[jezaustin80]

Hi,
I'd really appreciate a spot of advice, been trawling the internet but resorted to browsing famous manufacturers' product lines... not the best way to discover the truth perhaps!
I'm shopping for a camcorder, and two things I think I'd like are a digital input and a focussing ring... I don't imagine that focussing with a touch screen or a joystick would be very effective, is that right? Focussing rings seem to be reserved for prosumer models. Are there any consumer models with a decent alternative, maybe a wheel or something?
Any suggestions most welcome, I don't object to 2nd hand so any recently dropped lines are of interest too. I don't think I want to spend more than about £500.

Thanks,
Jez Austin.

[A n d r e w]

You might be hard pressed to find something at or under £500.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 have a focus ring.
Sony's CX11, SR11, & SR12 have a camera control dial next to the front of the lens.
Canon relies on joystick control, but the HF100 is probably the only one out of these close to your budget.

Andrew.

[senu]

Originally Posted by Courtaj

You might be hard pressed to find something at or under £500.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 have a focus ring.
Sony's CX11, SR11, & SR12 have a camera control dial next to the front of the lens.
Canon relies on joystick control, but the HF100 is probably the only one out of these close to your budget.

Andrew.

Noe of which have DV input, that being a tape camcorder property
Some JVC HDDs seem to though but do they have a manual focus ring?

[A n d r e w]

Originally Posted by senu

None of which have DV input, that being a tape camcorder property

Whoops, that bit didn't register. I hate to admit it, but the sleepless nights (courtesy of the six-week-old daughter) are starting to take their toll on my concentration span.

[jezaustin80]

thanks guys,
I should add that I don't care about HD, and I think I'd prefer tape. Anyone experienced canon's joystick? How does it work out?

Thanks,
J.

[senu]

Youll only get DV-in on a tape camcorder anyway
This applies to HDV and DV ( Standard and Hi def)

Be aware that all Hi def tape models also do Standard def and have DV in ( for both HDV and DV), so an affordable Hi def tape model might be what you need even if its hi def abilities are not what you are mainly keen on

I used Canons HG10 but didnt have cause to use its MF as its AF was very good. It had a quick AF whose operation I found too fast and had to turn it off; It would Handy in some situations though, far better than hunting

The subjective nature of how manual focus is implemented makes it hard to describe to you how " good" they are. All my camcorders ( Sonys as it happens) have manual focus rings.
What is more common are, Menu, joystick and rotary ( but not ring) dial controls: Most are electromechanical and the tactile responses vary ( just as they do with zoom control)
With your budget, a decent second hand model would probably be the ideal