Camcorder recommendations????

Lowell_M
Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
edited April 2009 in The Clubhouse
Hi all... Haven't been around here much lately, but wanted to pop in to see if there are any home video experts here. In the next few months I'll be in the market for a camcorder and have no idea what you can get for your money. It looks like high definition is becoming the norm and seems like MiniDV is still the way to go based on some of my early researching... Having said that...

I'm looking for HD if it makes sense, don't want or need to spend a ton of $$ (<$800 ish?) but want something that takes good quality video that can easily be transferred to a computer and edited. Regarding formats, I'm leaning toward MiniDV or Hard Drive. MiniDVD's dont' hold enough video.

Anybody have some thoughts?
HT
RTi70 mains
CSi30 center
RTi28 Rears
Velodyne CHT-12
H/K AVR-247
ADCOM GFA-7000
Samsung PN58B860
Playstation 3
2-Channel
Polk Audio LSi15's
Rotel RCD-1072
Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
ADCOM GFA-555
Signal Cable Analog II IC's
Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
Post edited by Lowell_M on
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Comments

  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited April 2009
    I recommend Sony HDR-SR12. I bought one a few months ago.. Excelent camcorder.
    -?¿-
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  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited April 2009
    Sony HDR-SR11 is another version with smaller hard drive (60GB) than the SR12 (120 GB).
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/552806-DEMO/Sony_HDRSR11_DEMO_HDR_SR11_60GB_Hybrid.html

    B&H Demo for very good price..
    $ 569.00
    -?¿-
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited April 2009
    The Sony hard drive models are excellent. Pic quality is outstanding.
    TNRabbit
    NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
    Sunfire TG-IV
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  • flipcap22
    flipcap22 Posts: 22
    edited April 2009
    My vote is for the Canon HV30, the successor to the very popular HV20. I bought it just before my daughter was born last April. I haven't used it as much as I've wanted to (I tend to use my 30D more for stills) but it does shoot great video. I see it can be had for less than 600 nowadays.
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited April 2009
    The Cannon is MiniDV right? What are the advantages and disadvantages between MiniDV and a hard drive? Seems like hard drive would be the way to go, but I read some confusing info about the picture quality of the MiniDV format better and it was easier to edit the video from MiniDV. (it seems like the opposite would be true since you could easily pull the video off of the hard drive rather than waiting for a tape to transfer data. )
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • haimoc
    haimoc Posts: 1,031
    edited April 2009
    Both Sony and Canon are good camcorders with excelent lens.. It is easy to copy video recording to computer for Sony, and I am pretty sure it is easy for the Canon, too.

    More info on both Sony and Canon:
    http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/sony-handycam-hdr-sr12/4540-6500_7-32775806-4.html

    You can also use Memory Stick Duo media with Sony camcorders, too.
    -?¿-
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  • izafar
    izafar Posts: 819
    edited April 2009
    I will second the SR11 or SR12 recommendation. The thing that makes then different from others is that they use much bigger sensor (I believe 3/4" vs the std 1/5"). This results in low noise in low light situations.
    -izafar

    Goldenear Technology Triton 1 - Benchmark AHB2 - Benchmark LA4 - Auralic Vega - Auralic Aries Mini - Marantz TT-15S1 - Clearaudio Nano
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