Mini-dv camera

[Minnie's Mate]

I am looking to purchase a mini-dv digital camcorder. I want the smallest I can find so it will fit in my waist pack. I have focused on the Canon Elura 50. Does anyone have any experience with this camera, good or bad? Is there a newer model?

Also, can anyone recommend another that has served well?

 

[studog]

I'm not familiar with that Canon model. If you are really concerned about size, I saw a Fisher model MiniDv at Sears. It was akward when holding it though and the price was like $800.

I bought a minidv last night (no kidding) at Circuit City. I bought a Sharp VLZ5U for $329.... I got a great deal. It is probably the size of two packs of cigarettes stacked. What ever you do buy, remember this....you have to buy minidv tapes. Sears is selling 3 packs for only $9.99 (normally $19.99) until 1/31/04. So go online or go to your local sears and buy alot before thepricegoes up. I bought four packs...also the ones I picked up gave a $3 rebate...limit of 3 though.

Also at circuit city, they will give you a tripod and bag free...also though the website or store.

Ken

 

[FatCow]

Fisher products are basically Sanyo. Nothing durable produced by them in past several years.

If you want something even smaller, you'll need to go with Son'ys MicroMV format. If you think mini-DV is small... think again.

Canon, OTOH, is highly recommended. The lens they use are of extremely high quality. Better than Sony and Fisher/Sanyo.

 

[Ann]

I just bought a Sony DCR-TRV22 at Circuit City with our Disney trip in mind. I did a lot of research on the net before making my decision. I would recommend going to Amazon and reading the camcorder reviews of those in your price range. I know a lot of people said they returned the Canon because it did poorly in low light situations and bought a Sony instead. The TRV22 is definitely small enough to fit in a waist pack at about 4 x 3 in. But since I just bought it, I really won't know how much I like it until after our trip.

 

[CRCrazy]

My husband bought the Sony TRV-33, and is very happy with it. He had researched the Micro-MV Sonys, and almost bought one, but decided that they will probably be going the way of the Beta. Too much Sony proprietary hardware going on there, and they are not much small than the Mini-DV's.

The Sony TRV-33 fits right in his cargo pocket on his EMS pants - his favorite thing to wear at WDW. Lightweight, and you can fit everything you need in the pockets - no need to go through bag check!

While the Canon is supposed to have a better zoom than the Sony, we've always been happy with Sony's quality. We got some incredible footage on our last Disney trip! We were able to get quite a lot of great detail, without using a video light of any kind.

 

[tboss]

I just ordered a Sony TRV33 last night! I have been researching for a couple of weeks. This one seems to have one of the better still shot capabilities (for the price). I was looking at Canon's, but Consumer Reports shows them to have more repair problems and most of the reviews said they had problems in indoor lighting. Another thing I will say is that if you are willing to shop online, you can save a lot of money!

Circuit has this right now for $740. I bought online from www.bhphotovideo.com for $589. Bizrate and pricegrabber (as well as other rating sites) had great reviews of this online store. Retailers right now are making a killing on these cameras.

There are lots of good reviews out there. Just do a search on the internet for camcorder reviews.

 

[dzneprincess]

I have the Canon Elura 40mc and I love it. It is very easy to use and if I would ever take the time ti read the manual, it has lots of other functions you can do as far as movie editing and picture editing! LOL

 

[Ann]

tboss, have you ever dealt with bhphotovideo before? I could save about $100 if I ordered from there & returned mine to Circuit City before my 14 days are up. I'm wary of dealing with an internet company I never heard of. I usually stick with Amazon or sites that have land stores. But I sure would like to save that $100! Free shipping & no sales tax - great deal!

 

[FatCow]

Although I never dealt with BH before, the company's been around for several years now.
Another companies that I've used and trust are e-tronics and crutchfield.

 

[hookedondizney]

My vote goes to the Sony TRV-33. This is my 2nd video camera the first being a analog and now digital. Excellent camera, and small enough to fit into my fanny sack. I LOVE MY VIDEO CAMERA! It also has a feature on it to where I can connect my analog camera to it and it will run thru the digital camera into the computer and it will transfer it into digital format. That is what is so important to me because I can get all my previous film on the computer and now transfer it to a DVD. So I vote for the SONY! Good luck with your decision!

 

[allyn]

b&h is one of the most reputable camera stores around. i've bought several cameras and my minidv camcorder (panasonic pv-dv953) from them. i would not hesitate to purchase from them again.

another excellent mail order company is newegg.com (silly name, great site and prices). i've bought a lot of computer components from them, no cameras so far.

 

[Bill From PA]

I second the recomendation for the Sharp VLZ5U. I got mine two days ago and it's barely larger than my Olympus digital 'still' camera. I'm extremely pleased.

Ann, I bought it from http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ for $379 minus a $50 rebate so it will be $329. I got the camera, an extra battery and the Adaptec FireWire card for transfering video to my PC for $451.10. I took the cheapest shipping option and got it via UPS in less than 48 hrs. I'll absolutely use them again.

Bill From PA

 

[nataliesdaddy]

not familiar with the one you (op) are talking about - I got the TRV 33 Sony last year before going on our trip...great camera

 

[treesinger]

Try overstock.com for some great prices. I bought a refurbed Sharp VL-NZ50 there for $230. It has served me pretty well.

 

[Ann]

Thank you so much for the bhphotovideo recommendations. I just ordered the Sony DCR-TRV22 for $499 with free UPS 3 day shipping. That saves me $124 over Circuit City and with a trip to Disney coming up, I can certainly put that money to good use!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Thanks for all of the help. After much deliberation, I selected the Canon Elura 50 mainly because of the Canon optics and the smaller and lighter size. I weighs just 13 oz. vs. 19 oz. for the Sony and is about one inch thinner. Also I will get a free copy of Pennacle 8.0 ($79.00 value).

I ordered it from Willoughby's.com for $469.00 and opted for 3-day shipping still keeping my total under $500. Best Buy currently has the same cameral for $599 this week. I called to speak with a real person before I ordered and was assured this is not a gray market or reconditioned product and it would be in a factory sealed box from Canon with all of the standard equipment.

I plan to try it out this week-end at my son's cub scout Blue and Gold Banquett where he is going to receive a trophy for his pinewood derby victory. Then I'll have the camera to use on our President's week trip to our favorite place in the World!

 

[Twigs]

We bought the Sony TRV-33 before our summer trip last year and I love it!!! It is my 3rd video camera and by far the best I've had. We bought it in Best Buy, saw it cheaper on a website, brought in a printout of the page (it had the picture of the camera and the price and the date at the bottom of the page) and they met the price.

 

[loriandmatt]

I have the Canon Elura as well and have found it to work out great. And it's funny you mention bhphoto. they have been around forever and i use them not only for my personal video needs, but for my needs here at work as well. (i work in a media dep for a medical school. we buy loads of stuff from B&H every year. have never had a problem other than when i try and call up. Some of their employees have a very heavy accent and i have trouble understanding their english. I find the process to be almost flawless when dealing with them online though.)

- lori

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I wish I had thought of taking the web site page into Best Buy, I would have the camera instead of having to wait 'til the end of the week. Oh well.

 

[hellokitty]

we have the
Sony DCR-IP5
and it is really small. it fits in our camera bag. It is
4.1 in x 1.9 in x 3.1 in (HxWxD)

it is more expensive, but I can carry it in my small fanny pack
with my digital camera as well!