new camcorder recommendations please

[ChillBill]

I'm hoping someone can recommend a camcorder, or help aim me in the right direction for what my needs are.

I'm looking for hard drive storage.
Easily transferred to PC. (I assume they mostly use usb, or firewire.)
Easy to find software to edit videos with. (Programs do not have to be free, but that would be nice. More than 1 option is more important than price)
Easy to find software to turn videos into DVDs. ( Same comment as above)


Camcorder is going to be used for family videos. Kids ball games, school plays, vacations, etc...nothing fancy

My budget is about $500 to $600.
My PC is good, but not very fast. (quad core 2.0 ghz with 3 gigs of ram) Thought this might matter for video editing and dvd creation.

If anyone has any suggestions or more questions please let me know.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

[Soopafresh]

Canon HV20 or HV30 and Vegas Movie Studio Platinum software

Example videos:

http://vimeo.com/channels/hv20

[edDV]

I would argue your requirements but this fits. AC-3 audio may prove difficult to edit unless you geek up.
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Everio-GZ-MG680-120GB-Camcorder/dp/B001OMH1NM

[nitro1973]

o would also reccomend canon camcorder. very good video quality.

[zoobie]

some cams record straight to dvd...

[ChillBill]

I would argue your requirements but this fits. AC-3 audio may prove difficult to edit unless you geek up.
http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Everio-GZ-MG680-120GB-Camcorder/dp/B001OMH1NM

I don't understand. Why would you argue my requirements? Is there something more important I should be looking for that I'm not thinking of now?
Also, what type of editing for AC3 would be hard? Cutting out background noises, of clipping out parts of the vid and being able to save it? Why, and how would I need to 'geek up'?

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Will gladly take more, and also suggestions of requirements that I should be looking for.

Thanks, Bill

[t0nee1]

I don't do a whole lot of cammy recording, so I didn't really need a large capacity HDD..I purchased this last christmas , it was on sale@ BB...I use the very simple and easy-to-use WinDV to transfer via firewire, of course........

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-GZMG155-Camcorder-Optical-Docking/dp/B000MAFTDQ/ref=pd_bbs_1...7901866&sr=8-1

[mshilly]

Canon HF100 - $529 at B&H and you can get 8-16GB SDs for cheap now. I have this one and it is a keeper.

[ChillBill]

Canon HF100 - $529 at B&H and you can get 8-16GB SDs for cheap now. I have this one and it is a keeper.

You bring up something that I forgot all about.

What is everyone's opinion about hard drive camcorders vs. memory card camcorders?

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Bill

[Soopafresh]

They're all AVCHD file format, so you'd better have a fast computer to edit on, or spend another $120 on an app like Neo Scene which will convert the files into something more easily edited.

Download this example file and see if it plays smoothly on your system

http://www.avchdclips.com/sample_2.zip

[edDV]

His budget limit doesn't allow for AVCHD (with flash cards or HDD) plus the specialized software needed to edit and encode to DVD. That is why I proposed an SD HDD JVC that could be edited with free or low cost software since picture quality was not a listed requirement.

Closeout/refurb HDV tape based Canon HV20 models might fit the budget and should be editable with his quad core PC. A great advantage of the HV20 is its ability to record in HDV or DV format or even record HDV but output DV 480i with in camera hardware downscale. This makes it editable to DVD with free software*.


*free software requires technical learning (i.e. geek up). Good SD edit/dvd commercial packages can be found in rebate sales under $30 (e.g. Sony Vegas Movie Studio, ULead Video Studio or DVD Movie Factory).

I picked up Corel/ULead DVD Movie Factory v6 last week at Fry's for $40 minus $20 rebate minus $20 upgrade rebate. This would work with either the JVC Everio or the Canon HV20 in DV output mode.

PS: I just noticed DVD Movie Factory v6 will also import HDV or AVCHD and make the conversion to SD DVD MPeg2.
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/compare.htm

[zoobie]

A great advantage of the HV20 is its ability to record in HDV or DV format or even record HDV but output DV 480i with in camera hardware downscale.

I thought they all did...

Anyway, maybe you should "humble down" and check craig's list for a used deal...

[edDV]

A great advantage of the HV20 is its ability to record in HDV or DV format or even record HDV but output DV 480i with in camera hardware downscale.

I thought they all did.

Most HDV yes, not AVCHD. AVCHD is too compute intensive to properly downscale in cam and generation losses are greater.

The other issue is the HV20 closeouts are cheap because of their market success. They are the best sellers but Canon has upgraded twice to HV30 and HV40 driving the price of HV20 down. Few need the added features of the HV30 and HV40 so grab an HV20 if you can.