Camcorder Help Needed

[waylay00]

Hey guys,

I'm completely clueless when it comes to camcorders. However, I'm in the market for one, and I need your help.

It must meet the following requirements:

- around $500
- good optical zoom
- good audio capture (I'd like to be able to take some videos of my playing)

Also, what's the deal with hard drive vs. mini DV, etc...?

Past that, I have no idea what direction to take. Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Wade

[MelodyMan]

My gf just got a new camcorder as a gift for her birthday and it's pretty sweet. It was a Panasonic for about 300, which is less then what you're looking for...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1170290175221

It records onto mini DV tapes, so once you get a DV cable you can just transfer from camcorder to comp really easily if you have a DV in on you comp.

We recorded a vid with it to put on youtube and it looks WAYYYYY better than my ****ty webcam ones - the colors look a lot nicer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJznU7-Zh7Q

Youtube does make it look a little ****ty, but the real version looks beautiful!

[guitvai1]

What I understand from my own initial research is that: If you want to edit the video you are better off with miniDV as opposed to DVD recording as the miniDV allows transfer to your PC in a format that is easily editable while the DVD format will have to be changed causing a loss of definition. Secondly if you want to record with sound you're better off to get a little higher end unit $750 that allows you to connect an external mic rather than relying on the internal mic.

[guitvai1]

Originally Posted by MelodyMan

My gf just got a new camcorder as a gift for her birthday and it's pretty sweet. It was a Panasonic for about 300, which is less then what you're looking for...

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1170290175221

It records onto mini DV tapes, so once you get a DV cable you can just transfer from camcorder to comp really easily if you have a DV in on you comp.

We recorded a vid with it to put on youtube and it looks WAYYYYY better than my ****ty webcam ones - the colors look a lot nicer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJznU7-Zh7Q

Youtube does make it look a little ****ty, but the real version looks beautiful!

Did you use the internal mic for your recording or did you hook up something else? Nice job by the way, I liked the song.

Thanks G

[MelodyMan]

Internal mic...also I agree with what you said about it being easier to edit with mini-DV

[waylay00]

Thanks for tips. What about a hard drive based camcorder?

[waylay00]

anyone else?