What is a good first video camera?

Good first video camera?

• I've been really into pictures and digital images and editing them and what not for a few years now and was thinking about film. My mother is at a loss for what to get me for Christmas and I already have a wonderful camera (Canon Rebel XT! :D) so I was thinking about asking for a video camera. What's a good first camera for me that has a good picture and good editing capabilities? I have Adobe Photoshop CS3 and would like the videos to be files instead of DVD's, if that makes any sense. I did a LOT of research before I got my camera, but I don't know what to look for in a video camera. Any advice or links to good sites would be wonderful. Thanks in advance!

• Answer:

  What's your budget? What video do you want to capture? Once you set a budget, see what camcorders from Sony, Panasonic and Canon fit. I suggest you stay in the miniDV tape and flash memory storage environments. Consumer camcorder ranges: Toys: Flip Low: Canon ZR900, ZR930 Medium: Canon HV30, Sony HDR-HC9 High: Sony HVR-A1U, HDR-FX1000 There are many others, but this is a decent short list to start with.