[jonhead34]

Hi all

I am trying to help my Dad choose a camcorder. He would like one with a hard disk (ideally 30G +) and a colour viewfinder, not just an LCD panel. Obviously the more additional features...extra zoom, good picture quality, etc the better!

He was looking at the JVC MG77 but it doesn't have a colour viewfinder. His reason for the insistence on the viewfinder is that he says he can't see the LCD very well outside in bright sunshine, so he prefers a viewfinder. Would you agree? Perhaps LCDs have improved since my Dad last got one (about 3 years ago)?

Any recommenedations/suggestions/etc would be most welcome and appreciated. Ideally budget is below £600, but he would consider going higher for something outstanding.

Kind regards

Jon

[redsox_mark]

Sony DCR-90 fits your budget, has a viewfinder, and produces very good quality video (better than MG77).
Prices from around £530
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-a.../564220/prices

I would agree that it is hard to see an LCD in bright sunshine, even with improvements to them. You can get little shades to put around it... but I'm with you Dad in that I want both a viewfinder and an LCD. In different situations I want one or the other..

[jonhead34]

Many thanks for your lightning fast response Mark and for your very well informed advice. It is very much appreciated. The Sony looks great - I'll print off some specs now and have a word with my Dad.

Regards

Jon

[oldfart65]

hi i know the problem your dad has with lcd screens , i have shot video for the past 35years and i cant get away with lcd screens,unfortuantly the manufacturers are fasing out viewfinders on camcorders except for the hi end models.panasonic recently released the tm-300 this has embedded 32gb memory and supports sd cards,NO MOVING PARTS. to be honest i would not entertain a h/drive or dvd formats camcorder. i have just purchased this model and it is a super piece of kit.£730 with free panasonic 12gb sd card you get the best of both colour viewfinder and great lcd screen.