AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

Post Reply
Old 20-07-2009, 9:25 AM   #1
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Experience Points:
1,338, Level: 8
Points: 1,338, Level: 8 Points: 1,338, Level: 8 Points: 1,338, Level: 8
Activity: 1.1%
Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1%
Thanks: Gave 19, Got 3
Posts: 100
Lightbulb Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

Am about to be a father for the first time in september and so am looking at getting a camcorder.

I have no idea where to start with deciding which one to buy so i was wondering if anyone can give me some tips on things to look out for and considerations i should be thinking about?

Budget is around £300 i reckon but i dont want anything professional. As long as it shoots nice home movies that will do me.

Dont have an HD tv yet but will soon i guess.

All advice, tips and ridicule for still being CRT greatly appreciated!
  Quote
Old 20-07-2009, 9:48 AM   #2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Experience Points:
6,583, Level: 19
Points: 6,583, Level: 19 Points: 6,583, Level: 19 Points: 6,583, Level: 19
Activity: 1.5%
Activity: 1.5% Activity: 1.5% Activity: 1.5%
Thanks: Gave 516, Got 76
Posts: 1,644
Re: Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

Hi Vega, and congratulations! Best time of your life!!!!

Ok, from my experience (and i am no expert).

My second child is imminent also , which is why i have upgraded from my JVC MiniDV Camcorder to a Panasonic HDC-SD1. I got this second hand on these forums and quality is outstanding, so if you are going to get an HD LCD TV, then a HD camcorder is the way to go to show off the best quality your TV can produce.

I went for the panasonic as it records straight to SD cards, so no hard drive to go wrong or tapes to mess about with. Also the cards are dirt cheap.

If you want to edit you clips then you will need a powerfull pc/mac. As the HD footage takes a bit of muscle to handle! - There may be other HD cams out there that are easier to edit, but i'll leave other replies for that

Good luck!
  Quote
Thanks from:
BradShort (20-07-2009)
Old 20-07-2009, 11:58 AM   #3
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Experience Points:
1,338, Level: 8
Points: 1,338, Level: 8 Points: 1,338, Level: 8 Points: 1,338, Level: 8
Activity: 1.1%
Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1%
Thanks: Gave 19, Got 3
Posts: 100
Re: Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

ahh so go with flash rather than internal. First decision made then
  Quote
Old 20-07-2009, 12:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Experience Points:
6,583, Level: 19
Points: 6,583, Level: 19 Points: 6,583, Level: 19 Points: 6,583, Level: 19
Activity: 1.5%
Activity: 1.5% Activity: 1.5% Activity: 1.5%
Thanks: Gave 516, Got 76
Posts: 1,644
Re: Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

Are you Mac or PC based?

Actually I just installed Roxio Toast 10, and i can simply drag a video file (.mts) off the Camcorder/memory card into the toast application hit create DVD, pic a menu and boom, a full DVD With menus created in a flash
  Quote
Old 20-07-2009, 1:52 PM   #5
Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Experience Points:
1,338, Level: 8
Points: 1,338, Level: 8 Points: 1,338, Level: 8 Points: 1,338, Level: 8
Activity: 1.1%
Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1% Activity: 1.1%
Thanks: Gave 19, Got 3
Posts: 100
Re: Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

PC and an avid gamer so pc is pretty meaty. Will just want to playback vids rather than make DVD's anyway tbh
  Quote
Old 20-07-2009, 2:10 PM   #6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Experience Points:
6,583, Level: 19
Points: 6,583, Level: 19 Points: 6,583, Level: 19 Points: 6,583, Level: 19
Activity: 1.5%
Activity: 1.5% Activity: 1.5% Activity: 1.5%
Thanks: Gave 516, Got 76
Posts: 1,644
Re: Camcorder advice - Have no idea where to start!

Should be fine then, there are a few free .mts players for the PC Oxygen is one i think.

But Panasonic is just my experience, other brands maybe easier than that! - But i'd recommend the Panasonic to anyone!

Good luck
  Quote
Post Reply

Powered by  
 Latest popular product prices
Kodak PlaySport Zx5 
7 prices from
 £79.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Sony DCR-SX45E 
4 prices from
 £189.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Toshiba Camileo H30 
1 price
 £107.00 Click to show/hide the offers

Samsung SMX-F50BN 
4 prices from
 £119.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Panasonic SDR-S70 
7 prices from
 £116.00 Click to show/hide the offers

Panasonic HX-DC1 
7 prices from
 £123.95 Click to show/hide the offers

JVC GZ-HM30 
7 prices from
 £144.99 Click to show/hide the offers

Sony DCR-SX21E 
2 prices from
 £149.99 Click to show/hide the offers

 Updated February 11th at 4:30pm. Prices include delivery.


Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off