New Camcorder Suggestions Needed

[wangy26]

My sister is looking to buy a new HD camcorder for recording mostly her new born baby. They have never used camcorder before. So here are some of the considerations for the camcorder:

1. It is easy to use for beginners.
2. It is easy for post-recording processing (transferring to computer, editing, copy to DVD, etc.) They are not geeks and have very busy schedules.
3. It has good low lighting recording since it is mostly for indoor baby activities.
4. It can recording in HD but it can also make SD DVD copy since not all their relatives have HDTV or Blue-ray players.
5. They prefer small portable ones (not huge and heavy).

Budge is not a concern. Can you recommend a few camcorders that fit their needs? Can you also recommend some software that does the basic post recording processing (transferring, basic cutting and editing, recording to DVD)?

Your help is greatly appreciated!

[Soopafresh]

Canon HV20 or HV30 or HV40

Vegas Movie Studio Software

[filmboss80]

I concur with Soopafresh. For efficiency, HDV is going to be the best format to work with for your sister's purposes. Avoid the endless editing headaches associated with the consumer-level AVCHD format.

[edDV]

Indoor shots will benefit from a little extra light in the rooms where you will be shooting video.

[wangy26]

Thanks very much for your help. As I understand the HV20/30 use tape as recording media. Going forward will tape be obsolete?

[Soopafresh]

Don't worry about the tape vs hard drive thing unless you want to drive yourself crazy. Every decision in technology purchases has advantages and disadvantages. Put it this way, with tapes you'll immediately have long term storage backup of all of the footage you'll be taking. Blank tapes will still be around for years to come.

[edDV]

Per your priorities, HDV format is favored.

My sister is looking to buy a new HD camcorder for recording mostly her new born baby. They have never used camcorder before. So here are some of the considerations for the camcorder:

1. It is easy to use for beginners.
2. It is easy for post-recording processing (transferring to computer, editing, copy to DVD, etc.) They are not geeks and have very busy schedules.
...
4. It can recording in HD but it can also make SD DVD copy since not all their relatives have HDTV or Blue-ray players.

HDV cameras record HD (for future?*) but can also output SD DV format for normal DVD creation on typical computers.

AVCHD format editing with DVD creation is not easy for beginners, requires a fast computer and requires downscale processing to create a DVD.


* As stated above HDV creates an instant HD tape that has long life for future archive. Many flash/HDD files are lost for the future through mishandling or accident. Consumers are notoriously poor at backing up/archiving valuable clips.