Camcorders. Anyone?

As I am now a proud father of a baby girl I fear its time to splurge on a new camcorder to capture all those precious moments - ie, my first poo, my first sick, my first expensive pony, my first university education bill - etc etc.

I can get my hands on a JVC Everio GZ-MC200 for about £350 squids - this is a tapeless HDD solution (natch)

However - I am concerned that this is one of the first of its breed and image quality may suffer, so Im still open to a MiniDV alternative - as long as it also has a CF slot (for my iddy biddy hard drives).

I am not a serious filmaker- I am point and shoot amateur who wants good quality films for the family.

Any ideas anyone?

tnx in advance //lamboy

 

I got a camcorder for the exact same reason.... and it now only comes out for special events - Xmas, birthdays, distant relatives visiting etc.
Frankly, using one of these takes you out of the action too much and isolates you - so you don't enjoy what's happening.
Just get the cheapest one you can find, basic sony, panasonic, jvc etc.

 

I'm still trying to decide what to get and how much to spend - a decision making process going on 18 months now. I settled on a Sony a while back, before I'd blinked it had been superseded with a completely different model. Sort of put me off making a purchase.

lamboy - love your sig - reminds me of great times. You should be able to locate the source of mine.

 

I have a Canon MV530i. Its MiniDV based and a little old now but it is still good IMO. Has a card slot for SD memory too. Pretty cheap now I expect.

 

You're probably going to need to do some basic editing before dumping the results to DVD or VHS; so in a way it doesn't matter which recording format you go for.

What's more important is the quality of the picture and sound as you record and how long the batteries last. Once you've missed the moment you can't get it back.

The essentials when choosing a camera are:
- Good low light performance
- A lens capable of a decent wide angle shot
- A good clear viewfinder or monitor screen
- Manual focus control
- Either a very good directional built-in mic, or a mic socket & hot shoe for adding something better
- Hi-capacity batteries

Stuff they'll try to sell you but you really don't need:
- 200x digital zoom
- Digital effects
- digital photo camera functions (they only work well on the best digital camcorders)
- high speed shutter

Usefull accessories:
- a lightweight tripod with a quick release plate (check the camera has a tripod thread, of course )
- A skylight filter and a circular polariser filter
- more batteries
- a better cary bag

New digital camcorders are incredibly cheap for what they are, but there's also a good selection of s/h stuff available too.

Regards

 

I have a Sony digital 8 camera, its exactly the same as a DV camera but takes 8 style cassetes. Its out dated technology now but the picture is very good. I don't use it as much as I would like though, I used it for Brighton and my graduation but not since.

Also I never get round to completing DVDs, I start cutting all the scenes in Premiere but I never seem to finish them.

Mine has 20x optical zoom which is very very nice, it has 700x digital zoom which is useless. I got a accessory pack free with it which included a tape, a much higher capacity battery and a bag.

 

Absolutely nothing to add regarding camcorders, but congratulations on your daughter

 

Lifted from another site (posted this afternoon)
Great Universal are selling the Sony DCR PC53 camcorder for £315 (inc free delivery)
New customers can get a 20% discount, making it only £252.
Pixmania are selling it for £390.00 (+P&P) and Amazon £384.00
www.greatuniversal.com (catalogue number X60491)

 

Well, it would now appear I do have something to add

My MOther has just asked me to investigate camcorders! My older brother and fiance are due to have their first child toward the end of November and she wants to get them one as a present.

I've spent the last hour or so looking through a few sites...
http://www.simplydv.co.uk
http://www.reviewcentre.com/products58.html
http://www.whatcamcorder.net/

 

Isnt their relationship going to affect your marriage plans?

 

tnx MO

I am officialy a very happy bunny

 

Worth considering IMO

 

:lol:

......and his finacé........

 

Did you pick anything after? My mum's been nagging me a bit, but I don't even know what format to go for

 

Nope, still looking. I think I'll go for a miniDV and not bother with a HDD cam just yet.