Is a Flip really better than an older SD camcorder?

What is better for a camcorder, a hard drive or a sd card (flash stick)?

• I want to get a camcorder to take videos at dusk or dawn with little to no light at far distances, what is the best camcorder thats between $250- $350. And what is better a hard drive ...show more

• Answer:

  Hard disc drive (HDD) and flash memory camcorder generally use the dsame file formats when storing video, so you need to look at other differences. Good that you have dropped DVD based consumer cams from your short list. HDD camcorders have known problems with vibration. This vibration can come from loud noises like big crowds cheering/yelling, loud engines (airplanes, heavy machinery, race cars/boats) and loud bands/misic (whether amplified or not) among other sources. When a sensor in the camcorder senses enough vibration, the hard drive head will park and no video can be captured. HDD camcorders have known problems with high altitude. This is generally anything over about 9,800 feet. There is not enough air pressure to support the hard drive heads working properly. As with the vibration "reaction", the hard drive head will park and no video can be captured. MiniDV tape and flash memory do not share these issues - they do not have vibration or altitud problems. Consumer camcorders in the price range you have stated do not do well in low light. This is a known issue - the lenses are small and the imaging chips are small - this combination results in poor low-light behavior. The video captured will most likely be grainy - especially in the area between the where there is a little light and the darker regions of the captured video. Larger lenses and larger imaging chips can capture more light which is why larger cameras do better in low-light environments, but it is also why they cost more money. Since we've dropped certain camcorders from the short list only, and since you have specified flash memory, there are only a few camcorders that meet your budget requirements - The Canon FS10, FS11 and FS100. They will likey not meet your low-light capture requirements. Even if you were to move up to miniDV tape, that list is very short, too (due to your price requirement). Canon ZR900, ZR930, ZR950; Sony DCR-GC52, HC62. Your price range is the "entry level" for consumer camcorders - the large imaging chips and big lenses required for what you want will not be available in entry-level camcorders - or any consumer cams, for that matter. The starting point for half-decent low-light video capture is the Canon GL2 or Sony DCR-VX2100. I use a Sony HDR-HC1 and HDR-FX1. The HC1's lowlight behavior is not very good - the FX1's is OK...