Affordable Camcorders

[TheJungOnes]

The June 2004 edition of “Digital Videomaker” magazine has a review of $230-$300 camcorders. It also includes what to look for when buying a basic camcorder.

The Hi8 models included in the buyer’s guide are:
Samsung’s SC-L810, SC-L906, SC-L860
Sony’s CCD-TRV128, CCD-TRV328

 

[ibleedblue]

Any mention of the best mini-DV camcorders at a somewhat affordable price?

 

[TheJungOnes]

Sadly, the magazine has not done an in-depth review of Mini-DV as a whole in a few years. December 2002 has "150 Camcorders Compared", but after a year and a half I don't think that it would have useable information. Models change so quickly.

"Digital Videomaker" magazine and "Camcorder & Computer Video" magazine both carry reviews of camcorders in every issue, but it is usually only one or two models per issue.

(I would warn against buying items from some of the discount camera stores that have impressive ads in these magazines, they often deal with grey market or referb/open box.)

Personally, dealing with all types of video cameras as part of my job, I like Sony, Panasonic and Canon.

I suggest http://www.cnet.com for more information, they have tons of camcorder reviews.

 

[DISNEYDADINOREGON]

Canon makes a great mini DV. Any of the ZR series are now really affordable and very high quality. I buy everything Canon because of the quality of the lenses. Look at www.disneypix.com and you can see digital pictures taken on a Canon Powershot pro 90 which is a very high end camera. BUT you can get similar results from a Canon camera. The still mode on these DV cameras is not as good as digital camera becasue of the usually low resolution.
It has low light features, steady cam and the colors come out are really good. I have had my ZR25 for 3 years and it is great.

 

[JRoglitz]

Anyone have any advice on a really small camcorder? I really want a compact one either DV or Hi8. Just a good middle range quality. We would just use it for home videos and vacations.

 

[TheJungOnes]

I am very happy with my old Sony DCR-PC5 (no longer being sold), I think that DCR-PC330 is the newest model under that flagship and has the same small size. Canon Elura 50 is another coat-pocket sized video camera. I know a tv phojo that uses the Elura at home and has been very happy with it.

The new MicroDV cameras from Sony are the size of a bar of soap. I still have questions about the MicroDV format and you have to pay for the super small size.

Photos from an unrelated online review I did a few months ago (happens to have the DCR-PC5 in it) :
http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v31/aishatech/CompFront.jpg

http://img12.photobucket.com/albums/v31/aishatech/CompSide.jpg

 

[DemoBri1]

According to the last ratings I saw in Consumer Reports they rated a couple of Canon's and Panasonic's at the top of the list along with a Sony Digital 8. FWIW, Consumer Reports also went on to say that Canon cameras have the highest rate of failure than any of the other brands they tested.

IMHO, I'd stay away from buying a Hi8/Digital 8 camera basically because they are yesterday's technology. Don't by a DVD camcorder either, as they have not been out long enough to be of any kind of value.

If I were buying today, and this is just my opinion, I would buy either a Panasonic or Sony Mini-DV model. If your library has archival copies of Consumer Reports, check out the November 2003 issue. That's the last article I've seen on Camcorders.

Also, I've been having problems finding tapes for my Digital 8 at Best Buy lately, so I don't know if they've moved them, or they're telling me its time to get a new camera .

 

[JRoglitz]

Wow...thanks for the info. I will have to check out that Consumer Report.