I'm in the market for a digital camcorder. It will be used mostly for trip/vacation stuff and around the house. But maybe I'll get creative and try some funky short movies for fun, so some creative controls would be nice.
I've read lots of reviews online, but anyone have any first hand recommendations on models/brands?
I'm looking to spend less than $1K.
Hermskii
Less than $1K??? Hmmm... I picked up a Mini-DV Camcorder($200(CAN)) which I've been playing with for a few months now and having no trouble with picking up Mini-DV Tapes for it arround $5(CAN) and even extra Batteries for it for $30(CAN).
I picked up a Cannon ZR100 which uses a Firewire Connection to connect to the computer and I also needed to pick up a Firewire PCI interface card which ran me like $25(CAN) and pretty much using the Windows Movie Maker I've been able to Transfer and Edit the Video but limited to the WMV(Windows Media Video) File format but able to Convert the video with Nero to Make a DVD. But there are other Programs out there to transfer and edit DVD Videos but I find that ULead does a great Job for the most part for DVD Projects.
But the BEST part of having a Tape vs. Hard Drive or DVD recorder is the limitation of Time Recording or the cost of expen$ive Media like the Mini-DVD-R's are... Mostly you may want to check out the possibilities of Cost mostly compared to what would work best. Even if you could find a used one cheap and turn arround and make the best Home-Movies ever.
Camcorder Mediums:
Beta - Yeeah riiight!
VHS - 6 - 8 HOURS WOOHOO!!!
8mm - ?
Hi8 - ?
Digital8 - ?
DV-Tape - 60-90 min(depending on current tape capacity & settings)
MiniDV-Tape - 60-90 min(depending on current tape capacity & settings)
Hard Drive - Recording capacity depending on model and HD size
DVD Recorder - Capacities depending on recording quality and Medium size
Mini-DVD Recorder - Capacities depending on recording quality
Memory Card Based Video Recorder - I hope that you didn't pay tooo much
(although some newer Camcorders may have Memory card slots which are primarily for still pictures)
Some creative controls?
Fade, Still, Border, Blue/Green Screen, In-Camera editing, Date Stamp and many more! But I'm sure that you want to refine all of the clips of video on your computer to polish off that shiny DVD!
I'm sure that there are many different makes and models out there and I hope that you will be happy with one that you feel that will suit your needs.
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