Suggestions for £400 camcorder

[chrisduffer]

Hi,

I'm looking for a camcorder for around £400, preferably cheaper. I'm after something to use on holiday which is going to be painless to use. I've been looking and standard def HDD based ones like the JVC GZ-MG335H and similar Sony models which I thought would be perfect as I wouldn't have to worry about tapes/SD cards. But having seen how cheap the hi def Panasonic HDC-SD5 is I'm beginning to think maybe that's the way to go along with a few 16gig SD cards. Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[rhubarbe]

Yes, go for the HDC-SD5.

Buy one 16GB card, or two at the most and then get a portable storage tank:

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/Cat...iMedia+Viewers

Like the BYOD NexTo Multi 2325 and put an old HDD into it.

Transfer footage form card to PST in hotel in evening.

Sorted. Next question?

[koolpc]

That is an american site. Any ones in the UK that sell them? Or similar?

[rhubarbe]

What's wrong with a US site? Doug will sort you out.

You can buy them from Amazon.co.uk but only with HDD installed at twice what it's worth.

I've bought loads of stuff from Doug, he's sound.

[chrisduffer]

Originally Posted by rhubarbe

Yes, go for the HDC-SD5.

Buy one 16GB card, or two at the most and then get a portable storage tank:

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/Cat...iMedia+Viewers

Like the BYOD NexTo Multi 2325 and put an old HDD into it.

Transfer footage form card to PST in hotel in evening.

Sorted. Next question?

Cheers! Any idea what kind of battery life or file sizes at different quality settings I can be expecting?

[rhubarbe]

The 130 battery (supplied) will display 104 minutes when you insert it. It seems to last for 60 - 80 minutes recording depending on how often you stop and start.

On highest quality setting, which is the only one I would ever use, you get 89 minutes on an 8GB SDHC card. 8GB cards are about 15 quid now and 16GB crads are about 37 quid.

[chrisduffer]

I'm guessing you've got one of these then rhubarbe? An idea on charging time for the battery and if they do an external charger thing?

[rhubarbe]

I have an SD7 - this is the same as an SD5 but is upright format. Electronically, they are the same.

Mine came with a charger to charge the batteries.... I'm sure you can buy them, in fact it has a Pana reference no. on the unit but it's at home so I can't read it off for you.

I have never noticed how long the battery takes to charge because I use one in and one out.