Looking to buy a video camera, please help

[emphant]

I am looking to buy a video camera in the very near future. These are my criteria:

-Under 300$, preferably under $200
-I want to be able to connect to a computer to download my pictures
-I want a decent if not good battery life
-I'd like to be able to take still pictures too.

I know they make cameras that can take video too, are these any good? Honestly, I think if there was a good still picture camera that was cheap that might be good too. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[shakran]

Toss out the idea of doing both with one device. Sure they make cameras that will do it, but the still cams that also take video take crappy video, and the video cams that also take pictures don't take very good pictures.

You will also not get a GOOD camcorder in your price range. As long as you're aware of that before you get started, check the Panasonic PVGS19 or the JVC GRD250US.

Note you will also need a firewire equipped computer.

[maleficent]

Originally Posted by emphant

I know they make cameras that can take video too, are these any good?

they've improved over the years but the quality -- especially sound quality -- still is pretty poor - it's fun for quick snippets - but for recording a kid event - just doens't work.

I have a JVC Video Recorder that's a few years old now but it's great - I've used it to record kid events for my nieces and nephews and the quality is good - -I have very shakey hands (side effect of being 90 percent caffeine) and the camera has a built in stabilizer -(i think that's what it's called) so unless I'm on a pogo stick - you can't tell my hands shake.

My recorder, which isn't digital because the digitals were too expensive when i bought mine, hooks up to a mac and I can capture video to a mac (never been able to get it to work from a firewire connection on a PC) I'm sure the digital recorders have come down in price and are easier to offload images.