Camcorder under £150 - slightly different question.....

[martd]

Hi all

I've seen the other threads on the under £150 camcorders and they've been pretty helpful

However, i'm now lost again!

I'm after the camcorder for my wife's christmas present and she'll mainly use it to film the kids and the cats etc etc...

So we're not making Hollywood blockbusters or anything but a decent PQ and reasonable sound is quite important.

I've checked out the Canon 235 and 205 but what is the main difference between these two (apart from price)?

Am I right in assuming the Samsung MX20 and Panasonic SDR-S7 have a lesser PQ than the Canons?
It looks a bit uncomfortable and light from the pictures i've seen.
Am I right or way off?

I've also been looking at the following:

Sony DCR-HC51
Sony DCR-HC27
JVC GRD820

Any and all advise and answers very gratefully received......

Thanks

Martin

[senu]

Originally Posted by martd

Hi all

I've seen the other threads on the under £150 camcorders and they've been pretty helpful

However, i'm now lost again!

I'm after the camcorder for my wife's christmas present and she'll mainly use it to film the kids and the cats etc etc...

So we're not making Hollywood blockbusters or anything but a decent PQ and reasonable sound is quite important.

I've checked out the Canon 235 and 205 but what is the main difference between these two (apart from price)?

Not a lot. the 235 has more pixels.. but doesn't do stills, so pretty useless as video resolution is fixed anyhow
video is identical

Am I right in assuming the Samsung MX20 and Panasonic SDR-S7 have a lesser PQ than the Canons?

Yes but they record to SD card and are very easy to transfer to PC. the quality is not a function of the camera but the fact that the non tape ones use higher compression .. but offer convenience. There is a write up on the MX 20 in the stickys.. give it a read before dismissing it
Tape is however much better video quality

It looks a bit uncomfortable and light from the pictures i've seen.
Am I right or way off?

Maybe a bit of both .. c**p footage from any camcorder is no good and it is often all to easy to use online vimeo/ You tube videsos to assess quality which are misleading

I've also been looking at the following:
Sony DCR-HC51
Sony DCR-HC27
JVC GRD820

Any and all advise and answers very gratefully received......

Thanks

Martin

MiniDV tape camcorders at this price point are not identical but really not very dissimilar. If you must buy one, get the Canon 205

[martd]

Thanks Senu

You certainly know your stuff!!!

We wont be uploading to youtube - not yet anyway - but we will be definately be watching the footage on a 42" plasma (Panny)

What do you reckon?
Will the SD Card type be poor quality on the large TV?

Also you said "If you must buy one" does this mean you wouldn't advise it?

Cheers

[senu]

Originally Posted by martd

We wont be uploading to youtube - not yet anyway - but we will be definately be watching the footage on a 42" plasma (Panny)

What do you reckon?
Will the SD Card type be poor quality on the large TV?

Very likely. The advantage at this price is

• the move away from tape ( perceived by some to be old hat)
• Good battery life
• Easy transfer to PC and the web

but definitely not Video quality... at least not yet

OTOH The Hi def SD card models will certainly be very much nicer to see on your TC
The Panasonic SD9 is on offer at Curry's ect and if you can stretch to it ,the quality is awesome
However for the money.. the tape models offer the best possible quality at £150

Also you said "If you must buy one" does this mean you wouldn't advise it?

No , it means that the Sony models or JVC don't offer anything over the Canon.. even if they aren't " worse".
Essentially. Sony may be a bit more costly ( Sony tends to feel they are a premium brand regardless of product) and JVC gets it right sometimes and sometimes not
Im simply suggesting that the Canon is good enough for the money ,( don't spend more if you don't have to) and used within its limitations ( ie not in pitch black conditions , ) you should enjoy it on a 42" plasma