Camcorder buying advice...

[American Oyaji]

Hey guys. I've changed my plans for going to Japan since they just announced that we will have week long shutdown in July as well as December.

This means I have more time to plan and save for my trip. (id rather go in summer anyway)

I need to buy a GOOD camera. A camera with great battery life and recording time. One that shoots pretty good in dim light and has very good image balancing (for those times when one is recording while moving).

Any advice?

BTW, I AM looking on my own as well, but Id like to hear from the experts.

Oh. I am going to be in Japan for about a week and a half. I'll take the camera and my laptop.

So I'll probably want an HDD camera so I'm not lugging around a lot of media and I'll have space saved for omiyage.

[GuyJean]

You might try this thread.. A bit outdated, but the links could lead to more current information..

GJ

[American Oyaji]

Yeah, I've already been to those links and I've seen them and read the reviews.

I'm looking for the opinion of those who have experience with the sort of thing. It's been over 12 years since I've bought a camcorder.

[GuyJean]

What price range? Size?.. Consumer, prosumer, pro?

I haven't used many consumer level cameras recently, so I'm not going to be much help.. But I'd read the reviews, make a list of 3 you like, then go to the shop and play with them..

My dream cam is still the HVX200..

GJ

[American Oyaji]

OK. That is solid advice. I've seen a couple. I won't be doing this until after tax time. I'll get that macbook pro (finally) and camera at the same time

[GuyJean]

.. I'll get that macbook pro (finally) and camera at the same time

That's a good plan..

GJ

[Charles]

My dream cam is still the HVX200..

GJ

Dream bigger.

[GuyJean]

Dream bigger.

Yeah, those are sweet.. I guess I meant 'realistic' dream..

GJ

[American Oyaji]

Not very portable though. Even if it was in my price range, I can't see taking that sucker to the beach.

Would get a lot of free talent showing up suddenly though.

[Charles]

Not very portable though. Even if it was in my price range, I can't see taking that sucker to the beach.

Well, it's a lot more portable than what it's replacing.

[L S]

I personally want the Canon XH A1 or newsest version there of.

Here is a CNET review of the top 5: http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6500_7-135-105.html?tag=dir


Also, here are Consumer Reports review for best picks (somtimes the models are old)...I don't always agree with them though.

Quick Picks
Best value among hard-drive camcorders:

• Panasonic SDR-H18 , $500


The Panasonic digitally records up to 7 hours of high-quality video onto a nonremovable 30GB hard drive. It is very easy to use and offers good audio, video, and low-light performance along with an excellent image stabilizer and long battery life. Its price for features, which include a 32x optical zoom lens, make it a CR Best Buy.
For convenience and flexibility:

• Hitachi DZ-HS300A , $500


This Hitachi is a so-called hybrid model, capable of recording up to 110 minutes of video on a built-in 8GB hard drive. It also gives you the option of using blank DVDs. It offers very good video, even in low light, as well as an excellent image stabilizer. It's very easy to use. For the price of either a hard drive-based camcorder (which offers media-free recording convenience) or a disc-based model (which creates home videos that can play on nearly any DVD unit) camcorders, you can get the convenience of both worlds with the Hitachi.
Best values in MiniDV tape:

• Panasonic PV-GS80 , $250
• Sony DCR-HC28 , $275
• Canon ZR800 , $255


The Canon is a solid performing MiniDV camcorder, offering very good audio and video performance along with an excellent image stabilizer. It did fairly well in low light. The Panasonic, also a MiniDV model, was very easy to use and features an excellent image stabilizer. Its audio and video performance was good (a step below the Canon's). The Sony is one of the fastest MiniDV camcorders, taking just 5 seconds to power on and become ready for recording and playback. It offers good audio and video performance and very good auto-focus and image stabilization for a slightly higher price than the Canon and the Panasonic.
Also worth considering is one of our previous Quick Picks, the Sony DCR-TRV280, a Digital 8-mm camcorder that is still available for about $250.

Best values in a DVD camcorder:

• Hitachi DZ-GX5020A , $325
• Canon DC230 , $460


The Canon offers very good picture quality, with decent low-light performance, and was easy to use. While its audio performance was only fair, it has an excellent image stabilizer and much more powerful zoom (35x) lens than its similar-performing sibling, the Canon DC50, which costs $600 and features only a 10x zoom. If you want to spend less, consider the Hitachi. It was judged good for both audio and video (though only fair in low light) and has an excellent

[Kuang_Grade]

I shopped around for a camcorder a few years back and ended up with a lower end Sony (a HC20 handycam), which has served me fine for my very limited uses. But I was impressed by Panasonic 3 CCD cameras that I looked at, although at the time they were pretty pricey at the $900-800 level but nowadays they have some models in the $400-500. You also might want to keep in mind the type of filming you'll be doing....when I was testing them out in the electronic stores, I wasn't really thinking about "hey, this would be a pretty narrow field of view if I was shooting a larger outdoor view" and shortly after getting the camera, I had to invest in a wide angle lens attachment. Also it is really important to get the camera in your hands to see how well it fits and if it feels "right" in your hand...I had done all sorts of research and I was set to buy a Canon camcorder but luckily I decided to find it in a store to try it out first....It might have been a great camera but I just didn't like controls and menu layout and I ended spending a little more on a Sony that in my opinion had better control scheme.

Also, in the US market, I believe the consumer camcorder market cycles new products around April (in prep for the graduation and weddings in May and June), so if you file earlier, you might pick up some good deals on some older models being cleared out in March before the new stock comes in.

On a similar note, has anyone tried out one of the new-ish Flip video cameras? I know the quality is pretty low (fixed focus) and the controls are very limited, but I think the idea of a small (a bit taller and bit thicker than a pack of cigarettes), cheap (ie, if it gets broken it isn't the end of the world) camera that runs on AA batteries is pretty cool.

http://www.theflip.com/

[American Oyaji]

Thanks guys. I'll keep all of this info in mind.