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Originally Posted by MarkE19 If all you want to do is plug the camcorder into the TV to watch the recording then IMO you are better off getting a miniDV camcorder as they will offer better quality pictures and longer recording times. A DV tape will record 1 hour, or 90 minutes in long play and they cost around £3 each.
DVD camcorders are good if you want to remove the disc and play it on a DVD player, but you only get about 20 minutes at best quality on a disc and they do cost a fair bit more than a DV tape.
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lot more actually and also much less readily available both domestically or on holiday if he runs out of tape!.
The pic quality may be marginally less ( in the DVD) as the encoding to mpeg2 to fit a DVD will not come at top quality via the camcorder.
Certainly go for Mini DV. Obviously the tapes can be played to TV running off the mains/ adaptor and long life batteries dont cost that much.
As for the actual make of camcorder, pretty much any of Canon, Panasonic or Sony will make decent models .Others will swear by their JVCs, Samsungs and other less familiar brands. In vest in one issue of "what camcorder" for guidance . For your Dad I would stick with the big names but then shop on the internet for a keen price unless Jessops/Dixons etc will pricematch.
Also unless it is meant to be a suprise, try get him to hold and play with those on your short list since the actual handling feel is very impt IMHO.
One last advantage of miniDv is the ability to edit them in the future should you wish to dabble into that

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