Help with video camera

[Maddog53]

So I convinced my parents to help me buy a digital video camera for my Christmas present. It's going to be a half and half sort of deal. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any preferences when it came to mini-DV cameras. I've already talked this over with my parents and my roommate, but I would also like some other input, just to see. The price range as i see it is $1000 or less...so if you could offer some suggestions as to models or name brands to look for (or to avoid) that would be super awesome.

Maddog.

[pie_man]

also you should take into account the cost of the software you will use if you want to import, manipulate and use it on a computer.

unless you have a osx (imovie) or windows xp (windows movie maker)

you might want somthing more powerfull like premiere or final cut

dunno thats all i know

nightvision is pretty cool

[c0rn]

Sony PC330 is a great video camera.

[pie_man]

arnt their like dvd ones too --- dvds are only £1.50 theese days

[SoulScream]

Dvd-camera's are still pretty bad, option and usabilitywise. Avoid those, stick to Mini-DV. Never buy Micro-DV.

Buy JVC or Sony, those are the marketbest imo. Unless your really going deep into videoediting you won't need Premiere or Final Cut, plus both of those programs need a video-editing card to work correctly.

Don't buy a too fancy camera with options that are useless, you won't use nightvision allot and it will only cost extra and digital zoom is useless. Taking pictures with your camera is nice though, if you plan on using it.

The smaller the camera is, the harder it will be to handle. It's nice if it fits in your pocket, but it will also degrade the steadyness of your images shot.

[pie_man]

ok yes ignore my hype

[blankcanvaslife]

Ok, I think im obligated to answer this question seeing as all I do is film.

Stay away from JVC's if you can, they're not bad, but the heads can go out over time, etc etc. Canon and Sony are the way to go. If you dont mind buying used, i'd do a search on Ebay for vx2000 vx1000 (although it has no LCD and it is quite old, the picture and sound quality is still above some newer 3 ccd cameras today), the TRV950.


www.camcorderinfo.com is a good site to go to with info regarding any camera.

[Maddog53]

Thanks for all your help guys. :)

Maddog.