My first digital camcorder - advice please ?

theshabster · 06-03-2008, 9:01 AM

Hi people.

I'm looking to purchase my first digital camcorder for personal use.

I'd like the camera to be fairly capable in low light/dark.

I'd also like it to be fairly compact, & of decent quality.

I don't want to spend a fortune, as it's my first camera.

It's mainly for short movies/holiday use - would mini DVD be ok?

I use camcorders at work, so I'm by no means a complete novice when it comes to using them.

What would you recommend ?

Thanx

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 10:23 AM

How much do you want to spend?

theshabster · 06-03-2008, 10:44 AM

No more than £300 in all honesty.

I'm open to suggestions of both DVD & HDD camcorders.

Thanx

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 11:36 AM

HDD cams at that end of the market are not well regarded except by the salesmen at DSG Group: it's an easy peasy sell.

MiniDV will be better quality for the price.

I reckon this is a good buy:

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=330618

Panasonic NV-GS320 which is an outgoing model but excellent quality in the SD world.

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 11:39 AM

Or there's this:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=783172

Which is an HD cam that records to DVD (yuk) or up to 16GB SDHC cards (much better). I only suggest it because it is so cheap and hidef.

theshabster · 06-03-2008, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

Or there's this:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/produ...oductID=783172

Which is an HD cam that records to DVD (yuk) or up to 16GB SDHC cards (much better). I only suggest it because it is so cheap and hidef.

I like the look of that !

Surely HD video can't be recorded onto SD DVD's though

Waveform · 06-03-2008, 12:27 PM

saw this today, £294 for the GS330 is a good price I think:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140467

theshabster · 06-03-2008, 12:31 PM

Can't really quote on that camera tbh, so I wouldn't like to say.

It's only got a 10x zoom though.

Are there any camcorders that are good in low light ?

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshabster

Are there any camcorders that are good in low light ?

Sigh.

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 12:37 PM

£294 is an excellent price for the GS330, well spotted.

You really don't want more than 10x zoom because you'll not be able to hold it still enough even at 10x let alone more. There is a formula: smaller the CCD bigger the zoom, cheaper the cam. It's all about marketing.

Trust me, the GS330 is as good as SD MiniDV gets and for that price in HDD cams all you'd get is a load of old rubbish video quality wise.

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshabster

I like the look of that !

Surely HD video can't be recorded onto SD DVD's though

My understanding is that it records a file, not actual video, much like you can record 200 mp3 files onto a 700MB CD but if you record audio rather than files you just get 70 minutes.

I wasn't suggesting you buy it and use DVDs, but rather SDHC cards - £40 for a 16 GB card (170 minutes at full quality).

theshabster · 06-03-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

Sigh.

How about loosing the sarcasm & responding in a helpful manner ?

It didn't sound like such a bad question to me

By the way - I appreciate your help so far ... thanx.

I'm not sure whether I can be arsed with mini DV - I've come to the conclusion that HDD isn't going to be the best idea though.

theshabster · 06-03-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

My understanding is that it records a file, not actual video, much like you can record 200 mp3 files onto a 700MB CD but if you record audio rather than files you just get 70 minutes.

I wasn't suggesting you buy it and use DVDs, but rather SDHC cards - £40 for a 16 GB card (170 minutes at full quality).

Cheers for that fella.

£40 for a SDHC card is damned cheap - where from ?

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 12:44 PM

I wasn't being sarcastic. It was irony. We all want the best low light cams we can get but everything is a compromise. Some say that the best is the Canon HV20 in 25p mode, but that's no good for filming fast moving action.

Waveform · 06-03-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshabster

Can't really quote on that camera tbh, so I wouldn't like to say.

It's only got a 10x zoom though.

Are there any camcorders that are good in low light ?

the GS330 is a well regarded camcorder, its 3CCD though so therefore not particularly suitable for low light. 10x zoom is fine, particularly if you shoot handheld mostly. At less than £300 I'm not sure what your best option is for low light but I am sure there will be someone on this board who can advise

rhubarbe · 06-03-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshabster

Cheers for that fella.

£40 for a SDHC card is damned cheap - where from ?

Somebody posted on one of the threads a couple of days ago. Euro something.

Waveform · 06-03-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

I wasn't being sarcastic. It was irony. We all want the best low light cams we can get but everything is a compromise. Some say that the best is the Canon HV20 in 25p mode, but that's no good for filming fast moving action.

Quote:

At less than £300 I'm not sure what your best option is for low light but I am sure there will be someone on this board who can advise

see!!!! even before i had typed my reply as well