MiniDV camcorder wanted..help please!!

[Hopalong]

Hi im in the market for a new camcorder for occasional use mainly just filming birthdays and other special events.I would like the camera to be compact(comfortable in one hand) so it doesn't feel like im carrying a brick like my old camera(5 years old now) I would like the video camera to be able to take good still images aswell.It would also be good if the camera was good at shooting at low light.
My budget is £250-300 hope im not asking to much for my budget.
Any advice welcome.

[redsox_mark]

All current comsumer models are small, compared to years ago. You can get a good miniDV model in that price range. I suggest the Panasonic GS230. I would have suggested the Sony HC96 from ebuyer, but they don't seem to have them any longer.

[senu]

There have been 1 or 2 similar threads very recently
Have a look and see if any of the suggestion catches your fancy
Which DV Camcorder: Gs230 v MD160 v HC96?
Christmas day camcorder required Panasonic NVG230 or Canon MD101 or JVC GRD-D720

[kgun]

The best I know of is:

Sony HDR-SR8E (professional) camera with 100 GB harddisk.

If you take a trip to Gran Canaria, the standard models, the Sony DCR-SR series with 60 Gb harddisk (there is a standard version with 100 Gb harddrive) are sold at competitive prices.

A lot of shops sold the version with 60 Gb harddrive, so take a look if that is an option is my advice.

The standard version may be good enough. Some were impressed by the quality of the movies I showed them.

[redsox_mark]

The SR8E is same as the SR7E, just a larger HDD.
These are good AVCHD camcorders, but are not in the £250-£300 range.

[kgun]

Agree to that, but there is a difference between

1. The professional series HDR.
2. The standard series DCR.

People from India and Thailand sold them on Gran Canaria. As an economist, I wondered if the price is even lower in Asia or in East Europe?

The cameras are about 30 % more expensive in Norway, mostly because of different taxes and customs rates here.

[redsox_mark]

Yes there is a difference; the HDR models are high definition, AVCHD. The DCR ones are standard definition, MPEG2.

Prices do vary in different countries. Cheapest price I see in the UK for the SR8 is £838.

[senu]

Originally Posted by kgun

Agree to that, but there is a difference between

1. The professional series HDR.
2. The standard series DCR.

People from India and Thailand sold them on Gran Canaria. As an economist, I wondered if the price is even lower in Asia or in East Europe?

The cameras are about 30 % more expensive in Norway, mostly because of different taxes and customs rates here.

The HDR series are hi def but not nessesarily Profesional. There are no Professional AVCHD camcorders AFAIK.
Sony does have Semi Camcorders like the FX1, Z1, FX7 A1 type camcorders which many Pros will happily use but they are mainly HDV tape based ( Some with DV cam support) and often cost many multiples of what even the SR8 costs