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Panasonic SDR-S26
Sony HDR-XR520VE 240GB
Canon Legria FS200
Panasonic HDC-SD10
Panasonic SDR-S26 
Sony HDR-XR520VE 240GB 
Canon Legria FS200 
Panasonic HDC-SD10 
Sony DCR-SR37E 60GB 
JVC GZ-MG630 60GB 
Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10 
JVC GZ-MS120 
Panasonic HDC-SD200 
Samsung SMX-C10 
 More...Prices updated November 22nd at 9:30pm and include delivery.

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Old 07-03-2008, 10:11 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Hello! I would like to get a new camcorder but I know very little about them ! I currently own a sharp viewcam. I want something with a decent video quality, uses either SD card or HDD as its media format and is pretty portable. I will be using it primarily to make movies of my family and want it to be as portable as possible for trips abroad. It really won't get that much usage (a couple of hours a month?) which is why I don't really want to spend a fortune on one..max would be £400 mark.

Your advice and thoughts would be very welcome!
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Old 07-03-2008, 10:46 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

May I suggest the HDC-SD5 which is has just been discontinued by Panasonic?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hdc...006-38,GGGL:en

It's widely available at just over £400, takes SDHC cards which are becoming really cheap nowadays.
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Old 07-03-2008, 11:19 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Thanks rhubarbe, I have looked at reviews for the Panasonic H250 and the SDR-S150 what are your thoughts on either of these?
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Old 07-03-2008, 11:22 AM   #4 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Also, what do you think of the Sony S52 and S190?
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Old 07-03-2008, 11:23 AM   #5 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Yes, both excellent. I had two SDR-S150s. Nice little cam.

Don't know anything about the Sonys. Father in law has a 290, he says it's OK.
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Old 07-03-2008, 11:47 AM   #6 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

The SR190 is very nice, the S52 I dont know at all
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Last edited by senu; 07-03-2008 at 3:55 PM.
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Old 07-03-2008, 2:31 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Thanks senu, I think its a choice between the the two panasonic's..they are both roughly the same price and seem to have the same technical spec..is this right?
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Old 07-03-2008, 2:57 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Yes, except that one takes just SD (or SDHC - I had mine up to 8GB SDHC and i think it may well take 16 and even 32GB SDHC cards). Battery isn't up to that size of card, of course.
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Old 07-03-2008, 3:27 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Sony HDR-HC5E for £369.99?
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Old 07-03-2008, 3:31 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

If it's your bag it's a great price..
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Old 07-03-2008, 3:37 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

SR52 is like the SR32, not very good.

Those Panasonics or the SR190 are all decent standard def non-tape models.

The HC5 is a cut above any of the others in terms of quality, especially if you have or will eventually get a High Def TV. But it is tape, and it's a bit larger (though not exactly huge).
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Old 07-03-2008, 4:01 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Or there is the close-out HDC-SD5 which I recommended above - HD cam but takes SDHC cards.
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Old 07-03-2008, 4:20 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Yes, sorry. The SD5 is in the same league for quality as the HC5, and is indeed smaller and uses SD cards... if a bit over the stated £400 budget.
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Old 07-03-2008, 4:32 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

£434 though, posted on that other thread, it's only a tad over now, isn't it?
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Old 07-03-2008, 4:55 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Re: Small SD/HD camcorder for £300-£400

Thanks redsox/blackdwarf.. the SD5 is out of my budget unfortunately. (Getting the clearance to spend in the £300 range was hard enough!)

If there isn't too much to choose between the panasonic's and the sony I'll look at getting the one I can get the best deal on?

A mixture of quidco and my cashback AMEX should bring the price down a bit more!

Thanks again for your help guys.
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