I'm in the market for a Digital Camcorder, in preperation for the newborn.
I know next to knowing about them but my budget is probably around £300-£400 pounds. Possible stretchable if I see the value in it.
What's the best bet, Mini DV or DVD (HD is too exp atm).
A quick search on ebuyer and I see a "Sony DCR-HC96E Mini DV 3mp Digital Camcorder" for £325, couldn't find it cheaper anywhere else.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/108048/show_product_reviews
The Sony DCR-DVD406e Digital Dvd Camcorder for £370, isn't out of the price range.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129289 (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129289)
Hard Disk Camcorders
Just came across these
http://www.ebuyer.com/search/?strSearch=&bolShowAll=true&intStoreID=77&intCatID=52&intSubcatUID=1658&bolShowAll=true
Wonder if they are any good?
Cheers
Jamoe
edit: damn, wrong section, should be in hardware. Can someone move please :)
Can someone move this to the hardware thread please, I don't think anyone is looking in here :g:
Cheers
Jamoe
We have quite a few at work (for recording problems in underground metro tunnels) and they need long battery life and good quality (and good night mode). Anyway, we have used various types and no one is using anything but our Sony HDD-recorders atm.
I know you said out of budget, but I am not sure. I think the last (low budget) HDD recorder we got here was some Sony 20 GB which IIRC was around £400.
Thing is, much easier to deal with. It might be digital video with the MiniDV, but you still have to sort of "press play and record on the PC" to get the stuff out of the thing. With the hard disk it is much easier and quicker. Just plugs in as a hard drive. DVD is snazzy but recording time is low.
My 2 cents...
Edit: Good post T-bag, to sort of add my comments in same style:
MiniDV: as mentioned, the capture/transfer method takes just as long as it took to record (1-1 transfer). When you run out of space you can just swap for a new tape.
DVD: Limited recording capacity
HDD: Good quality HDD-cams have good shock absorption, very cheap ones do not (or did not, 1-1½ year ago). Have to empty the hard disk if it's full, can't just swap for new one.
Personally I would avoid DVD. And with your budget maybe Mini DV is your best option.
DVD has the advantage that you can pop it straight into a DVD player and play it, or just buy cheap blank dvds and not worry about copying to a pc etc.
The down side atleast when I last looked into camcorders (when HD ones started coming out and the price dropped) is they record less Key Frames which are the important parts of a recording. Put simply when you play video you load a key frame and between then and the next keyframe your video player is making changes to that key frame to keep the image moving (which takes up less storage space than recording the frame in full). Halving the number of keyframes reduces the size of the file, and speeds up writing times, but reduces the editability of the video.
Mini DV has more keyframes and is easy to edit due to this but comes with the down side of having to use a computer to back the videos up onto. Though digital tape means the computer can do it all automatically just plug the camera into the computer and tell it to capture, is more or less it (it even rewinds for you on most).
Best option is HDD which has good recording times, fast copying and good keyframes (If I remember rightly). As with all technology I say it's best to save a little longer and spend more than you'd wanted on something good, than spend your budget on something that doesn't live upto expectations.
I found Digital HDD camcorder for £285 in comet in a quick search, so they start in your budget, though to get a the spec of a good MiniDV with an HDD you probably have to spend more. Cam (http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=380610)
Summary:
MiniDV: Good spec camera for budget
DVD: Good format, not so good video for editing
HDD: Camera spec probably lower than equivalent MiniDV price would get, but better format.
Cheers Guys, nice posts. :) Ill look into HDD Cams a bit more, it might be I don't need the best quality from miniDV.
Its really for family stuff, nothing fancy, probably no editing etc. But I will want to get them on the PC and possible write them to a dvd at some point.
/honesty
In truth I did exactly the same when my nipper was born, I bought a nice mini-dv camcorder for those family moments and posterity. Used it once.....
I did buy a decent digital camera with some capability for movies and it fits the bill. I get all the decent pictures and it's quick to whip out for those cute moments.
Other people in the office here did advise me not to waste money on a camcorder, I didn't listen. You may be different, but I thought I'd mention it.
Quote from: Benny;211328/honesty
In truth I did exactly the same when my nipper was born, I bought a nice mini-dv camcorder for those family moments and posterity. Used it once.....
I did buy a decent digital camera with some capability for movies and it fits the bill. I get all the decent pictures and it's quick to whip out for those cute moments.
Other people in the office here did advise me not to waste money on a camcorder, I didn't listen. You may be different, but I thought I'd mention it.
Well, both my bro and sis did the same thing. They bought a camcorder when they both got their first kid, but they both and ended up using the DigiCam and its video function. Good point Benny.
Edit: A nice opportunity for you to sell your cam to James, then? (just suggesting...)
Quote from: Benny;211328/honesty
In truth I did exactly the same when my nipper was born, I bought a nice mini-dv camcorder for those family moments and posterity. Used it once.....
I did buy a decent digital camera with some capability for movies and it fits the bill. I get all the decent pictures and it's quick to whip out for those cute moments.
Other people in the office here did advise me not to waste money on a camcorder, I didn't listen. You may be different, but I thought I'd mention it.
You can also do it the other way round i.e. take stills with a camcorder...
just a thought:)
Quote from: Blunt;211350You can also do it the other way round i.e. take stills with a camcorder...
just a thought:)
could but it's a pita. camera, missus handbag, sorted....
how did you camcorder shopping go J.
I am think of getting this http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000N22VUM/ref=nosim/coffeeuk13118-21
But i'm going to wait for the sales:eyebrow:
Quote from: Armitage;214901how did you camcorder shopping go J.
I am think of getting this http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000N22VUM/ref=nosim/coffeeuk13118-21
But i'm going to wait for the sales:eyebrow:
Same here, we are waiting on the sales :)
J
Just ordered a HDR-HC5 for £479 which is close to a £200 saving from the Sony shop.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-HDR-HC5-Definition-Camcorder-Screen/dp/B000N22VUM
Quote from: Armitage;217126J
Just ordered a HDR-HC5 for £479 which is close to a £200 saving from the Sony shop.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-HDR-HC5-Definition-Camcorder-Screen/dp/B000N22VUM
Thats VERY good value for an HD one, I've been looking into one of those for a while. My budget isn't great after christmas unfortunately. Let me know what it's like.
I ended up with a sdr-h20 for £200. A 30gig HDD Panasonic jobby.
Quality is more then adequate for my needs and it should store 27 hours. (and it does widescreen) Plus its easier to use, just ask my misses :D
I bought mine from Currys as it was the cheapest I could find.
http://www.currys.co.uk/product.php?sku=625075&source_id=aw&camp_id=kelkoo
Quote from: Jamoe;217206I ended up with a sdr-h20 for £200. A 30gig HDD Panasonic jobby.
Quality is more then adequate for my needs and it should store 27 hours. (and it does widescreen) Plus its easier to use, just ask my misses :D
I bought mine from Currys as it was the cheapest I could find.
http://www.currys.co.uk/product.php?sku=625075&source_id=aw&camp_id=kelkoo
Just to check - 27 hrs is at what quality setting?
Quote from: delanvital;217210Just to check - 27 hrs is at what quality setting?
LP, SP is about 7 hours, which is still good enough for shorter trips :)
Well like yourself Jamoe, I know nothing about these things either.
However, i did want to wish you luck with new born. :o)
Have fun mate ... :)