Best DVD camcorder out there?

[miss missy]

I am in the market for one for xmas. Anyone have one you like or suggestions on one? It would be for family video kind of stuff. Thanks

 

[Lancer]

Well, I'm not an expert but I will tell you what I know. The best picture quality camcorders are the HD camcorders. I am not sure if any are DVD as opposed to DV. They are big and cost twice as much as the best standard camcorder. Also I am not sure of the currently available models, but, last january I bought a Sony DVD403 Handycam for about $900. At the time it was their high end DVD model. Once you get over about $4-500 they all have touch screens as opposed to buttons on the screens. The quality and size of the sensor plays a big role so take note of those. One drawback to the DVD is that on its highest quality setting, I only get about 20 min of recording time. You get about an hour with DV. Overall I am happy with the Sony and would get another,albeit newer model, if I needed to replace it. I was pressured by the salesman at Bestbuy to get the service package because he said it would need periodic adjustments. I didnt buy it, and to this day, never had a problem.

Sorry I dont have any current model info, I just wanted to pass on my satisfaction with the Sony line.

Lancer

 

[miss missy]

Thanks Lancer! Anyone else?

 

[miss missy]

I cant find a good one? arg

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The best picture quality camcorders are the HD camcorders.

With camcorders, you have to be careful with the term HD. It is true that High Definition camcorders can have much better picture quality that standard definition camcorders. It is not true that Hard Disk based camcorders have better picture quality that tape based or DVD based camcorders.

 

[miss missy]

Thanks Mark! I am looking at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000DZKSXQ/pricegrabbercpc77-20/ref=nosim

I cant tell if I need SD cards or tapes??

 

[Seahunt]

miss missy - on the other post I posted all the CR ratings for you, and thought maybe you'd like the rest of the article to help make sense of what they rated on:

Buying advice Camcorders
Quality and ease of use help digital moviemakers win out

You can do a lot more with videos shot on digital or analog camcorders than play them back, unedited, on your TV. You can edit and embellish them with music using your computer, then play your productions on your DVD or PC. Or even send them to friends or family via e-mail.

Digital camcorders, now the dominant type, generally offer very good to excellent picture quality, along with very good sound capability, compactness, and ease of handling. Making copies of a digital recording need not result in a loss of picture or sound quality. You can even take rudimentary still photos with most digital camcorders.

Analog camcorders, now a small part of the market, generally have good picture and sound quality and are less expensive. Some analog units are about as compact and easy to handle as digital models, while others are a bit bigger and bulkier.


WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Sony dominates the camcorder market, with multiple models in a number of formats. Other top brands include Canon, JVC, Panasonic, and Samsung. Most digital models come in the MiniDV format, but there are also the disc-based DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD+RW formats. Newer models record to flash memory or a hard drive. Some digital models weigh as little as 1 pound.

MiniDV. Don't let their small size deceive you. Although some models can be slipped into a large pocket, MiniDV camcorders can record very high-quality images. They use a unique tape cassette, and the typical recording time is 60 minutes at standard play (SP) speed. Expect to pay about $6.50 for a 60-minute tape. You must use the camcorder for playback--it converts its recording to an analog signal that can be played directly into a TV or VCR. If the TV or VCR has an S-video input jack, use it to get a high-quality picture. Price: $350 to more than $1,000.

Disc-based. Capitalizing on the popularity and capabilities of DVD movie discs, these formats offer benefits that tape can't provide: long-term durability, compactness, and random access to scenes as with a DVD. The 31/4-inch discs record standard MPEG-2 video, the same format used in commercial DVD videos. The amount of recording time varies according to the quality level you select, from 20 minutes per side at the highest-quality setting for DVD-RAM to about 60 minutes per side at the lowest setting. DVD-RAM discs are not compatible with most DVD players, but the discs can be reused. DVD-R is supposed to be compatible with most DVD players and computer DVD drives, but the discs are not rewriteable. DVD-RW and DVD+RW are reusable, rewriteable disc formats. Disc prices range from about $4 to $20. Price: $600 to $1,000.

Most analog camcorders now use the Hi8 format; VHS-C and Super VHS-C are fading from the market. Blank tapes range from $3.50 to $6.50. Analog camcorders usually weigh around 2 pounds. Picture quality is generally good, though a notch below digital. Price: $200 to $300.


HOW TO CHOOSE

Pick your price range and format. The least-expensive camcorders on the market are analog.

All the rest are digital.

Once you've decided which part of the price spectrum to explore, you need to pick a specific recording format. That determines not only how much you'll be spending for tapes, discs, or memory, but also how much recording time you'll get. The tape-based digital formats are typically superior in picture quality to analog tape-based formats.

With analog, you can get 120 to 300 minutes of recording on a Hi8 cassette. With the SVHS-C or VHS-C formats, you can get only 30 to 120 minutes.

With digital formats that use MiniDV, Digital 8, or MicroMV tapes, you can get at least 60 minutes of recording on a standard cassette. MiniDV and D8 cassettes are the least expensive and easiest to find.

Digital DVD camcorders from Panasonic and Hitachi can accommodate DVD-RAM discs, which can be reused but aren't compatible with all DVD players. All brands also use DVD-R, one-use discs that work in most DVD players. The standard setting yields 60 minutes of recording; the "fine" setting, 20 to 30 minutes.

With digital formats using memory cards, the amount of video you can record at the highest quality level can vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour on 256-MB to 2-GB cards. (To get a more precise estimate, check a camera's specifications.) Hard-drive based camcorders are limited only by the capacity of the hard drive and the quality settings. On typical models, you can store several hours of video at the highest-quality setting or more than 10 hours at lower-quality settings.

If you're replacing an older camcorder, think about what you'll do with the tapes you've accumulated. If you don't stay with the same format you've been using, you will probably want to transfer the old tapes to an easily viewed medium, such as a DVD.

If you're buying your first camcorder, concentrate on finding the best one for your budget, regardless of format.

Check the size, weight, and controls. In the store, try different camcorders to make sure they fit your hand and are comfortable to use. Some models can feel disconcertingly tiny. You'll need to use a tripod if you want rock-steady video, no matter which camcorder you choose. Most camcorders are designed so that the most frequently used controls--the switch to zoom in and out, the record button, and the button for still photos--are readily at hand. Make sure that the controls are convenient and that you can change the tape, DVD, or memory card and remove the battery easily.

Check the flip-out LCD viewer. Most measure 2.5 inches on the diagonal, but some are larger, adding about $100 to the price. If the viewer seems small and difficult to use or suffers from too much glare, consider trading up to a similar model or a different brand to get a better screen.

Think about the lighting. A camcorder isn't always used outdoors or in a brightly lighted room. You can shoot video in dim light, but don't expect miracles. In our tests, using the default mode, most camcorders produced only fair or poor images in very low light. Many camcorders have settings that can improve performance but can be a challenge to use.
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Here's some of their "quick picks":

Quick Picks

Best values in digital tape:

• Sony DCR-TRV280 , $275, CR Best Buy
• Canon Elura 85 , $465


The Canon Elura 85 and Elura 80, both MiniDV models, are easy to use, have very good picture quality and an excellent image stabilizer and autofocus, but audio quality was only fair. The tested Canon Elura 85 is no longer available, but its similar sibling, the Elura 80, should perform comparably. It's relatively light but harder to hold and operate than other models. (A newer sibling, the Canon Elura 100 is slightly lighter and smaller still, though it's harder to use and its image stabilization is less effective.) The D8 Sony DCR-TRV280, a CR Best Buy, is feature-laden but some thumb-activated buttons are not located well and it has mediocre sound quality.
Best value in a DVD camcorder:

• Sony DCR-DVD105 , $435


The Sony DCR-DVD105 has very good picture quality and image stabilizer. But, recorded audio contained noticeable background noise. We don't have enough data to judge the reliability of DVD camcorders.

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If small size is paramount:

• Sanyo Xacti C6 , $495


This model is as small as a subcompact digital camera and provides much better video quality (albeit at a higher price than most subcompact cameras). It captures about 41-minutes of high-quality video onto a 1-gigabyte SD memory card. It also takes 6-megapixel still images and has very good image stabilization.
For a model that requires no recording media:

• Toshiba GSC-R30 , $500
• Toshiba GSC-R60 , $660
• JVC Everio G Series GZ-MG77 , $715


These camcorders resemble MiniDV models but capture and store video digitally onto a built-in, non-removable hard drive. The Toshiba GSC-R60 and Toshiba GSC-R30 record 13.5 hours and 6.7 hours respectively of very good video to the drive (audio quality was only fair, however). Images from the JVC Everio G Series GZ-MG77 were a little worse in quality than the Toshibas--merely good--but the JVC's audio was a little better and the unit has an excellent image stabilizer.

 

[miss missy]

Thanks so much Seahunt! I will be looking at all these ones too!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I cant tell if I need SD cards or tapes??

It takes Mini-TV tapes for video. It can also take still pictures and store them on SD cards. Don't get too excited about the still picture part. As a general rule, camcorders take lousy still pictures.

 

[kaw1218]

The Canon Elura 85 and Elura 80, both MiniDV models, are easy to use, have very good picture quality and an excellent image stabilizer and autofocus, but audio quality was only fair. The tested Canon Elura 85 is no longer available, but its similar sibling, the Elura 80, should perform comparably. It's relatively light but harder to hold and operate than other models. (A newer sibling, the Canon Elura 100 is slightly lighter and smaller still, though it's harder to use and its image stabilization is less effective.) The D8 Sony DCR-TRV280, a CR Best Buy, is feature-laden but some thumb-activated buttons are not located well and it has mediocre sound quality.
Best value in a DVD camcorder:

• Sony DCR-DVD105 , $435

The Sony DCR-DVD105 has very good picture quality and image stabilizer. But, recorded audio contained noticeable background noise. We don't have enough data to judge the reliability of DVD camcorders.

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I have this one and LOVE it !!! We got it a few months ago and brought it on our last Disney trip. We paid about $490 for it back then. Of course Best Buy had it on sale this morning for $380 (but I still love it! )

 

[miss missy]

I have this one and LOVE it !!! We got it a few months ago and brought it on our last Disney trip. We paid about $490 for it back then. Of course Best Buy had it on sale this morning for $380 (but I still love it! )

Thanks for the info!