Looking for a new camcorder.

What should i be looking for in a HD Camcorder?

• I am looking in to getting a HD camcorder in the next few weeks and im not sure what spec. i should be looking for when looking for HD camcorders. I will be getting some professional usage out of the camcorder. Including short films and music videos. At this point in my career i wont be looking at the large shoulder cams until the demand calls for it, right now im looking more in to the HD Handy cams. I am currently looking in to purchasing the Sony HDR-SR12 or the Canon VIXIA HG21 or the Panasonic HDC-HS100. I am certain that i need the camcorder to be able to use an external mic and an external light, with a possible option of interchangeable lenses. Any advice at to what technical specs that i should be paying attention to would be more then helpful. Thank you In advance.

• Answer:

  With the problems associated with hard drive based camcorders - it is well known they cannot handle vibration (loud music, loud crouds, loud engines, loud anything), have high altitude (low air pressure will cause the hard drive heads to remain parked) problems over 9,800 feet, data recovery issues (non-removable memory), extra steps to make data file archives, HDD camcorders are not generally recommended - and are not typically used by real professionals. Flash memory and miniDV tape do not share the problems HDD camcorders have. Flash memory uses AVCHD compression - an in its current implementation, this is very anemic. Hopefully the camcorder manufacturers resolve this. I strongly suggest you look at miniDV tape based camcorders which record to DV and HDV: Consumer grade (small lenses and small imaging chips = poor lowlight behavior; only 1/8" mic jack requires using BeachTeck or juicedLink XLR adapter for pro-mics; need camera bracket for mounting accessories): Canon HV30 Sony HDR-HC9 Prosumer (bigger lenses and imaging chips results in much better low light performance; only 1/8" mic jack requires using BeachTeck or juicedLink XLR adapter for pro-mics): Sony HDR-FX1, HDR-FX1000 Pro (XLR mic jacks, big lenses, big imaging chips): Canon XHA1 Sony HVR-V1U, Z1U, Z7U Panasonic HDX200 series, HDX300 series Yes, I shoot music videos.