Can you suggest a cheap video camera under $200?

What hd video camera would u suggest for...?

• ok im going on a skiing trip soon in italy and ive got about 100-200 pound to spend on a video camera im looking for a HD one and ive seen a few on amazon around this price but some have half good and half bad reviews im looking for a video camera that - can operate under -5 °C - HD - SD - can support SD cards up to 16gb so im guessing SDHC - good battery life and would u suggest a waterproof one for skiing? and what brand of SDHC card would u suggest can u please suggest a name of a video camera i should get? thanks

• Answer:

  Most camcorders' and battery operating temperature ranges will be in the 0 °C to 40 °C. When used in a colder environment, cameras should be warmed so they are within the operating range. This could be a simple as keeping it inside your jacket until you use it for short periods of time and keeping your ungloved hand on it to keep it warm enough or as complex as getting a chemical warmer (like those thermal pads used by people with sore backs). Professionals use things like the PortaBrace Polar Mitten. There are only a few high definition cams that meet your price range and storage memory requirements. Flip. Xacti - maybe. A brand name SDHC card - with the class rating specified by the camcorder manufacturer (likely class 4 or class 6 or higher) - is suggested. The higher class rating is required to keep up with the high volume HD digital video stream coming onto the card. This memory card class requirement will be specified in the manual of the camera you select. Because the lenses and imaging chips are so small on the camcorders in the price range you want - and I don't think any of them have any sort of useful image stabilization, be sure you capture the video in day light (good lighting conditions) and always use some sort of stabilizing device - table, rock, ground, chair, tripod/monopod. For the most part, any video you capture with the camera hand-held (especially zoomed in on anything or especially when skiing) will be pretty useless... you might get a little useful video if you secure the camera to your helmet...