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Do you know of a good but cheap camcorder?

I am looking for a good quality camcorder for under $500. I know nothing about them-any info would be good.?

  • My husband is the gadget guru and I would like to suprise him with a mini camcorder for a gift. I'm out in left field when it comes to electronics and there are so many out there. We'd be using it just for family stuff and it must be easy to use. I'm looking for something with good picture quality, good zoom capabilities, and good storage capacity. Any other pointers and info on what to look for would be greatly appreciated. Our computer is a Dell inspiron 1000 with windows xp and is 1 yr old, if any of that makes a difference for docking and unloading memory.

  • Answer:

    The industry is currently moving onto HD, but for home use, a MiniDV camera will do. A major thing to look at when purchasing a MiniDV camera is the amount and size of the CCD Chips. A camera will either have 1 or 3 Chips, 3 being better. Most MiniDV cameras these days have a digital output via USB 2.0 or Firewire, but you'll want to double check that the camera can output. Other things to look for when purchasing a camera are the functions and features that are offered. I'd list them out, but there are a ton of functions offered out there. In terms of storage. The standard MiniDV tape on SP mode will give you 60 min of recording time, but you can always change it to LP to record more. Some MiniDV cameras come with a memory card. Your computer sounds sufficient enough. Most MiniDV cams are plug and play with the use of editing software. If not, the camera will come with software.

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Well, that's definitely a tough question when you don't know anything about the equipment. But... you do have a price, which is a good place to start. I would try some online comparison shopping sites to help you get a feel for what's available in that price range. I've used Shopzilla before and it's worked great. (www.shopzilla.com) They have photos, features listed, and store reviews. You can shop by price point, and a number of other important attributes. I would start there and that should lead you to some better information. Good luck.

not 2 sarcastic

I've never used one, but there are one time use camcorders, at some drug stores, including Longs Drug. They're approimately $20 or less

Uncle John

Check out www.camcorderinfo.com. Truly a remarkable comparison site, full of great, independent reviews. My own two cents...Panasonic 3CCD system (as seen in PVGS 150, PVGS 250 and PVGS 400) has superb color fidelity. It uses Leica lenses, so it is as good as Canon's optics. Also GS 400 is widely considered the best amateur camcorder on the market. So currently, I'd say the upper models of the Panasonic line are best in the non-HD segment of the market.

haslo

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