Newb needs $400 - $600 camcorder solution...

[Shortbus64]

My biggest problem is storage. I will have 2weeks of vacation and no where to download the days footage.

I have been looking at the Cannon fs200 and some of the sanyo camcorders. But I am not interested in spending $400 on Compact flash storage cards. Any thoughts about good inexpensive storage solutions? like the Nexto units or archos?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[zoobie]

mini-dv tape is the most inexpensive and efficient with 13gb for $2.50
the canon hv-20 or 30 can be picked up for around $4-500
can't beat the value for a consumer HDV cam

[mshilly]

Too bad you won't have something to DL SD card content to because the Cannon HF200 (I have a HF100) is an absolutely incredible camera and if you get it from BH it is likely to be right in that price range. Even the HFxxx series camcorders have various bitrates that you can record at to use less space on the SD media. I got 2 16GB SD cards for $75 and on my HF100 they hold about 2Hrs each at 17Mbps.

[minidv2dvd]

zoobie - where can you find the hv30 for 4-500 $ new? the price seems to have gone up everywhere after the hv40 was released and even b&hphoto wants $800 for one now. i wouldn't mind another to replace an aging gl1 SD cam if i could get it for the $600 i paid for my hv30 6 months ago. otherwise i'd go with the hv40 for $900.

[zoobie]

zoobie - where can you find the hv30 for 4-500 $ new? the price seems to have gone up everywhere after the hv40 was released and even b&hphoto wants $800 for one now. i wouldn't mind another to replace an aging gl1 SD cam if i could get it for the $600 i paid for my hv30 6 months ago. otherwise i'd go with the hv40 for $900.

you probably can't new...I was thinking factory refurbed...sorry for the confusion
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sony+refurbished+hv30

[minidv2dvd]

not a big fan of any refurbs, i've had a few bad experiences.... thanks anyway though. i still can't think of why the new hv30s went up in price so much instead of going down more when the new hv40s came out.......

[zoobie]

Dunno...but you can actually get an extended warranty from the factory with their refurb...

[Shortbus64]

thanks for the replies everyone... does anyone know if shops will rent camcorders so I can try a few out before I buy?

[zoobie]

some do but they soak you on a daily rate
maybe try them out at bestbuy, target, walmart, frys, or your local camera store

[Soopafresh]

hv30

http://www.vimeo.com/4387684

hv30
http://www.vimeo.com/931736

[neoh74]

i take advantage of sonys customer service. I find broken hdr-fx1 (one i got for 800 the other for 1,000) registered them as soon as i got them,then sent them in for repair. They dont charge for parts! They've replaced the entire lense assemby and internals on one and a complete overhaul on the other. They send them back out of the repair center at reconditioned specs! So now i have only spent $2300 for two Recertified HDR-FX1's...