoy Sony's entire
line of Digital8™ performance features like SteadyShot® Picture
Stabilization, Super NightShot™ 0 lux Infrared recording, 3 Memory
Mix Modes and Super LaserLink® wireless transmission. Plus, analog
audio/video inputs give you the ability to record your older analog
video library to Digital8™. Megapixel (1/4" 1,070k Pixels) CCD imager
built in for high quality still images and MPEG Movie Mode to capture
60 second MPEG movie clips are two new features added to the DCR-TR730
that make it one of the premier camcorders in the Sony line. ($999
ERSP*)
Audio/Video Performance
1/4" MEGAPIXEL CCD COLOR CCD, 1,070K Pixels
MPEG Movie Mode
DIGITAL8 VIDEO RECORDING
18X OPTICAL/ 500X DIGITAL Zoom
SUPER SteadyShot® Picture Stabilization
SUPER NIGHTSHOT™
7 MODE PROGRAM A/E
DIGITAL STILL Memory Mode WITH Memory Stick® Media
PLAYBACK Zoom
PHOTO MODE
LP RECORDING
12-bit/ 16-bit PCM DIGITAL STEREO WITH AUDIO DUB>
2 1/2" SWIVELSCREEN™ LCD Display (62K Pixels)
SUPER LASERLINK® WIRELESS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
Stamina® Power Management SYSTEM 9 HOURS RECORDING (USING OPTIONAL
NP-FM91 BATTERY)>
INFOLITHIUM® BATTERY WITH ACCUPOWER™ METER SYSTEM
i.LINK™ (IEEE 1394) DV INTERFACE
ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERSION AND PASS-THROUGH
Intelligent Accessory Shoe
DROP FRAME TIME CODE
7 FADER MODES
8 Picture Effects
6 DIGITAL EFFECTS
16:9 WIDE MODE
USB INTERFACE
specifications
Imaging Device: 1/4 Inch, 1,070k Gross Pixels CCD
Video Actual: 690K Pixels
F: 1.8 - 3.0mm
Optical: 18x
DIGITAL Zoom: 500x
f (FOCAL DISTANCE): 4.1 - 73.8mm
f (35MM CONVERSION): 47 - 846mm (camera mode)
FILTER DIAMETER: 37mm
FOCUSING: Full Range Auto/Manual Ring
MINIMUM ILLUMINATION: 7 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot™ System)
Shutter SpeedS: 1/4 - 1 /4000 (in AE mode)
VIEWFINDER: Black White Viewfinder (113k Pixels)
ACCESSORY SHOE: Intelligent
VIDEO INPUT/OUTPUT: Special Mini A/V
AUDIO INPUT/OUTPUT: Stereo, Special Mini A/V
i.LINK DV INTERFACE (IEEE 1394): Yes - bi-directional
HEADPHONE JACK: Stereo Mini
CONTROL L (LANC) TERMINAL: Stereo Mini-Mini
MIC INPUT: Stereo Mini
White Balance: Automatic only
EXPOSURE: Auto/Manual Dial (24 steps)
POWER CONSUMPTION (VF/LCD/VF+LCD): 4.0W/ 4.8W/ 5.0W
Size/Weight
3-3/8 x 4-1/8 x 8-1/8" (85 x 102 x 205.5mm)
2 lb. 20z. (970g)
Supplied Accessories
AC-L10 AC adapter
Np-FM50 InfoLithium Battery
Wireless Remote Control (RMT-814
Stereo A/V cable
Lens Cap
4MB Memory Stick Digital Data Storage
USB Cable<BR>
PhotoSuite® / Video Wave® / USB driver CD-ROM<BR>
Optional Accessories
NP-FM50/ 70 / 91 InfoLithium® Battery
MSA- 8A/16A/32A/64A Memory Stick® Media
MSAC-PC2 Memory Stick® PC Card Adapter
MSAC-FD2 Memory Stick® Floppy Disk Adapter
ECM-HS1 Zoom Microphone Intelligent Accessory
AC-VQ850 AC/DC Battery Quick Charger
HVL-FDH3 Video Light/Photo Flash Intelligent Accessory
HVL-IRH2 NightShot® Feature Light Intelligent Accessory
VMC-IL4415 i.LINK® Digital Video Cable
IFT-R20 LaserLink® Receiver

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