I want to buy a camcorder

[29Candicanes]

We are going to WDW in Decemeber and I want to buy a camcorder. I'm not sure if it's worth buying since I wont be using it that often (only really for traveling). My phone is a Samsung S4 and Im wondering if I could just use that. Are there any camcorders that are good but not overly expensive? Is it even worth buying?

My last 2 vacays to Disney was recorded but my old camcorder recorded on tapes and it has died unfortunately. I want something that is a bit up to date but not overly fancy. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Try looking on Google for reviews; also check out reviews on Amazon. Here's a good place to start.

http://www.cnet.com/topics/camcorders/

If it's worth it to use a camcorder vs your phone, only you can decide. A camcorder has better quality and can record longer videos, but it's one more thing to carry around.

 

[davedmaine]

We are going to WDW in Decemeber and I want to buy a camcorder. I'm not sure if it's worth buying since I wont be using it that often (only really for traveling). My phone is a Samsung S4 and Im wondering if I could just use that. Are there any camcorders that are good but not overly expensive? Is it even worth buying?

My last 2 vacays to Disney was recorded but my old camcorder recorded on tapes and it has died unfortunately. I want something that is a bit up to date but not overly fancy. Any suggestions would be great.

Just use your phone.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I bought a used exc condition Sony handi cam off EBay. But, I find I use my Panasonic Lumix camera on the video setting much more.
The video features on camera are excellent any more.

 

[rock_doctor]

I use my phone for everything. Yours will record in 1080 HD the only downside...bad audio and poor low light recording. Many use dSLRs now a days for this. They also shoot in HD but the audio is still iffy (although you can get an external microphone), the video quality is spectacular. Maybe consider a GoPro. They aren't that expensive and getting very popular. So you can go cheap and use your phone (perfectly fine way to go) or go expensive and use it as a reason to buy a new digital single lens reflex camera. I am partial to Canons and the T3i can be had pretty cheap from walmart when on sale. That will shoot in 1080-24p which gives a super image but not harsh like normal video. Almost a film quality to it. Many music videos on utube are shot on dSLRs. Like this one, which i think they used Nikons (be sure to watch it in 1080)...this will give you an idea of the video quality a dSLR can do for you.

 

[ajwolfe]

I would use my phone. We are not big on taking video of things and I wouldn't want to have to carry around an extra piece of equipment. That being said we did take a family member's camcorder the first time we went and found it to be a pain in the butt. For anyone shooting video it felt like they weren't getting to experience the real deal. And all these years later I have no clue where that video even is. If you just plan on taking short videos, I would think your phone would suffice.

 

[GOOFY D]

I would use my phone. We are not big on taking video of things and I wouldn't want to have to carry around an extra piece of equipment. That being said we did take a family member's camcorder the first time we went and found it to be a pain in the butt. For anyone shooting video it felt like they weren't getting to experience the real deal. And all these years later I have no clue where that video even is. If you just plan on taking short videos, I would think your phone would suffice.

I would take the opposite view. Camcorders are so compact now, it is not really an issue. We cherish our videos from our trips and my children still pull them out to view years later. I would not want to be without them.

 

[dhardawa]

I'd just use the camera. No way I'd haul around a camcorder.

 

[starwart]

If I'm in your situation I will buy a compact camcorder and an extra 1-2 batteries. I like to take videos and pics when I go on vacations and The phone camera/video cam just won't cut it for me. A camcorder has extra features are not included in smartphones.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I quit using my dSLR for video because although the picture and sound quality were great, it just wasn't optimized for shooting video. Meaning, it was unable to refocus, readjust exposure, or zoom while it was shooting. It would also overheat and shut down in any kind of warm or even "room temperature" environment.

So I read the amazon and Consumer Reports reviews carefully and got a dedicated Sony video camera at a decent price. It's a much easier gadget to use.

But I'll say this ... despite the limitations of using still cameras for video, I did have an absolute blast on my last trip to WDW and Universal shooting clips with both my dSLR and DW's point-and-shoot camera. If you don't have the budget for a dedicated camera and you don't need HD video for displaying on a large TV then I would go ahead and shoot with any old camera that you have.

Editing the video to combine clips, add titles and transitions is always fairly tricky and time consuming and it requires a fairly powerful desktop computer. But if you're happy just burning all the raw video onto a DVD or simply extracting clips to share online then that should be pretty easy to do.

 

[29Candicanes]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I guess I'll look around for something compact and inexpensive before I settle on using my phone.

 

[rock_doctor]

.

 

[DisneyShannon]

I won a video camera years ago and used it one time. It is hard to hold the thing up your arms get tired real quick. I took it to Disney the time I did use it. I wont be taking it on this trip.

 

[wenrob]

The problem with using the phone would be fast battery drain on the phone. I'm much more of a photo taker so I mostly forget I even have video on the cameras. I plan on getting a GoPro so I can do both simultaneously. When we were in Disneyland in June we saw this couple who had one strapped to the their toddler's chest running up to Mickey. That had to be some great footage!

 

[wekhogan]

Posts about camcorders being so heavy their arms got tired not withstanding, current camcorders fit in the palm of your hand and weigh ounces. I attach mine to a lanyard. Your galaxy phone probably could suffice, but the comment about battery drain is spot on. Video drains battery super quick.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Posts about camcorders being so heavy their arms got tired not withstanding, current camcorders fit in the palm of your hand and weigh ounces. I attach mine to a lanyard. Your galaxy phone probably could suffice, but the comment about battery drain is spot on. Video drains battery super quick.

Our current camcorder is the same size as DH's hand. It is very very small.