Digital Camcorder Recommendations

[jtanner]

Need help before v-day this weekend. We'll be in WDW in May/June and thinking about getting my wife a digital camcorder for valentine's day. She's been using her cell phone for digital pics and I wanted something that she could take video and pictures with while at disney.

Any recommendations? Price, Quality, Price, Size, and Price are main considerations

Been looking at a Kodak Zi8, but I am open to suggestions?

Thanks

 

[AJRitz]

Need help before v-day this weekend. We'll be in WDW in May/June and thinking about getting my wife a digital camcorder for valentine's day. She's been using her cell phone for digital pics and I wanted something that she could take video and pictures with while at disney.

Any recommendations? Price, Quality, Price, Size, and Price are main considerations

Been looking at a Kodak Zi8, but I am open to suggestions?

Thanks

I've owned three digital video cameras, and by far my favorite it my little Flip Mino. ( http://www.theflip.com ). While the quality isn't the best in the world, it's good enough - especially when most video sharing is done via YouTube or other online video sites. What sets it apart is that it's very small, lightweight, and easy to use. As a result, you actually GET the video of all of that stuff that you used to say, "Oh, man. If only my video camera was more convenient . . ." Flip even makes an underwater case for a couple of models, allowing you to take wet/underwater video without damaging the camera. Flip makes an HD version of their cameras as well, but the frame rates are too slow for real HD resolution and the files of its videos are much larger (IMHO) than they're worth. The cameras themselves range from $150 to $230, depending on the model, and you can frequently find them on sale.

The other interesting option is the newest version of the iPod Nano, which takes surprisingly good video, is tiny, and serves a useful purpose even when you're not using it for video recording. They run $150 - $180, depending on storage space.

 

[ckquan]

I agree that the Flip is great! It's small and easy to use. So it really depends on whether you care that the quality is low. The videos that the Flip camera produces are fine for YouTube and emailing to friends. But if you're looking for better quality videos, want to burn the videos to DVD, or put together your own vacation DVD together, I would recommend the Sanyo digital camcorder. It is still small but the quality is a lot better. We have been using our Sanyo for almost 3 years now and love it! It also takes 4MP photos.

Here's a link to our camcorder: http://us.sanyo.com/Digital-Camcorders/VPC-HD1010BK-Full-1080p-HD-Video-30fps-and-4MP-Photos

Here's a link to the other camcorders, there's even a waterproof one: http://us.sanyo.com/Digital-Camcorders

Have a great trip!

 

[seashoreCM]

With some camcorders (the Flip is one) you have to bring your laptop to unload the video onto if you want to take more video than the camcorder holds.

For at least a year, folks have been asking who can offload the Flip without a computer and nobody has yet been able to find out.

 

[elcodfish]

I am having a total DUH! moment, but I just got a digital camera for my birthday that also takes video that allows you to zoom while videotapping and I love it... I will let you know when I get home...

HAHA*******
Its a panasonic LUMIX and is really great. Fast shutter, great flash, lots of nice settings, I totally recommend it.

 

[TinksDH]

With some camcorders (the Flip is one) you have to bring your laptop to unload the video onto if you want to take more video than the camcorder holds.

For at least a year, folks have been asking who can offload the Flip without a computer and nobody has yet been able to find out.

The Kodak Zi8 is similarly priced with comparable (better in some sense) features, and support SDHC cards. Downside is that it comes with no internal memory BUT you can swap cards out at will.

 

[bonoriffic]

You have to decide what is your primary focus. Are you more concerned with size and portability, pictures, or video?

Unless you plan on doing a lot with your video, getting a dedicated camera that also has decent video options is your best bet. Camcorders are not going to produce good pictures. Definitely better than a cellphone, but not nearly as good as a dedicated point and shoot camera. Surprisingly, cameras can function as decent video cameras. The OK video produced by a camera is probably less of an issue than the OK photos produced by a camcorder.

Small cameras like the Canon PowerShot SX210 IS will produce amazing photos and decent 720p HD video. It also comes at a price premium. The much cheaper PowerShot A series will produce non-HD video that is more than acceptable in quality.

If video is your primary concern, camcorders like the Canon Vixia series are excellent, and small. (Small being the size of can on Coke) Of course the high quality HD video it produces comes at the expense of the camera itself as well as the computing requirements to work with these large HD files. Check the various HD video software minimums, most will recommend a quad core or better computer. Also digital camcorders are less than ideal at taking photos, but still much better than the cheap "flip HD" types.

I would get a good point and shoot that fits your size/budget. The video they produce will be SD quality or better and very similar in quality to the flip video units out there.

 

[JennMouse32]

only piece of adivce i can say.. is buy a brand you trust..​

 

[squirrel]

I bought a Panasonic SDR-H80.

It has both a hard drive and a SD memory card. It has a 70X optical zoom which was great for Fantasmic. The battery lasts 2hrs, and I did fine with just the one that it came with for my WDW trip.

I bought a small camcoder case and it was large enough to also fit my Canon Powershot camera inside. I like that the memory cards are the same for both.

 

[tinkerfan1]

Another cool little mini camcorder/camera is the Sony Webbie. We got one for my son for Christmas and he loves it. The pictures are not the greatest quality at 5.0 megapixals but they are good. I have not done recording with it but my son has and he said they turned out well and that it is very easy to use and edit.

 

[RedPanda]

I love my little Canon Elph for taking photos and occasionally shooting video. We use it all the time at home (we have a 1-year-old), but what it's really great for is travel and outings. It's small enough to be really convenient, and it's straightforward and easy to use. It takes good photos and what I consider to be reasonably good video. I love it! I think it cost about $140. I think the model # is 1100IS.

 

[Duckyiam71]

My DH got me a Sony Handycam and it was around $300. But you can catch them on sale. I love it! It is about the size of my hand. It takes pictures and video. It uses a memory disk. If you want to use it at night, just make sure you get one with a flash/light. He picked this one because he saw 4 other families with it at the soccer field. It is super easy to use and I am not a techie. It has 60x zoom and up to 6 hours of recording on one battery. Good luck with your decision.

 

[alexb]

I was looking at the Flip and Kodak Zi8 and others a few weeks ago. I didn't want to carry my laptop around and I wanted a few more features those two didn't have. I ended up buying a Canon FS200 camcorder that fits in the palm of my hand. So far so good.

 

[pad406]

Got a Casio Exilir recently and it's brill. Haven't got it with me but its 10 or 12 MP, fantastic zoom and HD video. Even has a slow motion video which is great fun. It's a bout the size of a small SLR and takes AA batteries, my preference as you can always get them somewhere when the rechargeables run out, usually at the wors possible time If anyone wants model details etc, just pm me

 

[tmagg]

I would recommend the JVC camcorders that have the digital harddrives. I have one that has a 30GB harddrive and you can take hours of video. I generally just download them to my desktop about 2-3 times a year. Definately enough room for an entire vacation and you don't have to bring a laptop like with a flip.