Choosing a new camcorder and few thoughts

[kb1985]

Hi,
I'm planning to buy a new digital video camera. Since 2004 I've been using Sony DCR-HC30 which was perfect for me but now I need to buy a new one The thing is that DCR-HC30 is no longer available (and I think it doesn't make sense to by an old type of the camcorder), so I have to decide for something new. I feel fine with Sony so I will probably stick to it (shouldn't I for some reason?) but all the new models seem worse for me. Sure, they have more megapixels but they have this annoying station and the ports removed from the body of the camera. So I will like buing something worse that I had. Because I need to use that camera also as analog/digital converter, so I've decided to buy DCR-HC96 because other models don't seem to have analog video/audio in. Is it a good choice? I was hoping that maybe soon there will be some new camcorders to chose from but it seems that Sony is rather developing the HD than standard cameras. I was even considering buying the HD but do I really need it? The size of HD video is different than DVD so I would probably need to convert it down to 720x or switch of the HD mode. But probably I will be using this new camera for a long time, so maybe HD is a good investment in the future, because maybe soon I will burn somethingelseinstead of DVD's. What would you recmmend? Stick to DCR-HC96? Wait for new models (will there by any?)? Chose HD?

[aedipuss]

i'd opt for one of the newer sony HD miniDV cams. they will allow you to shoot in SD and use the cam just like your old one if you wish and also shoot in HD when you want.

[kb1985]

Well it seems logical but the question is do I need HD? Will it become satandard in the next few years and will I be able to play may videos anywhere?

And what do you think about Sony developing any new camcorders, will they be only HD or also SD? I don't like those that are on sale now because of the docking station I hope that they will cahange it in the future. And the HD's don't have the analog in and only one SD has analog in so I'm really looking forward to some new models. Funny thing is that the 2004 camcorders seemed better to me. Of course they had less megapixeles (but is there really a difference between 1 MPX and 3 MPX if the ideo is 720x anyway?), they had remote controls (not that i need to use it everyday but it was a nice touch that the new models lack), all the connectors were on the body of the camera... ehhh. Good times!

[zoobie]

Well it seems logical but the question is do I need HD? Will it become satandard in the next few years and will I be able to play may videos anywhere?

yes, yes...and yes

[Constant Gardener]

Our camcorder is from 1992, and uses 8mm video tape. Damn thing refuses to die. When it does, I hope that flash-based HD cameras are cheaper, and that some reasonably-priced editors are available. I see little reason to consider SD.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Stick with a tape-based camcorder. Sony's HDV camcorders can record regular SD DV. They can also convert HDV to DV if you need SD via FireWire but want high-def recordings for the future. But most (if not all) cannot do analog-to-digital conversion from an external source. Hopefully, someone will correct me on that. So, keep your existing one for such conversion even if the optical/mechanical parts are faulty.

[zoobie]

I think you're right...but it seems I read where there are a few HD cams that have the passthru...they may be a few years old...I forget.

[Soopafresh]

Canon HV20