Digital video camera

[Alvin_Wilson]

I need some advice on what type of digital video camera to buy. I'm wanting something that I can record on DVD's and upload movies to my computer or a video hosting site. You know, like adding a video to youtube or linking a short video here. Probably spend around $500 - $600. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Alvin

[CharvelRocker]

EDIT: Oh mini dvds... ><

[xenophobe]

You're not going to get a great DV camera for that price range. Perhaps used or refurbished...

[quakana]

Actually I got my Hitachi DVD camcorder last year for 500 and its pretty nice. Look for a Sony which tend to be the best. Optical zoom pixel count and the screen size will dictate the price normally. Here is a damn good sony in your price range
25X optical zoom!!!! 2.1 megapixels..pretty good camera !!

sonydvd DCR-DVD308

Here is a good link on the new sonys

Link

[mm2002]

Hey Alvin, after you get the camera, and figure out how to burn decent quality DVDs, will you give me some lessons?? Mine is a miniDV, and records very nice quality video if you play it straight through the TV, but once you burn it to DVD the quality goes all to hell. I'm tired of fighting with it.

[Twisteramps]

I have a fairly cheap (was $400 or so a year ago) mini DV Canon. Works great, but it doesn't do well in low lighting. Recorded some gig stuff with it, on my myspace page (www.myspace.com/petesguitars) there is a live YYZ video on there that I did.

Mark - sounds like you're using a compressor on the file to keep the size down. There should be an option to not compress, but then the DVD will fill up pretty fast. What software are you using?

Pete

[mm2002]

I'm using Ulead video studio. It doesn't have a compression setting that I know of, but maybe I need to dig a little deeper. I can get about an hour on a standard DVD-R. I haven't tried any double layer ones yet.

[danastas]

At this point, you're still relegated to miniDVs. My best suggestion would be the top of the line mini-DV from Panasonic which sells for $500.

The DVD recorders require so much additional machinery, engines, that they've skimped on the lens and shutter speed.

The hard drive cameras promise to be the best ones for future recording but those are very expensive right now $1k, and they are probably at leasat 2 years away from falling into your range and having the crisp picture you can get from a mini-DV player.

If you want one now, mini-DV is the best way to go for best picture + price.

[Alvin_Wilson]

Excellent info guys. Thanks a million. I'll do a little more research and then post what I decide to go with. Again, thank you.

Alvin

[Venomboy]

You can't go wrong with a Canon. I have a MiniDV camcorder I bought almost 5 years ago and it's wonderful. I bought a 9 hour battery for it too.

I digitize all my stuff in iMovie then burn to DVD as necessary. If I post my own QuickTimes on the web I try to get the best balance of audio and video.

I like to edit my stuff and create custom menus. In a few years I'll get a widescreen HDTV then I'll invest in a camera that can shoot in 16x9.

[OnlineStageGear]

You can get a decent one for that price range. The only setback is the low light quality. I use a MiniDV and actually use Windows Movie Maker to capture through my USB port at max quality. An hour of video can be upwards of a 25 gigs AVI file, but at that size it makes a decnt quality DVD. The problem with the Mini DVD is they only record 1/2 hour per disk and spinning those disks the whole time eats batteries.