Digital Camcorders

[Goofyish]

I'm thinking of getting a new digital camcorder for our trip next December.

I want one that's very small and easy to use. Not bothered about DV in, as I will probably copy onto DVD.

The models I've had my eye on are the JVC GR-DX28 and the Sony DCRPC106E. Has anyone had any experience with either of these two models?

Thanks

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've just bought the Sony PC-109 which is very similar to the 106. Picture quality is very good, low-light performance is not too bad and it's just a point-and-shoot camcorder so it could not be any easier to use. It's the smallest camcorder that I've used, but despite its diminutive size it fits nicely in my hand with the zoom and start/stop buttons easy to reach. I really like the additional start/stop button on the flipout LCD screen. The dock that the camcorder comes with is very nice, and means that I don't have to scrabble around the back of my computer to connect firewire and power cables.

I'm starting to shoot my video in widescreen these days, and the 109 does this better than most domestic camcorders as it uses a wider set of pixels froom its megapixel CCD. If widescreen is important to you (now or in the future) it might be worth checking whether the 106 has this "true widescreen" function.

I bought the 109 from Jessops, who price-matched with Amazon.co.uk (£535). Although I didn't look at the price of the 106, I vaguley remember that I got the 109 for a cheaper price than I saw the 106 being advertised for.

Regards

Rob

 

[Goofyish]

Thanks for the info. Rob

The cheapest I've seen the Sony PC106 is £377, so I'm not sure I would go for the extra cash for the PC109 (although the widescreen function is tempting ).

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

£377 is a great price, but you would be right to be tempted by the widescreen function. It is very nice!

Regards

Rob

 

[Olaf]

How about purchasing one over here Tim? Have you checked into that? I'd like to have one too.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We've got the Sony PC-109 and it's great fun. We've got an older Sony Steady Cam something or other which was the bees knees 12 years ago, but like most electrical things these days it's heavy and enormous so we've not tended to use it much, especially with our digital camera.

However, the new digicam is brilliant, even I can use it (except on Saturday at DD's musical when I inadvertently touched the zoom-in and thought I was falling over everything blurred and moved so quickly!!).

Would recommend one of these, but since we've not tried any of the others can't really compare.

 

[Jane and Ian]

We have a JVC GR-DX 100EK. We are very hppy with it, however we do not have any idea on all the things it does!! So long as it takes video then that's all that matters!!

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
Techtronics have a promotion on Sony equipment through July might be worth checking out. They have the 106 at £358.83 and the 109 at £564.99 I haven't used the company myself but people I know that have say they are very good.

Techtronics

Mick.

 

[jockey]

Does anyone bring a tripod with them on holiday to film the parades etc?

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by jockey
Does anyone bring a tripod with them on holiday to film the parades etc?

With the amount of people around it would not be that practical to set up a tripod. You could try one of the little mini-tripods that you can get and set it up on a wall/trash can if you find one where you get a clear view of the parades.

 

[squitty]

Hi

We have a telescopic monopod, which is pretty good and does not take up any space.

 

[jockey]

Thanks for the info! Think I will go with the minipod!