Digital Camcorders

[SEVANS2208]

Don't know much about them but thinking of buying one. Anyone got any recommendations? Can't afford more than £350.

 

[jockey]

We have a JVC GRDX series Digital Camcorder-very simple to use and very compact- think we payed approx 350.

We looked at the models we liked on line - got the best price then went to our local Jessops store who price matched!!

 

[Queenie]

I just got a Canon MV830 for just under £300 but it was on offer in Dixons. it's wonderful, very compact and light and has excellent quality filming, even at night. Now I just need to practise holding it steady!

 

[dazeddaisy]

For around that price I like

Sony DCR HC 22 and 32 (do not get the hc19, yes its cheaper but has alot less features)

Also canons MV800 range (880x, 850i, 830i)

For around £370 you should be able to get Sony's DVD (Sony DCR-DVD92E) camcorder. I am not a big fan of these but many people love these. You can also get a Canon MVX330i which is also very nice.

Take a walk into a Jessops or a camera shop and be annoying. Look at all the cameras in the price range, find out which you like the best and see what you can find via the net. If you dont understand ask questions. Ask for the battery to be put in and take a good look. I know amazon, dixons etc can be cheaper online.

Oh get a mini dv camcorder ... cheaper, easier etc etc.

 

[SEVANS2208]

Thanks for all of the replies - I see a shopping trip coming on

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Your budget I dont think would quite stretch to it anyway, but I would advise you stay clear of DVD based camcorders at the moment.

The format may be nice, ie a handy disk, but the picture quality is inferior to MiniDV, as is the recording length (at any kind of acceptable quality). The main problem being that DVD based camcorders compress the picture data quite considerably using on the fly MPEG2, but its lossy (lossy being the key word).
They have no advantage on battery life, and are pretty much a stopgap technology until micro hard drive based recorders come along.

 

[wicket2005]

This month's Stuff magazine has a review of some different types of camcorders, admittedly some are very expensive but it may give you an idea of what is out there.

I have a Sony HCR18E which I am extremely happy with. It has a widescreen mode which means it fits on to my widescreen tv correctly. I just use it as a point and go camcorder, it has plenty of features but I don't tend to use many of them.