[rishisab]

As you can easily find out from that weird subject line, that i am dead confused. So, I should really start of with my confusion.
I am planning to buy a camcorder for my upcoming trip to The Himalayas, Regular use for home video's and editing the videos to make my home movies( So a lot of editing is required). I have narrowed down few models of various Brands, which are: -

• Sony Mini Dv SD
• Sony sx60
• Canon FS100
• Panasonic sdr s26

And here are some very important things i want in my camcorder:

• Good Picture quality.
• Good quality in low light condition.
• Good battery life, 2 hours or more..
• Cheap accessories
• High storage

As you can see, my specifications contradict each other. I have searched down 1000's of websites. But still my confusion is still there. I can find good quality video in Mini Dv but its battery life is less n storage cost is more. Anyhow, i hope u guys can help me find my camcorder. I need to buy it in 3 days. So guys..help me out please. And yea, in case if you have any other option (just in SD Category, as my budget is not too much) you can let me know..

[A n d r e w]

It seems to me that your trade-off will be between weight, picture quality, and battery life. Under £300, mini-DV standard definition camcorders are going to offer the best picture quality, especially in low-light situations (though nothing in this bracket offers amazing low-light video). But you'll have to carry tapes, be aware of condensation in the mechanism, and put up wth marginally lower battery life. Other side of the fence, something like the FS100 gives you good standard definition mpeg-2 video, better in bright light than low light, light weight, no tapes (but you will want a bunch of memory cards) etc.

Are you sure you can't afford a high definition camcorder? How much have you got to spend? How are you intending to edit and then to distribute your videos?

[rishisab]

Originally Posted by A n d r e w

It seems to me that your trade-off will be between weight, picture quality, and battery life. Under £300, mini-DV standard definition camcorders are going to offer the best picture quality, especially in low-light situations (though nothing in this bracket offers amazing low-light video). But you'll have to carry tapes, be aware of condensation in the mechanism, and put up wth marginally lower battery life. Other side of the fence, something like the FS100 gives you good standard definition mpeg-2 video, better in bright light than low light, light weight, no tapes (but you will want a bunch of memory cards) etc.

Are you sure you can't afford a high definition camcorder? How much have you got to spend? How are you intending to edit and then to distribute your videos?

Heyy..thanks for the reply..my budget is around $450..i dont think i can get any HD Camcorder..(because i am in india..n here we dont even get a special offer on any website, so i have to stick with the company's price). N heyy..what about panasonic sdr s26??is the video quality really bad in sd cameras??i mean in comaprison to Minidv..I have checked the video in low light on youtube..n that was pathetic..I hope the actual video is not that bad..as it looked on youtube??
N one more question..As mini dv seems like a better option..Do i need to have a capturing card for best quality of video..or Firewall can serve that purpose(for least loss in the quality of the video)??

[rishisab]

guyss..i have just came to know that the production of mini dv cameras have been stopped by Sony..And the condition of panasonic in india is not good..so i will not get its new model till 2 months..So i m left with just 2 options and that is Sony SX 60 and Canon FS200 Legria..these are flash camcoders..so i my confusion have been removed forcefully by the nature..lol..so please guys..just let me know which one should i grab..cheers!

[A n d r e w]

They've both got small, single CCD sensors, but the FS200 has the larger sensor of the two (it has a 1/6-inch sensor, the Sony a 1/8-inch). If it were me, I'd go for the FS200. Plus the Sony probably requires you to buy the comparatively more expensive Sony proprietary memory cards, whereas the FS200 will accept generic SDHC cards (class 4 or above I think).

[rishisab]

thanks a lot andrew..the sony one is a bit costly too, then the canon one.. n what about the image quality of both..i mean the comparison between the image quality of sony sx 60 and cannon fs200??

[A n d r e w]

Going by the specifications, I would expect the Canon to have the edge. But my expectation is based only on the specifications - I've never used either.

[rishisab]

Is there any other good camcorders in the same price range??