Video Camera Suggestions

[jocelyn]

Hey guys,

My family is looking to buy my dad a HD video camera for his birthday. I\'ve done a lot of research online but there is so much out there, and I know nothing about modern video cameras, so it\'s pretty overwhelming.

I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions? I\'m thinking like the $500 range. Is that reasonable? Can I find anything decent for that price? I don\'t want to get one of those bitty flip ones I don\'t think.

Thanks so much!

[SkyePrizm]

Personally, I\'m a panasonic girl when it comes to video cameras.  For simple family use, I recommend their HDC-SD10K.  Price range is like $300-$400 if you shop around. With whatever brand you get, avoid the ones that take Mini-DV.  Those are cheaper and popular, but I believe will be obsolete in a few more years.  Memory sticks, memory cards are the way for the future.

[KEN RAFLOWITZ]

Good advice SkyePrizm!
Sony is also very good.
I have a hard drive and love it!
Memory cards and sticks are great too!
I buy from BHPHOTOVIDEO.com
Stop by their website and check things out.
$500 should get a nice camera. Prices go up with features.
HD rules! A big leap from the camcorders of old!

Just took a quick look at bhphotovideo.
Two Sony\'s at $500 look good.
HDR-CX110 uses memory stick or card.
HDR-CX150 This camera has built in 16gb flash, about 4hrs HD recording. Also slot for more cards.

[jocelyn]

Thanks guys.

Any thoughts on Canon? For example:

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders/canon-vixia-hf200/4505-6500_7-33483231.html?tag=tpr

[Whathefunk]

be careful with AVCHD... i have a Panasonic HDC-SD9 andits a pain to edit in 24p mode... which is the only mode worth shooting in.

[jocelyn]

Avchd?

[Whathefunk]

its the file type that camera compresses to

it looks great but is very large files, and unless you have a super fast computer (in the area of 16gb ram) youre going to have trouble.

[jocelyn]

ok thanks... I have been confused by the pro/cons of that with all of the reviews I\'ve been reading.

*sigh*

[SkyePrizm]

BHPHOTOVIDEO.com

The studio I used to work for, we bought from there a lot.  Great site.   Along with a local place called HB Communications out of North Haven.

[KEN RAFLOWITZ]

Check with Chris Fitz & Matt Vallo about editing issues.
Canon is good too!
I don\'t edit, so I don\'t know about issues. I just feed to a dvd recorder.
Is your father going to edit or just load to a hard drive or dvd?
You can edit avchd (sony format for HD, may be the HD standard in the future)
with a hundred dollar Sony movie studio 9 program. You can do anything but multi camera editing.
For just fun shooting, you can just load on to hard drives or dvd discs.
Sony has a DVDirect MC6 unit for $179. Just plug in camera and make a DVD.

[Mark]

Canon is great, I gave my daughter one about 2.5 years ago. She uses it all the time, no problems at all.

[jocelyn]

The only editing he would be doing is maybe breaking up the film and combining different recordings onto one cd, adding music, simple stuff like that. Does that count?

[KEN RAFLOWITZ]

Check into the Sony DVDirect MC6.
I use a Panasonic DVD recorder.
It\'s quick and easy, no computer crap.(use an RW dvd so you can erase if you have to)
If you record on the highest def setting on the camera and
transfer to standard def to a DVD, it still looks really good.
I use an S-video cable out of my camera to the DVD recorder
and you can connect any audio you want to go on the DVD.
Quick & easy is my motto!
If your father is a computer geek, then go that route.