Best camcorder for < £300?

[millross]

Hi folks,

- Completely new and ignorant user of camcorders requires recommendation for "best buy" for less than £300?

I guess I wan't a bit of an all-rounder, if possible, something without many weaknesses, but obviously don't expect incredible features for a fairly low price.

Any recommendations appreciated.

Ta.

[b1nuzz]

Hi Millross,

There are so may factors involved in getting a camera. I think people here will need to know a little bit more baout what you want from it to be able to recommend a camera that will be best for you.

Do you want it just to point and shoot? Or do you want to be able to set up decen shots?

Are you happy with nay media type? or would you prefer HDD or memory card or DV?

Do you intend to edit your footage on your PC, or just burn whatever you film straight to DVD?

Let us know a little bit more and im sure we can help you out.

Ben

[Gray2006]

I am in exactly the same boat. My girlfriend has asked me to recommend a camcorder that will be fine for her Dad. Her family has all chipped in and raised £260 - not enough for a decent camcorder at all!

I've searched the net endlessly and nowhere can I find a general concensus of "get this camera".

Her Dad is not techincal at all, so I am kind of leaning towards a DVD camcorder, so that he can just take the disk out, whack it in his DVD player and watch what he has recorded.

But then I read that the quality of the DVD format isn't great, and neither is the amount of video you can get on one disk. Maybe it's best to stick to MiniDV? Surely DVD and MiniDV are being phased out though?

Then there's HDD, hybrids, or just SDHC... It's a nightmare!

The main thing I want is "decent" video quality. I don't expect greatness for £260, but something respectable. It'll mainly be used indoors I imagine videoing his grandson, so I don't want something that looks awful in low light situations, which most camcorders seem to struggle with.

In a nutshell, if I gave you £300 and said "buy me the best camcorder you can please", what would you buy?

Cheers,

Gray

[redsox_mark]

DV camcorders are being phased out - not because other formats are better quality (they aren't), but because the public wants non-tape formats. Other than if you are worried about looking old fashioned, it doesn't really matter if they get phased out. It's not like you won't be able to get tapes.

Low light performance in this budget won't be great. I would get a DV model. Maybe the Canon MD235 and keep the change.

I like the look of the SDHC Canon FS10/FS100, but I've not seen any footage or reviews (or used one).

[ernboy]

Snap! I've just purchased an MD235 and am amazed at the quality I've got for only £180. Plus £10 for a firewire card with cable. Only catch was the freebie Ulead VS v5 with card should have come with a health warning. LOL

Until I decide to get serious about video, this miniDV will do for me.

Just cannot decide about video s/w. I am into serious photography and use Photoshop, so am thinking about Premiere (but only Elements). But it seems that every video package gets slammed, so how do I choose???

[redsox_mark]

You can download trial versions of most of the major editors and try them out. I don't use Premiere Elements, but I've not heard anything bad about it. Any of the major editors should do the job; it then comes down to personal preference more than anything. I use Sony Vegas. There is also Ulead VS; and Pinnacle Studio (new version coming out). And others, like Serif Movieplus...

Links

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...egasfamily.asp
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satelli...apspringln0508
http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/premiereel/

[ernboy]

Thanks Mark
I'm off to download 2 or 3 trials.

[unclesomebody]

Originally Posted by ernboy

Thanks Mark
I'm off to download 2 or 3 trials.

I use sony vegas 8 pro and it's great. It's powerful enough to do what you want, but simple enough not to overwhelm!

[ernboy]

Yes, just looked at number of reviews and sony vegas always comes out good. Will go for it and save time looking at various trials.

Just where is best/lowest cost place to order?

[redsox_mark]

I don't want to depress you, but recently Amazon UK had it for 24.97, but it is now £49.97. Which is the same price as a download direct from Sony Creative Software. (This is for the Movie Studio Platinum version).

[millross]

Thanks for your replies.

I guess I want something with a hard disk and something that is fairly small, fairly light and has as good a battery life as I can find.

Something not too dissimilar to : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DCR-SR5...2607549&sr=1-1

Is there anything in the same ball park as the above that's better than the above?