which video camera should I buy?

[avalonmusictx]

I own a small business booking musical groups. I want to purchase a video camera that I can use to easily download videos to my website and youtube so people can hear bands, and small ensembles (acoustic groups) play. I don't want or need to spend alot of money. I realize this forum is for experts, I am a total novice. I am willing to spend up to $500 for something good. This is for my business website, and youtube.
thanks

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[lordsmurf]

This forum is far from being for experts only. Your question fits here perfectly.

Look into the Flash "flip" cameras.
Amazon has a bunch: http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F...reative=390957

Those are okay for web videos for your site or Youtube (but not really anything else).
Easy to use.

[edDV]

I own a small business and I need a recommendation on a video camera that does good Audio. I am willing to spend up to $500.00 more or less. I realize this is a forum for experts, can you give me your expert advice?

From your other post. A DV format camcorder (Digital8 or MiniDV) with an external audio jack will record uncompressed PCM. Use a Beachtek box to connect directly to the mixer.

[zoobie]

it sounds like some cheap POS off craig's list for $29 should do it...

[rumplestiltskin]

Samsung MX20 is small, fairly cheap ($200), uses SDHC cards, shoots in four qualities (YouTube up to HQTV - not HD but SD hi-quality), and the battery lasts for about three hours of shooting. It has a few minor flaws, however:

- wide screen flag is improperly set so you have to correct this using MPEG Streamclip (for example). If you're interested in low quality YouTupe videos, they're 4:3 so this isn't an issue.
- you must use Samsung's genuine battery, not a bojack compatible; only Samsung's will work.

I've owned this camcorder for almost a year and am still using the original battery. It has a front-threaded lens so you can add a wide-angle adapter (for fish-eye, etc.) if you wish. No external mic port (darn).

Then again, the POS $29 unit suggested in a previous post might do the job for you.

[avalonmusictx]

I am willing to spend up to $500 to get good audio quality. Any other ideas? Good audio and video, that is easy to download.