new camcorder

[pantangs]

I want to buy a new camcorder but dont know which one is the best.I want something with a clear picture and life like look.Right now i am using a jvc mini cam and the picture always looks blurry and not sharp.Even when i use the zoom the thing cant handle it.Has anyone used the sony handycams?I was thinking about buying one but this is very confusing looking at so many camcorders.

[fjmr]

I Have Sony DCR HC 42 MiniDV Camcorder and the Picture is quite clear and sharp when recorded to the minidv tape.
Also photos taken with the memory card look nice.
See attached photo.

dsc00639.jpg

[pijetro]

Price range?
HDV, DV, Digibeta

Even when i use the zoom the thing cant handle it

Let me guess, low end consumer??

[pantangs]

I am looking to pay up to a thousand for a camcorder that will not be outdated after a year.Right now i am using a jvc mini cam that is not very good.I pais six hundred dollars for it and want something better.

[encrypted]

How about this Panasonic? 3 CCD + optical image stablization, under $1000.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007QN87Y/002-8926028-0470455?v=glance&n=502394

[ktnwin]

How about a High Defintion DV camcorder ? It costs around 1500$ today and will last for years. HD is the way to go in the very near future. You can check the quality differences at Frys for example. It's amazing.

[SingSing]

The panasonic looks very good. Is there a model with more zoom ?

[DokSoul]

Suggest you look at the ratings on Camcorder org. After looking at the ratings I went for the Canon Optura 50 as a compromise. I wanted REAL 16X9 to match my HDTV so I traded off some of the color exactness that the 3 chip cmos versions use - the optura uses a prism to obtain the 3 primary colors and is more accurate than most. I'm not ready to do HDTV...everyting costs too much to do it right now.

Here's a link to Camcorder.org

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

[MJA]

I'm a big fan of Canon.I bought the optura 60 last year.The Optura 50 got good reviews too it was selling for $399 lastweek
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&kw=CAOPTURA50&is=REG&Q=&O=pr...ist&sku=371473

I also heard alot of good reviews about the Panasonic PV-GS250

[edDV]

...Even when i use the zoom the thing cant handle it.

The panasonic looks very good. Is there a model with more zoom ?

Explain your zoom needs. For me the wide end of the zoom is never wide enough (without an adapter). The tight end of the zoom normally needs a tripod to hold it steady.


Or are you talking about Closeup Macro ?

[lenti_75]

for that 1000 you should get the Sony HD but the first version (think fx1), not the new small one....

pany gs250 is so full of shit....it's a shitty camera, nothing more than a regular one, why people keep praising that shit? I tried it....trust me.

[ashmont]

I'm looking for a new camcorder too. I've settled on getting MiniDV format. MJA, I'm tossing up between the Optura 60 and Optura Xi (or rather their UK equivalents MVX45i and MVX3i). The Optura 60 is a fair bit smaller but it seems to have very short battery life and I've read several reviews saying that the microphone picks up motor noise when things are quiet. How bad are these two concerns? Also, how good are the still pictures you can take with it? To be honest I wasn't that impressed with the sample image from the Sony linked to above - does it do better than that?

[pijetro]

pantangs wrote:

I am looking to pay up to a thousand for a camcorder that will not be outdated after a year.

Quality never gets outdated..
MiniDV is still the way to go..Pay for optics and CCD size, and who cares whether it's a tape? As far as the HDV, HDD, DVD and all the other garbagio that they're trying to pawn off to suckers, MiniDV is still the way to go..
HDV looks promising, but if you want optics and quality, the price range isn't quite there..

My personal favourite is the Panasonic PV GS400..I did lots of research before i dished out the money for a camcorder...And this was the one..

Good luck!!!

[nwo]

[quote="pijetro"]pantangs wrote:

My personal favourite is the Panasonic PV GS400..I did lots of research before i dished out the money for a camcorder...And this was the one..

If your lucky to still find one that is, try the Gs500 http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000DZFUIO/ref=dp_olp_1/002-6057525-0208811?%5Fencoding=UTF8
Seem cam just not got the AV-in or 3 rings, but just as good!

[jimbucc]

The Canons have had problems with low light - look at CamcorderInfo for full reviews.
The Panasonic 3CCD's like the PVGS-400 and now the 500 are highly rated. You may be able to get the 500 for around $1000 although the 400 was selling for $1400 - look on eBay for some good deals on used cams.

Personally I opted to spend a little more and got the Sony VX2100. While it is hardly a point and shoot cam it is definitely at the high end of their mini-dv line. Got it used on eBay for $1800.

As for zoom, get the highest optical zoom you can afford - avoid the 10x optical with 200x digital - digital zoom can make your video look like crap.

Jim

[MJA]

all budget camcorders sux in low light.I personaly like Canon and I also tested their repair service(in and out took less than 2 weeks)no matter what u buy be sure to get 3or4 year extanded warranty plan

[MJA]

delete

[stantheman1976]

The Canon GL2 can be had online for a little over $1200. It has gotten very good reviews and I have seen footage shot with it. Looks extremely good. The only drawback of Canon is they seem to have a couple glitches where the tape mechanism can screw up after a while. It's kind of hit and miss I think. Some have it happen, some don't. For the quality you can't beat the price though.

http://www.thecamerapros.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=281

The Panasonic PV-GS400 is a very good camera also. We have one at our church and it shoots some nice footage. Most cameras, even these, seem to suffer in low light conditions. Some do better than others.