Digital Camcorder Advise
 

OK, we recently had twins and I need a camcorder. I would like to keep the price right around +/- 1K.

I like the thought of a DVD-R based recorder for conveinance. I don't really need this to be a good camera (stills), since I already have a good camera. I looked at the Panasonic PV-GS400 which has some nice options. What do you guys think. Also, if you could add the pros/cons as well.

Thanks for the input.

a really good place to go for camera advice is the dv.com website's forums. you have to register (free) but they have a forum dedicated to cameras, and a lot of knowledgeable folf post there regularly.

http://www.dv.com/community/

For $1K you can get a nice camera. One feature that I love is being able to charge the battery and use the camera at the same time, something pretty hard to find I think. A lot of cameras have a lot of features totally aimed towards "newbies" that I find get in the way, so really pay attention to features like USB/Firewire connectors, MPEG movies, pictures, and recording medium.

Thanks for the info guys.
2sheds - I will check on that site now.
namnori - Yes, i am finding this out.

Well, I think I have my mind set on the mini DVD-R/RW cameras. Now, just need to find the best of the bunch using this format.

If you are absolutely 100% dead set on getting a DVD cam, then (as much as it pains me to say) I would look at those from Sony. I would normally recommend against getting a DVD cam because they could only write to DVD-R media, but they seemed to have addressed that issue. I use Sony DV cams at school, and I must say they are quite nice. The model DCR-DVD301 looks very nice and is their top line DVD cam. My humble recommendation would be the Canon Optura Xi. It is a DV cam, but I think Canon's optics are better than Carl Zeiss's. It retails for $1299, but I found it at OneCall (legit online retailer for Canon) for $1067.73.

Thanks Brandon. That SONY was the exact model I was looking at. That and the Panasonic GS400 (miniDV). I am still researching..... And, i am not dead set on the DVD-R format, just thought it would be nice and easy. (although you still have to close your session so.....)

I really can't see how one format could be easier or more convenient than the other. I guess if you wanted to take raw footage off the DVD and stuff it into your DVD player it would be easier. Having the video be burned direct to DVD on the fly makes me nervous. I just see problems for some reason... I would make my humble recommendation for the DV format. Canon's optics are nearly unbeatable. Macworld magazine did a roundup of less expensive cams and the Canon beat out all others, one of which being a 3 CCD cam.

Do you happen to have that article?

I do, but it just so happens to be in my current issue of Macworld. I checked their site for the article, but it was not up. It should be on newstands now. The models reviewed were the Canon Optura 40, Canon ZR-90, JVC GR-DX97, Panasonic PV-GS200, Samsung SC-DC6040, Sony DCR-PC109, and the Fisher FVD-C1. They found the Optura 40 to have the best video quality and the Sony to have the best jitter correction. The best picture quality came from the Optura 40, the JVC, and the Panasonic (3 CCD).

Canon GL1 is easily the best compact camera on the market. It uses dv tapes which might be a problem for you but you can get cords that will plug into dvd burners, computers, or VCRs and you can just transfer the footage.

What is a GL1? I am familiar with the Canon GL2 and XL1, but not a GL1.

Panasonic PV-GS400, I have did a little research on the 400 series (3 CCD) from Panasonic and I like what I see for the most part. You have me thinking on the miniDVD option over the tape. I still am torn between this..

Thanks again for the help.