Camcorder recommendations????

[Lowell_M]

Hi all... Haven't been around here much lately, but wanted to pop in to see if there are any home video experts here. In the next few months I'll be in the market for a camcorder and have no idea what you can get for your money. It looks like high definition is becoming the norm and seems like MiniDV is still the way to go based on some of my early researching... Having said that...

I'm looking for HD if it makes sense, don't want or need to spend a ton of $$ (<$800 ish?) but want something that takes good quality video that can easily be transferred to a computer and edited. Regarding formats, I'm leaning toward MiniDV or Hard Drive. MiniDVD's dont' hold enough video.

Anybody have some thoughts?

[haimoc]

I recommend Sony HDR-SR12. I bought one a few months ago.. Excelent camcorder.

[haimoc]

Sony HDR-SR11 is another version with smaller hard drive (60GB) than the SR12 (120 GB).
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...GB_Hybrid.html

B&H Demo for very good price..
$ 569.00

[TNRabbit]

The Sony hard drive models are excellent. Pic quality is outstanding.

[flipcap22]

My vote is for the Canon HV30, the successor to the very popular HV20. I bought it just before my daughter was born last April. I haven't used it as much as I've wanted to (I tend to use my 30D more for stills) but it does shoot great video. I see it can be had for less than 600 nowadays.

[Lowell_M]

The Cannon is MiniDV right? What are the advantages and disadvantages between MiniDV and a hard drive? Seems like hard drive would be the way to go, but I read some confusing info about the picture quality of the MiniDV format better and it was easier to edit the video from MiniDV. (it seems like the opposite would be true since you could easily pull the video off of the hard drive rather than waiting for a tape to transfer data. )

[haimoc]

Both Sony and Canon are good camcorders with excelent lens.. It is easy to copy video recording to computer for Sony, and I am pretty sure it is easy for the Canon, too.

More info on both Sony and Canon:
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camc...2775806-4.html

You can also use Memory Stick Duo media with Sony camcorders, too.

[izafar]

I will second the SR11 or SR12 recommendation. The thing that makes then different from others is that they use much bigger sensor (I believe 3/4" vs the std 1/5"). This results in low noise in low light situations.

[Zero]

Panasonic's HDR camcorders are typically the value leaders and would be the first line I'd check if I were in the market. Sony and Canon also make high-quality camcorders. .