Camcorder/Digital camera suggestions?

[Socratesabroad]

A very close friend here in China has asked for some suggs. regarding what camcorder/digital video camera to buy to film her daughter during dance practice to improve on form & catch mis-steps. This wasn't her idea - the instructor actually suggested it - and my friend's in her 50s and not particularly tech saavy.

Sad to say, but I'm pretty clueless in this regard - I only have a digital camera and a Web cam - so I figured I'd ask what people here use and what advice they have.

Factors to consider:
1) No video/only digital
We 're here in China where everyone uses DVD players/PCs and no one owns a VCR
2) Price
Again, here in China prices on J goods are a bit steep, so I can't be suggesting the newest, most expensive model.
3) Simplicity
The user will be older and isn't a tech buff, so ease of use is important
4) picture quality/what's being filmed
The daughter will be filmed indoors during dance practice, so she'll be in motion in moderate/low lighting [in China they also skimp on light bulbs]
5) Filming time
Given #4, practice will last an hour or two a pop
[I set up her PC with a DVD burner and oodles of free disk space, so that won't be a problem]
6) Durability
I imagine the camera's going to be schlepped around to practice and back quite regularly


I'd appreciate any opinions on what specs she's need and what price we'd be talking about.
And with that, I'll open the floor to comments...

[Charles]

[GuyJean]

Factors to consider:
1) No video/only digital

No digital tape? Only Hard Drive or DVD based camera? A lot of cameras still are MiniDV format. MiniDV is all I've used so far]Sony TRV 900[/URL], but they don't make it anymore. My dream is the Panasonci AG-HVX200 (Review), but I don't think your friend will need that much camera..

I have the Panasonic NV-GS500 (Review) at work for people to use; MiniDV, 3CCD, compact system. Seems a little fragile and I'd suggest a larger battery, but it's lasted a couple years in the hands of novices..

I just bought the Hard Disk format Victor Everio GZ-MG50 (Review) for a friend in HK. He seems very satisfied, but it's gotten bad reviews, and a larger battery is a must..

Other than those cameras, I can't recommend anything from personal experience. I've heard the new Sony HD cameras are great, but Sony has proven to be hit or miss for me.. Two of the top three rated cams on Kakaku are Sonys:

1: SONY HDR-HC3
2: CANON iVIS HV10 - I've heard great things about Canon
3: SONY HDR-SR1

Numbers four and five are the cameras I mentioned earlier; the Victor and Panasonic..

Seems like there was a similar thread awhile ago, but I can't find it.. It might have been on digital still cameras..

Anyway, good luck!

GJ

[Tommybar]

Make sure she gets a low lux camera and if she is not going to use a tri-pod make sure it has a 'bure' (shaking) fixer built into it.
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As you can see, my camera does not have this fixer in it.

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I got the Casio EX-P505 Exilim. It is more a still camera than a video I guess, but I shoot all sorts of video with it. It records to a memory stick (I use a 1 gig stick) and has a 2 hour recording (or 3 hours if using A/C power). Not the best camera for night time filming, but it does come with a flash for the camera side. But if there is some light in the room it works great. And best of all, it is small for a video camera, so I am able to take it every where.

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[Kuang_Grade]

DVD or Hard drive based cameras tend to be much pricer than MiniDV cameras. MiniDV has been around for a while and the tapes are cheap, plentiful, and reusable. And you can use the camera as a player and output the video via either S-Video or composite video plugs to a TV, so you don't need a VCR. And nowadays, most cameras come with a USB or IEEE 1394/firewire out, so getting the image out the camera and onto a PC for further editing/putting onto DVDs isn't a problem either (although you would have to do it in real time with miniDV, while on DVD or hard drive based cameras would likely do it faster). Most consumer cameras also seem to have a 'simple' or 'idiot' mode where most of the features are automated/locked down and you just point, press record and fiddle with the zoom if you feel like it. If one has the coin for it, DVD or hard drive cameras are pretty nice but I wouldn't write off miniDV cameras right off the bat.

[Grumblebum]

I purchased a Sanyo Xacti DMX-C6 a few months ago as a replacement for our Canon MiniDV camera, and am pretty impressed with it.
It records MPEG4 video onto SD memory cards, and is very compact and easy to use. The MPEG4 files are easily played on most PCs, and all you need is a memory card reader to upload them.
Video quality is very good also - obviously not quite up to the level of MiniDV, but more than sufficient for me.
These cameras are pretty cheap too - I got mine for less than 30,000yen. A 1GB SD memory card is good for about 60 minutes of video (which is about how long the battery lasts, so I haven't bothered with larger memory cards)

It also does 5Mpixel still photos, but to me the quality is so-so. I use it primarily for video so the still photo quality isn't an issue.

There are various similar cameras on the market but I found the Sanyo to be by far the best value for money.
The main reasons I prefer it over a miniDV camera are that its very quick and easy to just pick up and shoot - no worries about rewinding tapes or anything, and the controls are extremely simple.

[GuyJean]

An extensive list and brief review of the 2006 camcorders..

CamInfo Selects 2006
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/CamInfo-Selects-2006.htm

Over $4000
Canon XL H1

Under $4000
Canon XH A1

Honorable Mention: Sony HDR-FX7

Under $1500
Sony HDR-SR1

Honorable Mention: Canon HV10

Under $1000
Panasonic PV-GS500

Honorable Mention: Sony DCR-HC96

Under $600
Panasonic PV-GS300

Honorable Mention: Sony DCR-DVD405

Under $400
Canon Elura 100

Under $300
Canon ZR500

Best High-End DVD (over $500)
Sony HDR-UX1

Honorable Mention: Panasonic VDR-D300

Best Low-End DVD (Under $500)
Panasonic VDR-D200

Honorable Mention: Sony DCR-DVD305

Best Low-End HDD or Flash
Sony DCR-SR40

Honorable Mention: JVC GZ-MG77

Best High-End HDD or Flash
Sony HDR-SR1

Honorable Mention: JVC GZ-MG505

Best Consumer High Definition
Sony HDR-SR1

Honorable Mention: Sony HDR-UX1

GJ

[etto_neh]

Yope..

As long as you have a decent PC to handle the files, the Sony Hanycam DCR-SR100 is good. Should be around $1000 USD now. USB it and go! The extended battery lasts forever and you can get at least 3 hours and more of content. It's HD based, and it defaults to MPEG2, which is more than enough for ya, sounds like. (And, it'd be about a billion times faster xferring to your PC than those other cams.)

[Socratesabroad]

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the tips & advice.

I'll be going to the PC/camera/electronic goods mart and take a copy of the suggestions with me to see what's available.

But I wanted to thank you guys for the input.

[Ptyx]

Buy her a hard drive camera those are not that expensive (the JVC one the Captain was talking about is a good choice).

If you ask a guy that knows camcorders he'll probably tell you that those are not the best cams around. But yout friend doesn't need the best that is. She needs something simple, small and hassle free.
I don't think she wants to buy and install a firewire card, start Premiere and begin capturing her DV Tapes on her own.
You're not going to buy a film camera today for an amateur photographer, you're going to buy a digital one because it's simpler.
The way i see it, the same thing goes with video.