Need recommendations - photography equipment related

[live4christp1]

Good morning!

I would really like to purchase a new camcorder and digital camera before our June WDW trip. The camcorder we have is one that takes the small tapes, want to upgrade to a DVD model. Our camera is a 35mm and I would like a digital. I need suggestions. What do you use, likes, dislikes? What features should I definately look for? Don't want to spend a ton of money but would like to make a good investment.

TIA!

Cristy

 

[mike_r]

What kind of 35mm do you own now?

 

[MICKEY88]

Good morning!

I would really like to purchase a new camcorder and digital camera before our June WDW trip. The camcorder we have is one that takes the small tapes, want to upgrade to a DVD model. Our camera is a 35mm and I would like a digital. I need suggestions. What do you use, likes, dislikes? What features should I definately look for? Don't want to spend a ton of money but would like to make a good investment.

TIA!

Cristy

if your camcorder uses minidigital tapes, I believe the quality of the video is actually superior to that of dvd camcorders..

 

[Master Mason]

What are you looking for in your camera?

Is size important, is low light important, what do you concider to be a fortune?

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks for all the replies!

Camera is a Canon 35mm. I like it but at Disney I'd rather not have to change out the film all the time, etc.

The camcorder takes the mini tapes, I don't know that it is digital.

Was looking for something that's smaller and easier to tote around. Would be using it for everything on vacation, fireworks, shows, etc.

Also looking for something smaller. Over $300 for a camera is too much, over $500 for a camcorder is to much.

I'll check the brands when I get home and post back tomorrow. I don't know anything about digital cameras, pixels and all that stuff.

 

[mike_r]

Well if want to go the DSLR route you could look into a Rebel XT or XTi and you may be able to use your lenses from your 35mm. If the lenses say EF on them you should be able to use them on a DSLR. If you want to go the Point and Shoot route I personally like canon ones, I went through 3 different P&S(HP, Panasonic and Fuji) before I settled on a Canon 870IS, there were a few people in my family that were happy because I was giving them away as I would get a new one, lol. I have also been lookinf into the Canon S5, little larger than a regeular P&S but has a 12x zoom as opossed to the 870is that has a 3x zoom.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Was your Canon 35mm an automatic (ie no detachable lenses) or SLR (separate lenses)?

Seeing your budget, I second looking into the Canon S5 IS (or one of the smaller point and shoots if that seems too complicated or big - it depends a lot on how much you want to put into it, there is a learning curve so get practicing asap). As a bonus, it takes decent video clips, but not as good as those with a video camera.

One thought might be to keep your current video camera, and pick up an S5 too. We have older models S2 and S3 and use them a lot for quick video around the parks. We also have a Sony video camera (takes great video but older, heavier, uses tapes, and miraculously started working after a 2-3 year hiatus) which we use if we want "better" video.

Good luck.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

I would hesitate recommending a DVD model camcorder. The resolution and the compression they use make it difficult to do much post production with the footage and if technology ever advances to the point where everyone wants High Definition then the DVD camcorders are really limited without getting a lot of compression artifacts. Tape is still a cheaper and better solution. Tape is also more environmentally friendly as compared to DVD. Ultimately I think hard drive based camcorders will take over that market but not yet. If your camera uses the Mini-DV tapes I would keep the existing camcorder and upgrade to a point and shoot digital still camera. Something like the Canon S5 IS (price drop this week to $349 at Best Buy) is a good all around camera with image stabilization and a decent optical zoom. Then when the camcorder market sorts itself out in a year or so revisit getting a new camera then. If on the other hand your camcorder is 8mm or VHS-C that's a different story and you might want to look for something that stores in digital format on tape.

 

[wano]

Just bought a vivitar 6200w it's a little bigger than a normal camera but its waterproof ,shockproof,6 megapixle & takes 2AA batteries . With my 2 gig memory card it holds over 900 pics . got it at target.com for under $150 w/shipping . I like it also no plastic bags and no worries.

you can see at http://www.vivitar.com/en-us/Products/6Megapixels.aspx

other features are:
6.0 Megapixels
Rubber Armored
Waterproof – 30 ft
2.0” Color LTPS
16 MB Built-in Memory
PictBridge Support
Flash - Built-in Multi Mode, Auto / On / Off