[lumpsucker]

I'm just about to dive into the world of camcorders and and wondered whether I can get such a thing for under £1000 ??

[redsox_mark]

I don't believe there is a hard disc based 1080i camcorder at any price...
£4000 gets you one which uses solid state memory
http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...onic_ag-hvx200

Or £750 gets you the Sony HC3, which uses mini-DV tapes.

[lumpsucker]

Thanks Redsox_mark,

It might have to be HC3 then. I have looked at the spec and thought that a decent sized hard disc instead of the tape based media would have made it the perfect machine.

Cheers

[bis96gw]

Trouble is, it would need to be a fairly hefty hdd to record any amount of HD footage on it....

I have recently purchased the Sony HC3 1080i camcorder and first impressions are good, the HD footage played back on my LCD is stunning, I an using a HDMI -DVI cable without any problems(sound through AV cable) and it takes pretty good stills too. I also looked at the Sanyo Xacti which claims 720p onto 2/4Gb SD cards but I believe the 720p maybe upscaled rather than true HD( reviews on Steves Camara site).

[hot-fuzz]

Originally Posted by HVD Steve

I also looked at the Sanyo Xacti which claims 720p onto 2/4Gb SD cards but I believe the 720p maybe upscaled rather than true HD( reviews on Steves Camara site).

I considered the Sanyo Xacti HD1 also, as i could get it for around £400, but decided on the Sony HD3 after much deiscussion here :

Sanyo HD1 HD Video Camera

[CarlB]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

I don't believe there is a hard disc based 1080i camcorder at any price...
£4000 gets you one which uses solid state memory
http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...onic_ag-hvx200

Or £750 gets you the Sony HC3, which uses mini-DV tapes.

The Panasonic camera illustrated by Mark can use the firestore hard drive for an additional £1600 or so, it's on the same page. It gets very expensive quickly with the Panny 200, but bear in mind this is not HDV, it is *better*.

[redsox_mark]

True - the Panasonic is DVCPRO HD - less compressed than HDV. But it is a very expensive solution. It is comparing apples and oranges.. I only mentioned it as it was the only non-tape based HD camcorder I am aware of (that and the Sanyo).

You can get a HDV firestore drive and use that with a Sony HC3.... but I think the OP probably wasn't thinking about attaching a separate HDD device.. and these cost more than the camcorder itself http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...us_fs4pro80hdv

[lumpsucker]

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

True - the Panasonic is DVCPRO HD - less compressed than HDV. But it is a very expensive solution. It is comparing apples and oranges.. I only mentioned it as it was the only non-tape based HD camcorder I am aware of (that and the Sanyo).

You can get a HDV firestore drive and use that with a Sony HC3.... but I think the OP probably wasn't thinking about attaching a separate HDD device.. and these cost more than the camcorder itself http://www.creativevideo.co.uk/publi...us_fs4pro80hdv

Thanks Chaps,
Thats right it was hard disc as the original recording media that was of interest. It looks like I will get the HC3 although sods law says as soon as I do there will be a disc version of it released just after I hand over the dosh.