Buying a camcorder

[Marty]

I want to buy a camcorder before I go back to school but I'm not sure how to go about this and I'm wondering if anyone here knows more. I want something relatively cheap that I can do video with that could be edited on my computer. But I'd also like the ability to take pictures with it as well. I have one friend who says I should just buy a digital camera that can take video but I wouldn't think the videos it would take would be very long or high quality. Any input on this?

[Yoshi]

what are u planning to video?
it's really a question of resolution/quality. Personally, these days I don't see any reason not to go miniDV, it's so affordable now... how affordable is entirely up to you.

Figure out what you want to output, and what quality level first, then pick your camera accordingly.

[Marty]

Any advice on a particular place to look to buy the camcorder? Should I get it from an internet site or try somewhere like circuit city?

[Nan Desu Ka?!]

I work for The Good Guys and my advice for you, and all my customers: get a decent digicam AND a decent camcorder. You will thank me later. Picture quality on camcorders is SHIIIIIIT unless you spend like 1000$++

Some good, decently priced camcorders:
1)ZR100,200,300 Canon
2)Sony DCRHC21, DCRHC40
3) JVC ... shit can't remember the model numbers now...go to their website, they have some pretty decent stuff at a good price.

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more questions.

[docrice]

Get something that records using mini DV tapes...good quality, good price, decent length tapes (up to about 90 mins)...analog tapes suck for quality (hi8, etc) and DVD are expensive and short (25mins a piece is the sux). You can usually get a good mini DV camcorder for $200-400, figure out what options you want and then start seeing what's available...

[S14DB]

Make sure it has Niteshot so you can shoot porno's. So get a Sony.

[Marty]

What do you guys own as far as camcorders or digi cameras? So far the sony and canon camcorders seem appealing and my friend who works at a photo store is telling me to go with the Pentax Optio S5I for a digi cam.

[Yoshi]

Sony is the devil incarnate that reaps death, pestilence, and darkness upon the already dimly lit world of mankind.

[nocturnaldrifter]

Sony isnt that bad, I have a 7.2 mega pixel digi cam from them that is awesome. But from my experience with camcorders canon makes some really good quality affordable ones, miniDV is the way to go.

[docrice]

I have a Samsung camcorder and it's pretty great...I don't like sony cause thye're monopolistic and generally price things higher than similarly priced stuff from other brands despite similar product features and quality (everything from plasmas to car audio). I work in a circuit city warehouse and deal with a lot of camcorders going to service, and most of the service ones i see are sony and jvc. That's just my take on the matter though...

[Nan Desu Ka?!]

Sony is pretty shat for camcorders in low light, same with their cameras, although the new digicams are getting much better. Canon is still the way to go as far as minDV cams go.

again, im VERY experienced in this department. shit i sell the things, i better know a thing or 2 about them. Also, this is not just me talking, this is all the customers i have dealt with's impressions (i follow up on my customers to see how they like their shit).

The optios5i is a great camera. if you want some comparable models, check out canon's sd 300,400,500 cameras and sony's dscw7, dsct7 and dsct33.

again, if you have ANY other questions, feel free to PM me, I can answer just about anything.

[Toka Motorsports]

DV Panasonic | PV-GS65 3CCD
$492.49

Panasonic 3CCD Ultra-Compact(tm) Digital Palmcorder PV-GS65, 10x OPT and 700x DG, 2.5" LCD Specifications: Image Sensor: 1/6" CCD x 3 (420k x 3 pixels) Lens: F1 ...

this is the best way to go.. its 3ccd quality and is cheap. if you look around any other 3ccd camera would cost over 1200.00 dollars. i bought a dv panasonic 3ccd when they used to cost 600.00 bucks but now they are cheaper... i used this camera for my broadcasting class and the quality was close to cameras that cost over 6000.00 dollars..!!!!!!!!! ......it also had an sd card slot for taking pictures.. you cant go wrong with this thing!!!!!! but if your willing to burn some cash buy your self a canon gl2...

[OdessaS13]

yeah i used to work at GG too. most camcorders that take pics ussually take them at low resolution, about the same as a cell phone (i think 480 by 640 pixels/ about half of 1MP). so dont expect to print out decent 4 by 6's with a camcorder pic.
I would personally go with canon just because they use a kick ass lens.
good luck
btw get something with good OPTICAL zoom

[AAA240SX]

I second Dorifto?!'s comment. Specifically because i hav a family member with a digital cam that doubles as a camcorder (or vise versa, I 4get). The point is that the quality is not the same. Buying one of each is better. Although it may be more out of pocket, it will benefit you more in the long run. IMO...

everything i hav is from Canon. Canon = Crisp pictures. Fuji = Fawkinghey.

good luck wit ur purchase mangs...