hi,
I had a Canon I630 for 2 years which was great! But after 5 repairs due to constant dirty heads/ playback problems it has now been written off by the insurance cover company.

I am due to get vouchers (not sure how much £££) for buying a replacement (only able to spend in Dixons, PC World, CurryS ) I don't mind paying a few more £££ with the vouchers, or I could always by something else!!!0

I would like advice on buying a mid budget range camcorder (not Canon though ) for replacing my Canon I630-

I am looking for similar specs in: DV in and out, Av in and out and ext mic if possible.

Many thanks for looking.

[redsox_mark]

The challange is that these days, except for Canon, you have to look closer to the top end of the range to get DV and AV in.

For Sony, the HC96 is the first model with all these - it also has a mic input. Web prices start at £460... Dixons/Currys don't seem to have it (online at least). I don't think any of the new Panasonics have AV in... the GS250 does...

If you really are restricted to Dixon/Currys, probably best for you to look at see what you can get from Dixon/Currys that ticks your boxes, and then post here to help you decide. If you get lots of suggestions for models you can't get that could get depressing... or see if it is possible to get cash.

Mark

Thanks for your input!.

I had a look at the Sony HC42 great in/out DV and AV but no ext mic input!.

What about the Sony TRV range, any of them have DV in/out Av In/Out and ext mic input?.
I think that the Sony TRV 33,38 have the above- but are probably hard to find!

[redsox_mark]

I doubt you’ll find a new TRV33 or 38 anywhere… even less likely if you are restricted to the DSG group (Dixons, Currys, PC world).

The HC42 can take an external mic, but only one with the Sony AIS shoe.

Mark

Thanks for the reply.

In ref to the HC42. External Mike via AIS shoe? Can you actually plug in a seperate mike ??? how does that work - and would it have to be a Sony only product??

I read the following on a US site from Feb 2005.




http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...der-Review.htm


"On the top of the DCR0-HC42 rests its intelligent Accessory shoe. This is an upgrade from the cold accessory shoe found on the DCR-HC32, but isconsistent with the specifications of last year‘s DCR-HC40. Unfortunately, the intelligent shoe on the DCR-HC42 is of Sony’s new slimmed design. This new design deviates from the industry standard, and only operates with Sony-made products"


"Audio
The DCR-HC42 records both 12 and 16 bit audio. This option can be accessed using the camcorder’s touch screen menu system. This really forces the user to depend on the camcorder’s built-in microphone for audio capture and leaves no options to monitor or adjust the sound levels captured."

I may buy something else with the Vouchers (If possible).

[redsox_mark]

Yes - if you buy a Sony AIS mic, you can connect it to the AIS shoe. The camcorder doesn't have an "normal" mic socket, but the AIS is hot and the mike connects that way. But it does have to be a Sony AIS mic.

You can see details in the manual from here

http://support.sony-europe.com/manua...Name=DCR-HC42E

Page 61: You can record audio by connecting an external microphone (optional) to the Active Interface Shoe.

I believe "laser" who often posts here has one, with an external mic.

Mark

Which is the best Sony Camcorder for inputs/ext mic and extras -out of the
HC39E/42E/43 range?

How many Sony Mics use AIS? The Sony mics tend to be rather ££££££!!!

Thanks

[redsox_mark]

The 42 has DV and AV in, the 39 does not. All take an AIS mic, but not a standard mic. I’m not sure the HC43E was released in the UK… per the manual it seems the same as the HC42E, but comes supplied with a memory stick!

There aren’t a huge variety of AIS mikes.

This is a shotgun one (mono) ECM HGZ1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...178173-6535111


This is a surround sound one: ECM-HQP1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...178173-6535111


Mark

Sorry to bother again!

I have just receive vouchers for £300/ £33 off my repair cover!.For the replacement of my Canon MV630I. They based their assessment on the nearest replacement the Sony HC35.

But I pointed out that the HC35 has no external mike, no audio in, no Svideo in. (Any analogue converter on board the HC35 ? - with the lack of the above?)

And that a cam with similar specs in the DSG was ££££££- and that I would rather not have a Canon!!! But Sony HC42 etc.

-as the analogue converter and ext mic were my main reasons for buying!.

I will send all back with prove (the orig had all specs) asked for ££££ or that I am able to buy outside the DSG group. On the phone they said - "we should be able to buy you a cam with similar specs as you lost" - not sure how many extra £££ that they will agree!

Please could you tell me if their are any other camcorders are in a similar £300+ with analogue & DV in/out and ext mic. As your first reply - the higher end- as I pointed out to them!!.

Thanks for looking.

[redsox_mark]

You are correct on the HC35… no analogue in, no analogue/digital convert function.

Canon seem the best for having these features in the lower model ranges... but you don't want a Canon, right...

Even there - the Canon MV960 has AV in + convert, DV-in, but no mic input. The cheaper MV890 has a mic input, but no AV in!

I'd push them to give you the HC96..

They replaced my Canon Mv630I with a Sony HC42E!.

The HC42E zoom is only a *12 against the Canon 630I -*20 and the HC42E is a little bit on the cheapo (plastic buttons) on the construction side.
But I have all the in and outs A/V & DV and ext connections
that I wanted- so I am really happy!

Thanks for all your help!