[HLP] - What Camcorder To Buy?

[jpjapers]

Hi, Im looking for a new compact HD camcorder to buy and i have yet to find one that has everything that the numerous competitors do.

Ive looked at cameras that have optical zoom but bad quality stills.Ones that have no optical zoom and digital zoom doesnt work in fulll HD so here is my spec that i want, if you know of a camera please help

• Full HD (1920X1080 video)
• Optical Zoom THAT WORKS WHEN IN HD MODE
• 8MP+ Still Images
• HD output
• SDHC compatibility 16GB+
• Compact
• Between £100 and £180
• Macro Mode

Optional Extras

• 720p 60fps (i have found one that does 240fps!!)
• Built In Memory (nothing huge needed, just in case of emergencies where a camera is needed )
  

I have looked at various Aiptek Cameras and they seem to be very hit and miss and some people are very disappointed with them. The best so far seems to be a samsung camera that has 10MP stills, fulllHD but no zoom in hd mode and no optical zoom. Also no HD output.
The Aiptek AHD 300 has a HD input so you can use it as a HDD recorder to record tv and dvd's onto the camera.

Can anyone Help Me!!!?

Please

Thanks

JPJAPERS

[senu]

I think your list is somewhat ambitious and to crown that limited by the fairly frugal budget : Why on earth would anyone spend £800 on a camcorder if a £100-130 model could do all this easily?

I also feel that you may be mistaken in thinking that having the label Full HD and 8MP will = decent video and Stils

Im not sure why digital zoom matter's too. it merely enlarges and crops the video image of optical zoom and results in poor video
I sense a lot of marketing fuelled expectations..

All of them use USB and would have an LCD screen of sorts
Built in memory would cost a bit more too

Im most curious to see if anyone has a camcorder with all these attributes for the modest outlay..

[jpjapers]

Originally Posted by senu

I think your list is somewhat ambitious and to crown that limited by the fairly frugal budget : Why on earth would anyone spend £800 on a camcorder if a £100-130 model could do all this easily?

I also feel that you may be mistaken in thinking that having the label Full HD and 8MP will = decent video and Stils

Im not sure why digital zoom matter's too. it merely enlarges and crops the video image of optical zoom and results in poor video
I sense a lot of marketing fuelled expectations..

All of them use USB and would have an LCD screen of sorts
Built in memory would cost a bit more too

Im most curious to see if anyone has a camcorder with all these attributes for the modest outlay..

Hey, I have found a few camcorders that have mostly all of those things but are hugely let down eith by having No optical zoom or isnt actually full 1080p. The best so far for what i need seems to be one called

speed hd 50z

But its hard to track down, its a little over budget at £180 but it seems ok, im only looking for a cheap and cheerful pocket hd camera of sorts, nothing hugely fancy, just one that does everything, also i know what digital zoom does and i assume that most camcorders that have optical zoom will probably have digital zoom so it can be disregarded. But there are cameras out there that have nearly all the features im after, i just wanted to ask for some expetrise before choosing one and then finding out i could have had one that does exactly what i want for the same amount of money.#

I am curious now as to why full hd and 8mp resolution wouldnt count as decent video or stills? i believe that will meet my camera needs and as for markewting fuelled expectations, i have done my research and compiled a list of possibilities but like i said, i came here for advice and expertise, not for someone to tell me that im basically being stupid and cheap. Im a student, that means im pennyless

Thanks for your feedback

JPJAPERS

P.S I have altered my post accordingly and have increased my budget also i see youre from hayes, i have relatives there

EDIT: This is the speed hd 50z

http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/hd-50z-0.jpg


Relive all your favourite moments in high definition with the SPEED HD-50Z. It's precise, compact and features a new Dual Video Function technology that allows you to record two videos at different resolutions at the same time! The touch screen feature means you won't have to fiddle about with all the buttons during use and its 50X Super Zoom allows you to get up close to marvel at the finest details.

The HD-50Z can take up to a massive 16GB SDHC memory card so you'll never have to worry about running out of space. A neck strap ensures you won't drop your camcorder and when you're done, just pop it in the supplied pouch. Once you've finished recording or taking pictures, you can even view them in all its glory on your TV or download them straight onto your computer. No need for any extra cables as it comes with everything you need to set it up!

Accessories

* Li-ion Battery
* USB Cable/AV Cable/HDMI Cable
* 110-240v Battery Charger
* Camcorder Pouch
* Neck Strap
* Remote Control
* User Manual
* Power Adapter
* Video/Photo editing software (Presto Video Works and Presto Mr. Photo)
* 12 month warranty

The Technical Stuff
Sensor
1/2.5" 5.0 Mega-Pixel Sensor
Max. Resolution
Fine 12.0 Mega-Pixel (Firmware Interpolation)
Exposure
-2.0EV - +2.0EV
Lens 5X Optical Zoom Lens
Wide: F3.5 - F32, f=6.8mm
Tele: F3.7 - F33.8, f=34mm (38-190mm equivalent to 135mm)
Zoom Movie 50X (5X Optical Zoom, 10X Digital Zoom)
Camera 50X (5X Optical Zoom, 10X Digital Zoom)
Still Image Playback Digital Zoom Max. 8X
Focus Range
(Normal) Wide: 10cm - infinity; Tele: 1m - infinity
(Macro) Wide: 2 - 80cm
White Balance
Auto/Sunny/Cloudy/Tungsten/Flourescent
Colour Effects
Colour/B&W/Sepia
LED Flash (Video)
On/Off, Effective Range: 0.5m - 1m
Strobe (Camera) Auto/Forced/Off
LCD Display
3.0" 16.9 TFT LCD Touch Display (960 x 240 pixels)
Storage Media
Built-in 128MB Flash Memory (80MB available)
Self-Timer
Off/5 sec/10 sec
Movie Clips
Format H.264 (MOV)
Resolution 1080P (30fps), 720P (60fps), 720P (30fps), WVGA (60fps), WVGA (30fps), WQVGA (240fps)
Dual Video recording simultaneously: 1080P + WQVGA, 720P + WQVGA
Still Image
Format JPEG (EXIF2.2)
Resolution 1M/2M/5M/12M (Interpolation)
Aspect Ratio: 4:3/16:9/3:2
Support Continuous Shots
Self-Timer: Off/5sec/10sec
Memory Card Slot
SD / SDHC Card (Up to 16GB Class 6)
Electronics Image Stabilizer
Yes
Interface PC: USB 2.0 (High Speed)
Video: NTSC/PAL/HDMI (1080i Output)
IR Remote Control
Yes
Setup Language
English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Turkish, Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Arabic
Auto Power Off
Off/1 min/5 min
Shutter
Still: 1/2 - 1/2000 Video: 1/30 - 1/4000
Power Source
NP-120 Li-ion battery
Weight
292g (without battery)
Dimension
57 (W) x 70 (H) x 129 (D) mm
Supported OS Windows Vista (32 bit)/XP

[senu]

Originally Posted by jpjapers

Hey, I have found a few camcorders that have mostly all of those things but are hugely let down eith by having No optical zoom or isnt actually full 1080p. The best so far for what i need seems to be one called

speed hd 50z

But its hard to track down, its a little over budget at £180 but it seems ok, im only looking for a cheap and cheerful pocket hd camera of sorts, nothing hugely fancy, just one that does everything, also i know what digital zoom does and i assume that most camcorders that have optical zoom will probably have digital zoom so it can be disregarded. But there are cameras out there that have nearly all the features im after, i just wanted to ask for some expetrise before choosing one and then finding out i could have had one that does exactly what i want for the same amount of money.#

Good luck in your search

I am curious now as to why full hd and 8mp resolution wouldnt count as decent video or stills? i believe that will meet my camera needs and as for markewting fuelled expectations, i have done my research and compiled a list of possibilities but like i said, i came here for advice and expertise, not for someone to tell me that im basically being stupid and cheap. Im a student, that means im pennyless

Apologies if my post read like that. It was not intended at all However I think its fair to say anyone reading the post might have felt inclined to say you might want to rethink your wish list.
I did feel your needs were very ambitious .. at any price, let alone " cheap and cheerful "sub £160

What was intended was to seriously make you be less taken in by the paper specs as a means of judging the performance of a stills camera or camcorder
Firstly it is very hard to make a camcorder + still camera which perform well in both modes
( that said well may be a matter of opinion)
I mod the Photography section as well and Have a little exposure to cameras..,
Lots of megapixels from a small sensor will result in big paper resolution but not very good " definition" in real life
I had an 8 megapixel P and S .. very dissaponiting compared to my older 6Mp Canon EOS 350D. when it played up with the warrantee period . i didnt bother asking for another

Similarly a Small sensor with on camcorder , budget electronics and an "Ok" lens will output "Full HD" in pixels but watching its output on a 42" HDTV ( not a PC) may make you wonder..

I know many folk who have been put off for life by underwhelming video quality.. especially having been primed by Sky HD , Blu ray ect and thinknig hi def is hi def

If its any consolation, Money is a very finite resource, for everybody, but there is a saying, buy cheap, buy twice..
Good Luck