Need Affordable Digital Video Camera!

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

DD is a competitive cheerleader and we travel all over the country to different venues, most with dark lighting and flashing lights! Must have great zoom. Small in size and most of all...VERY AFFORDABLE!!!!!

[DizzyV6P]

Give us a money estimate. Otherwise you'll get suggestions running from mini-DV $149 pieces of junk all the way to the $2500 Canon pro-videocams ;)

Do you want a DVD based? Hard Drive based? Mini-DV tape?

Great Zoom and small in size does not mix. Are you going to carry it in a camcorder shoulder bag? In your purse? how big is your purse? etc....

Help us.....help you :)

[saturndb]

DizzyV6PIS right on. everyone defines affordable in a diffrent way. What is your meaning of affordable? Also can you list in terms of most important to you on down, the features the video camera needs.

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

OK!!! Since I am more of a still photographer at these events...I will do my best to tell you what I would like it to do. For my stills...I use a Canon Rebel XTi with a 75-300mm zoom, ISO set to 1600 in low light, sports mode. That's the extent of my camera knowledge. Then I slideshow all great shots in photobucket and get super creative in Photoshop for website shots for gyms site.

For competitions, I need to be able to capture 2.5 minutes of face-paced action, low light, sometimes strobe lights or flashing lights. Sometimes I am able to sit in priority seating, first 5 rows, or other times I could be 50 rows back. I want to be able to load videos to YouTube, and make DVD's for end-of-year banquet for cheerleaders & parents. *side note...also need great software to help with that. I want to get something to carry in bag I carry all the rest of my rest of camera stuff in...so the more compact, the better. I am not a professional videography by any stretch of the imagination...just want to capture my DD's season!!! I don't have $500 to spend on this item either...is that doable?!