parents in law and the HV 20

[tik33]

hi all - I'm in a dilemma,

my parents-in-law are in town and staying with us in preparation for the birth of my first child in the next few days . they want to buy us a camcorder and got their son (my brother in law) to do some research.

so, he has come up with the canon HV20 which looks like a great camcorder by all accounts. However, I have never owned a camcorder and I'm feeling guilty that it will cost them quite a lot of money (they come from Oz - so it's an extra hit).

So, here's the dilemma:

Do I say thank you very much for a very lovely camera? or do I say I don't think that you should spend that much money - why don't you get me a standard def camcorder and we'll see how much it gets used.

I've got an oldish PC (prob 3/4 yrs old) and a CRT 28" widescreen TV if that makes a difference?

Would love to hear your thoughts

Thanks all

[Ryan_is]

Have just read the spec of the HV20 and it seems like great camcorder, I think you should both be pleased that they're prepared to spend, what I agree, is a considerable amount of money.

What could be better than being able to record the memories of your new baby in HD - that way it'll be futureproof.

[redsox_mark]

Well I would say "thank you very much...."
It is a lovely camera; if I was buying one today it's what I would buy (or maybe the Sony HC7.. it's close and you can't go wrong with either one).

The nice thing about HDV camcorders like the HV20 is you can always shoot HD and have the camcorder downconvert to SD if you want (and aren't ready for HD yet).

You won't get the full effect of HD without a HDTV, but eventually you'll get one of those... in the meantime it will still look great on your SD TV, and you'll have the original HD tapes to use later.

Your PC may be borderline in terms of power to edit HDV, but there are ways around that (either downcoverting in camera, or using a proxy or intermediate codec on the PC).

[tik33]

Thanks both for your quick replies!

I suppose I just kind of feel guilty about getting them to shell out a load of cash if I haven't got HD TV

but, I suppose if i'm able to send them tapes of their grandchild I suppose that would make them happy

as you both point out - while I don't have HD Tv now - I will when I next upgrade - though the worry there is that a new protocol comes out and I never get the full effect (is this likely???)

However, you are both convincing me to go for it - so, question is now - should I go internet shopping or real-life shopping - any recommendations? It's at John Lewis but for £150-200 over the internet price - I suppose it's the old 'what if something goes wrong' question...

Thanks again

[Ryan_is]

Worth asking when you're in store... http://www.johnlewis.com/Help/Help.aspx?HelpId=18 ?

[senu]

Just get it and say thank you..

[rhubarbe]

Find the best bricks and mortar price you can and then get John Lewis to price match it.

I did that with my LCD TV and I saved £600.

Was that OK?

[LicensedTaximan]

Although I bought my own HV20 my in laws gave us considerably more money than that to help towards our holiday this year so we could enjoy as a family, DisneyWorld, Universal and St Petes Beach in Florida. Without their help we would not have had the opportunity to go, and for three weeks.
You should say thank you and reward them with what they want, and that is images of your lovely child soon to enter this world, this will give them great pleasure.

Without sounding morbid in anyway they're giving you this gift so they can share in this family happiness now. What good will it do when things (hopefully a long time in the future) change.

It's a great camcorder so buy it, in all its' hd future proofness and buy your mum in law a nice floral arrangment.

Ps. I'm getting to grips with the Sony Vegas editing suite so I can render a decently produced DVD of our holiday, and I know that my mum and dad in law will be overjoyed in watching it. (when I get it finished).

[redsox_mark]

Originally Posted by tik33

though the worry there is that a new protocol comes out and I never get the full effect (is this likely???)

There may be new formats/compression... we now have AVCHD as well as HDV, we may see others. But I don't expect to see new HDTV formats, at least not for some time. I.e. 1080i will be a current format for a long time.

[glesgaguyav]

Having recently become a Grandfather I can sypathize with your In laws, it's bad enough when grandchildern the live on the other side of the city never mind the World.
Accept their gift but in return give them plenty of footage.
As an owner of the HV20 I can confirm that it is one of the best for picture quality, downconverted to Standard DV the picture qualty is better than the best standard quality DV camcorders

[tik33]

brilliant - never seen so much consensus!!! Thanks everyone for sharing your views and advice

minds made up - and will definitely try and get JL to price match.

A little off topic - but has anyone managed to get JL to price match with those shops on Tottenham Court Road???

Off shopping this weekend!

[senu]

Originally Posted by senu

Just get it and say thank you..

..and give them lots of lovely DVDs of thier grandchild/children..
Probably worth more to them that the actual cash for the camcorder but it is mighty generous of them TBH

[rhubarbe]

Originally Posted by tik33

A little off topic - but has anyone managed to get JL to price match with those shops on Tottenham Court Road???

Off shopping this weekend!

If it is a proper shop, with advertised stock and it's on display for sale then they can have no argument. They will phone your shop, ask if they have an HV20 in stock, at what price, and then they have to match it.

They won't match purely Internet retailers.