Help choosing a camcorder - Newbie

[marcanthony]

Hi all

Im looking to buy a Mini DV camcorder to use for filming Downhill mountain biking. Its a high speed sport.

Im not very knowledgeable on camcorders hence me asking here. My budget is a maximum of £500 but i'd prefer to spend as little as possible, and I have a few needs. Firstly it needs to have an AV in socket to attach a helmet camera, it must also be nice and small to make carrying it easy. An added bonus would be also to be able to use the camera as a webcam at home. I would also like to be able to buy a wide lens or fish eye lens, or some other lenses to make filming a bit more interesting so hopefully these camera will allow that. I want it to capture the best quality picture it can, but with so much technical data listed with cameras i dont know what to look for.

I know the general rule 'you get what you pay for' and that just because it has 3 CCD chips doesn't automatically mean its better than a 1 CCD chip camera - This is where I fail in my knowledge, i dont know what to look for.

Ive been doing a little bit of research and have come up with 2 contenders:

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/Compar...ls=DCR-PC1000E

PC100E - I can get for £550-£600 and the HC42E I can get for £350

So the PC model is more expensive and has CMOS instead of CCD - and the cheaper 42e has advanced HAD and the PC doesnt. i dont know which is the best option. By the way, i like sony, they seem to be the best at everything thats why i would prefer a sony camcorder.

What do peaople think of these? Whcih will be my best option or can anyone recommend anything different. I dont have to have whats new, if i can save cash and get something a year or so old ill do it, if i can find somewhere still in stock. I also dont mind buying used stuff. And most importantly im not gonna be making movies to sell or anything, so not after mind blowing quality, just good enough really as i dont know what to expect as ive not had a camcorder for about 8 years.

Im open to options guys and gals

please help, im really clueless when it comes to this type of stuff

cheers

marc

The cam that your looking at is very good model but then again I happen to like just about anything that Sony makes , again it depends on what your going to use the cam for , what I mean by that is does it have a multi purpose or is it just for point and shoot ????
I do a lot of video conversions ie 8mm reels, beta cam , VHS , VHSC to DVD so my needs are much more then yours so you need to sit down and ask yourself these questions BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND BUY SOMETHING THATS JUST NOT GOING TO CUT IT.
In regards to 3ccd as apposed to 1ccd well the answer is very clear , if you can afford a 3ccd cam then buy one , the main difference here is that the
3ccd without getting to techo on you will give you a much clearer and colour perfect picture then the 1ccd thats it in a nutshell.

cheers

Big Ted