Suggestions on Best Camcorders under $500.00

[threetimechamps]

Hey im new to this capturing video and editing it so I was wonder what would be the best Camcorder model to buy under $500.00? Im looking primarily for great video quality.....

[SingSing]

Take a look at the midrange Canon like Elura series, or the harddisk based JVC Everio series.

[tmelo36]

Personally I'd stay away from the JVC Everio HDD camcorders.
I own one and the picture quality is just horrible specially in low light situations. Even at the highest quality. Complete waste of money.

I've been researching the Canon Elura 100 and from the reviews I've been reading it's a pretty decent quality camcorder with Widescreen HR (High Resolution).

I'm just waiting for the right moment to buy one.

[SingSing]

Sony 8mm and Hi-8 camcorders have very good low light performance. Can we expect that from they miniDV cam ?

[tmelo36]

You can also take look at the Panasonic PV-GS120 3CCD Camcorder. Great image and color quality and decent low light quality recording. I've seen some on Ebay for alot less then what you wanna spend.

Check it out.

[G)-(OST]

Hi TTC, check this site out http://www.camcorderinfo.com/.

Denis

[bertmartin]

I have the Canon Elura 100. It has most of the features I wanted and the best price. The next step up would be a 3 CCD camera which bumps the price quite a bit. I didn't think I needed a 3 CCD camera for my use. I took the Canon to Alaska and got some great video of a blond grizzly bear in Denali park. The bear with cub walked right up to the bus. The zoom is great on this camera and I could see animals other couldn't see with the naked eye. Of course with extreme zoom you need a tripod. People were moving around rocking the bus to see animals and bumping my elbow so I had some shakey video too. Fun and games! Low light capability is ok but there is some quality drop as with other cameras. For the price you can't go wrong.
Bert

[SingSing]

I had transfered a few full length wedding, party video capture for friends to DVDs. From those video, it performs very well under sunlight, and better than okay on a dim dance floor.

Elura 100 on sales at BB : http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7608412&type=product&id=1130983394574

[dwill123]

I would recommend that you take a look at the Panasonic GS300. It is a 3CCD camcorder which replaced the GS250 (a camcorder with a few more prosumer features). Panasonic stripped the prosumer features out of this camcorder mainly to lower the price. That did not make it an inferior device at all. It will probably do all that you want or need (within your price range).

GS300 @ B&H Photo

[lordsmurf]

Canon Z-series

[greymalkin]

I have 2 pv-gs120's. They are great for their price. the first one I bought used for $500, but it came with an extra battery, tripod, carrying case, and lapel mic.

The second one I bought was a "camcorder only" unit for 200! woo hoo! Since I already had all the accessories I didn't need the other cables/battery that normally comes with the camera. And as a bonus, the second one I bought actually works when I hook it into my firewire port! (the first one had a burned out port). No more capturing via s-video to uncompressed .avi!

You should go to www.camcorderinfo.com and check them out. For a $500 budget nowadays you can probably get something a little nicer.