Do I need a digital camcorder?

[wld]

We have a Sharp camcorder that I like and a digital camera. Not to mention a couple of other cameras.
DH has decided we HAVE TO HAVE a digital camcorder. A canon zr45. To make it worse Best Buys has 24 months same as cash.

Do we really need another toy? Will a digital camcorder really be alot nicer than my Sharp? (Which I love since I got the shield so I can see what I am taping in the sun)

Any opinions out there?

 

[Carl]

You didn't say what kind of camera your Sharp is. But, no matter what it is, the digital is better. However, if the Sharp is a VHS or a regular 8, it is much worse than a digital. If it is a Hi-8, the digital will have 100 lpi better resolution than the Sharp. Not only that, the digital has more dynamic range than any analog camera. If you look at the pictures on a high quality monitor - with S-video in, you can see the difference. If you are using RF in or RCA jacks to feed the signal to your TV, you may not notice too much improvement.

 

[Zurg]

Originally posted by wld
We have a Sharp camcorder that I like and a digital camera. Not to mention a couple of other cameras.
DH has decided we HAVE TO HAVE a digital camcorder. A canon zr45. To make it worse Best Buys has 24 months same as cash.

Do we really need another toy? Will a digital camcorder really be alot nicer than my Sharp? (Which I love since I got the shield so I can see what I am taping in the sun)

Any opinions out there?

Now the cannon is a cool camera and Digital is better no question the issue is are you going to take advantage of why it is better.

I would say it is only worth it if you are going to edit a lot of movies on the PC. Digital is a lot easier to get into the PC. (you will need a fire wire card in the PC.)

If so be sure that the camera has anolog in so you can easily digitize the old stuff you alreay have.

That said an anolog caputre card works good too.

If you aren't planning on editing it isn't worth the money or if you don't shoot a lot of video.

 

[Ricola]

"Need" is such a strong word.

If you have a camcorder that works perfectly well, that does what you want it to do, you certainly don't need to buy a digital one. If you need to replace a broken one, or want to get into editing your tapes, or just think the old one looks BAD now, then a digital may be just the ticket.

Keep in mind that the way technology is changing, by the time you get that 24 month loan paid off, there will be a newerbetterfastercheapercooler camcorder out there.

That all being said, I would probably buy the digital one.

 

[TheLionKing]

Another advantage is that the new camcorders are probably smaller and easier to carry.

In current economic times, I would try to limit purchases on credit paid over time.

 

[Kallison]

Henry David Thoreau ("Where I Lived and What I Lived For" Walden)
Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify, simplify!