Prosumer Cameras

[chendagam]

A bit off topic but you guys have always been a great help. I work for a school district and we are looking to purchase new miniDV cameras. The problem is the consumer cameras are always out for repair. Most of them have broken zoom lense or the tape mechanism gets bent and doesn't accept tapes. We really don't want to spend more than $800 per camera. Any suggestions will be extremely helpful.

Thanks,

John

[edDV]

Seems like you should buy the cheapest models and junk them when they break. Typical camcorder repair would exceed $200.

Digital 8 models are more robust than MiniDV or DVD.

[SingSing]

The local access TV crews and students taking media class are very active locally. They don't really break their cameras because their equipment are big and heavy, typically tripod mount, or shoulder mount.

MiniDV camera are typically light and small, and easily dropped when you don't pay full attention.

You want to try the older and large digital-8 or hi-8 camera, with tripod, and training. Transfer to a DVD recorder. This is a human issues, not equipment issue.

If you insist on miniDV, then you may want to try the waterproof enclosure, maybe that will survived dropping better.

[edDV]

Consider a deposit. There is no incentive for them to take care of the equipment.

[chendagam]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It really helped out.