Home movies on dvd?

[stevejay]

Hi
I am about to buy my 1st camcorder and i will want to save all my home movies to dvd, i already have a pioneer 106 installed, however i need some help in choosing a camcorder, does it need to be a digital or is it possible to capture video to my HD with a bottom end of the range camcorder

[petar]

Price normally determines but a digital camcorder (miniDV or Digital8) is a much easier solution because they record in DV and DV is very easy to transfer to your PC.

i will want to save all my home movies to dvd

The movies you are to make or movies you already have? If the latter, then another vote for digital because you can get a digital camcorder that has analog-to-digital capability and will do the conversion for you.

The other option (getting an analog camcorder) requires a capture card/device to transfer the video to your HD. If your PC already has a capture card then maybe you can save some $ with an analog camcorder. But I'd go for digital.

[redwudz]

Not an expert on camcorders, but I would definately get one with a DV output, even better with a DV passthrough. Then all you need is a 1394 Firewire card and you're ready to go.

[petar]

Oh, btw, you can also get DVD-R/RAM camcorders. You record directly onto a DVDR which should play directly on your standalone. Never used one so can't tell you how good they are. I know Panasonic makes them and maybe others.

[thor300]

Digital is best for sure, especially if you dont already have a capturecard. A PCI FireWire card cost less than even a bad quality cap-card. But, it is possible to capture from a "bottom end of the range camcorder", yes. If you plan to put existing homevideos on DVD from VHS you need a cap-card anyway. Check out Canon MV700, great value for the money.
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edit: Was too fast there. You dont need a cap-card to put existing VHS to DVD, you can do it with a digital camcorder. Transfer analog from the VHS to the cam, then digitaly from cam to pc.

[thor300]

Im kinda off topic, but you want cheap, so i wanted to add that the Canon MV700 does not have video input, but the MV700i (cost more) got the functionality for transfering from VHS to cam. Check out other brands, but noone beats canon in price/quality.

[stevejay]

Thanks for the help guys, i wont be transferring vhs-dvd but any home movies i film from now on will be put directly onto dvd.....am i right in thinking digital is the way to go? any suggestions make/model i want value for money but am not too bothered with "top end" features

[Capmaster]

am i right in thinking digital is the way to go?

I think it's safe to say that