Best camcorder for around $500

[Hank Kinsley]

I know that's a broad question, I am really new to the camcorder world. I am going on a trip for 2 months and I want a camera that take quality video and stills as well. I don't have an HDTV yet, but will get one soon. The trip is to Thailand and India, so battery life and durability is probably important.

I've seen HD cameras for $500-700, and SD cameras for $200-400. Is it worth spending more and getting HD, or just get a solid SD camera I don't have to worry about as much? Is there a particular camera that minimizes camera shake particularly well? I've seen video from some SD cameras and it looked really nice.

Just curiously, what do you guys think about the Sony DCRHC52?

Any help would be appreciated.

[kippard]

Soopafresh suggested the Onecall, Canon HV20 refurb: http://www.onecall.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=92302 I bought it. It's great. You can play HDV video you record on your SD TV.

[Soopafresh]

Hi Kippard, glad it worked out for you. It was MJA who originally made the find. https://forum.videohelp.com/topic358525.html

BTW, the HV20 is also a great 1920x1080 still camera.

Is there a particular camera that minimizes camera shake particularly well?

The best would be to use a device like a Hague MMC stabilizer (they're around $120 or so)

http://www.vimeo.com/804381

Examples of usage:

The Hague MMC with the Canon HV20 that Kippard recommended.

http://www.vimeo.com/1530040

http://www.vimeo.com/2074009

[kippard]

Right, but you brought it to my attention, Soop! Thanks again! Yes, amazing quality for such a small camera. Damn fine CMOS, I guess. Note: does not come with media card included, for stills. Maybe get extra batteries, but the battery life on the one included is not bad.

[dun4cheap]

I would check costco out. They had the HV30 new for $599 last month. Came with a 2 year warranty. Then there is B&H that had it for $589 with a 1 year warranty.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Soopafresh]

Extra battery and charger for the HV20/HV30

http://www.bestbatt.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=hv30&Extensive_Search=Y

[dun4cheap]

Looks like costco has the Canon HG20 for $599 right now. Though I prefer HDV and tapes myself.

[2Bdecided]

BTW, the HV20 is also a great 1920x1080 still camera.

As much as I love my HV20, it's not for its digital stills. They're passable, sometimes - but sometimes they're appalling (especially indoors).

With great effort (AVIsynth processing), you can often extract better stills from the video footage itself.

Cheers,
David.

[Hank Kinsley]

Thank for you're help guys. Videohelp forums are the best!


What about on the cheaper side? Like $300 or less. (I'm in Canada by the way)

I'm trying to decide whether to take something that I really will have to take care of (the things you own, own you) or whether I should buy something cheaper, that still gets the job done, and if it get smashed into 1000 pieces, I won't have a heart attack.

Is there a certain feature/advancement that is a "must have" on a camcorder?

What about this one?:
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10098860&catid=

[Soopafresh]

Fight Club!

Yeah, that standard def Sony camera is fine. I would still encourage you to get a stabilizer, but it depends on what you're expecting the output to look like. Get the camera and do some test shots at home and see if you can tolerate the shaking from shooting hand-held. I couldn't watch "Cloverfield" for more than a few minutes without getting sick, but YMMV.