The best camcorder for the best price?

[marcyinPA]

Our 9 year old camcorder bit the dust a few months ago. I can't imagine going to Disney without a camcorder. We all love watching our old videos, and I don't want to miss out on this trip.

My husband is insistant that if we buy a new camcorder, it must be digital. My thought is "who cares"? I really don't want to spend $400+ on a camcorder. I'd rather spend $200+.

Any opinions on this? Any deals out there? Can I even FIND a digital camcorder in my mid-upper $200 range?

Marcy

 

[Cellthing]

I am not sure about finding a digital for those prices, but we moved up to a digital after DD4 took our old one for a trip down the driveway to watch movies... another story. I then started looking at digital camcorders and ended up with a Canon ZR65. It is a nice camera with awesome picture quality with lots of light. We have been not quite impressed with the quality in low light conditions, such as a normally lit living room.
On the upside, if DH or yourself like to edit videos, there are software packages out there that will download a low res copy of the tapes. You can then edit your movie, and then "produce" a final copy to either upload back to the camcorder, or put on CD/DVD/TAPE. That part has been a lot of fun.
Have fun finding a new camera.

 

[chadfromdallas]

I got a Samsung digital video camera for $300 about a year ago.( SCD-80)

2.5inch lcd, built in video effects, 400x digital zoom, nightvision, extended battery came with it. Pretty easy to hook up to the computer. Turn it on, plug it in. XP picks it up right away, then you can use Windows Movie Maker 2(comes with windows xp) to record your videos on to your harddrive

This thing has been nothing, but awsome!

I would recommend Samsung to anyone. They make great cell phones too, lol.

I bought it online and I hope you do. You can save hundreds over the prices in the store.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

We bought this one a few weeks ago and LOVE it! It's a little more than you want to spend but you might be able to find it cheaper someplace else. it's $329 at Circuit City

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.j...06&bookmark=bookmark_0&oid=68474&catoid=-8038

 

[mep319]

You can find some really decent Canon at a good price...Some things to remember to help keep the price down...don't buy a camcorder w/ a digital still....it drives up the price and the quality of the photos are really quite awlful! Secondly don't pay more for a digital zoom...again...bad quality...better to pay for an opitical zoom. Check the battery type and if it comes w/ a charger. I actually had that happen to me once then had to invest an additional $100 in a battery and charger...I don't think that happens as frequently anymore. Be sure to check places like bizrate & epinions . They offer some good advice and list all the current and best prices along w/ a rating of the stores. Also look at Amazon.com...they sometimes offer reasonable prices, good reviews..usually no shipping & as always a trusted online source. Be sure to check the makers website for rebates as well..amazon is also usually up to date w/ the rebates!

 

[VintageKnight]

ok, now are there any software packages out there that would allow you to save a frame of film as a still pic?, That would keep the camera from having to do it.....


DisneyVK

 

[mep319]

You can take a still frame out of a video...I would think all video editing software would allow you do it. BUT again the quality is sub par at best. If you want stills you really need to invest in a decent digital still camera..there are plenty of good, inexpensive ones out there. I understand you might want to lift a photo or two from video but beyond emailing them or posting them to a website they are pretty much useless. Certainly not printable. A great website for still cameras is Steve's digicams ... I think it is the best one out there for unbiased reviews...

 

[tboss]

We just bought a Sony TRV33 and it is wonderful! Even the still photos come out very good when printing 4x6. It has one of the higher resolutions on the still camera shots. I highly recommend you searching on the internet and comparing prices. I found Circuit City and Best Buy to be some of the highest prices around. I bought mine online at B&H Photo and Video (who has a great reputation).