Best Camcorder Sub £200 for 11 Year old girl

[Mark Ward]

It's my 11 year old daughter's birthday next month and she's just discovered her 2 best friends are moving to New Zealand after Christmas. She desperate to keep in touch and we were thinking a camcorder, together with appropriate editing software might be the ideal solution.

So.. I know NOTHING about them, but doing a little research I think it's going to have to be a MiniDV camcorder, HDD ones are just too expensive right now.

We're considering a Sony DCR-HC37 Handycam, and would like anyones experiences of the camcorder and also other recommendations under £200.

I know she'll mess around with video editing she's often talked about making her own TV shows. Someone suggested a cut down version of Sony Vegas something-or-other for a cheapish solution which is easy to use and gives good results. I've also heard there's some reasonable free editing s/w out there, but I'd like to steer her in the direction of one piece of software to start. Which one should it be?

Many thanks,

Mark.

[Badger0-0]

Seeing as she's a student, hopefully this might help;

Yet another which camcorder thread.

I can confirm it's well easy to use and gives good results

[Mark Ward]

Looks ideal that MD101, however I've asked a question in that thread related to tape noise being picked up in recordings.

Thanks,

Mark.

[Badger0-0]

To be fair, I haven't heard any sound through it, so I can't comment there.

Oh, sorry, I did, for about 20 seconds and never noticed anything to worry about.

Video-wise, it's fine.

[jetinder]

For camcorder see the following website
:-

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128197/#Alternatives

I have the same one, but 2 weeks ago mine was £8 more expensive, now its much cheaper.

That is a quality camcorder and you wont get anything better this side of £250, the same one is being sold in other places for £200 or more.

You could use Windows Movie maker which is built in to Windows XP, that has basic video editting software for camcorders etc, just make sure you have a firewire port on your PC.

The camcorder you buy should also have basic video editting software with it.

or to save money go on e-bay and see what they have see
:-

http://search.ebay.co.uk/video-editi...opZ3QQsbrsrtZd

[DpM]

Check my thread here Sony HC47E - Opinions?

Mark Redsox posted a link to a recording done on a Canon, same model I think. Could not hear any nosie as such but im on a laptop and the speakers are not the loudest. I went with a Sony, you can read why in my posts.

[Badger0-0]

Originally Posted by jetinder

For camcorder see the following website
:-

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128197/#Alternatives

I have the same one, but 2 weeks ago mine was £8 more expensive, now its much cheaper.

That is a quality camcorder and you wont get anything better this side of £250, the same one is being sold in other places for £200 or more.

You could use Windows Movie maker which is built in to Windows XP, that has basic video editting software for camcorders etc, just make sure you have a firewire port on your PC.

The camcorder you buy should also have basic video editting software with it.

or to save money go on e-bay and see what they have see
:-

http://search.ebay.co.uk/video-editi...opZ3QQsbrsrtZd

Half the price?

I know where I'd put my money

[Mark Ward]

Still looking at the:-

Canon MD101
Sony DCR-H37
JVC GRD770

And trying to form an opinion and I just realised theres something I'm not sure of... Are all these cameras 4:3? 640x480 sounds 4:3 to me. If so at what price level to 16:9 ration camcorders start?

Is the Canon MVX450 a better camera than the MD101? I've found it on ""Special"


Thanks,

Mark.

[Badger0-0]

I'm fairly sure the 101 does 16:9, but I'm not 100%.

[jetinder]

Originally Posted by Mark Ward

Still looking at the:-

Canon MD101
Sony DCR-H37
JVC GRD770

And trying to form an opinion and I just realised theres something I'm not sure of... Are all these cameras 4:3? 640x480 sounds 4:3 to me. If so at what price level to 16:9 ration camcorders start?

I think the MD101 is 16.9 & 4.3

The Sony HC37 is 4.3

The JVC GRD770 is 16.9 & 4.3 (there is a switch on it which allows you to shoot video in either 16.9 or 4.3 mode).

640x480 = resolution of photos it takes, but i aint worried about it as i wont use such low qaulity photos.

[redsox_mark]

MD101 can shoot true widescreen 16:9, or also 4:3.

PAL video is 720x576, regardless of the aspect ratio. Non-square pixels are used in both the 16:9 and 4:3 cases.