[Scooby Stevo]

Hi all

Sorry - same old question I know.

Want to buy a Mini-DV recorder ASAP and want to get your opinions on the best of the bunch for under £400. Beginner / family stuff / motorsport etc.

Also the better features to look out for would be appreciated.

Already sussed that Amazon are good for Sony Premium tapes . . . just need a recorder!



PS - Reading previous reviews / posts etc I gather the Sony DCR-HC44E is a good buy. Is it still one of the best?

How come it only has 12x optical zoom whereas earlier models had 20x. This is one of the features i think I'd use a lot with recording motorsport.

Cheers all
Stevo

[redsox_mark]

Canon MVX460 is another good value camcorder. It was rated the best overall miniDV camcorder value in this month's Digital Video Techniques. It also has a 20x zoom - though generally trying to zoom more than 10x is hard to keep steady - and trying to shoot motorsport at high zoom would be a real challange.

[lostboybinns]

http://www.buyacamera.co.uk/xxsearch.asp?recid=SONVA223

[lostboybinns]

I'd say ebay for the tapes. You buy a mini dv yet then?