[visioneer]

Hi all,
I've had a panasonic NV-GS3 camcorder for a long time and it's been a very reliable recorder providing pretty good video over the years. It's now decided that it doesn't want to work - keeps telling me to press the reset button and won't record or playback - so I need to get a new one.

Daughters birthday is looming, as is Xmas of course, and I want to video both as in previous years. I don't have bundles of cash so need some suggestions.

I also have a Sony DVD recorder which I've been using to burn video onto DVD's and I am confused as to whether the newer High Def camcorders would be compatible with it - would I be able to record the High Def material onto a DVD with my recorder (I understand it would then be standard def on a dvd but at least I'd have a High Def camcorder which may be a bit more future proof etc)?

So, budget and comaptibility with my dvd recorder are my 2 criteria - any help would be very much appreciated. I have looked on the forums and see that the Canon 205 and Samsung MX20 are options in my price range however I would really like to know if the cheaper high-def units are any good and whether they are compatible with my dvd recorder at all.

Many thanks in advance.

[senu]

Originally Posted by visioneer

Hi all,

I also have a Sony DVD recorder which I've been using to burn video onto DVD's and I am confused as to whether the newer High Def camcorders would be compatible with it - would I be able to record the High Def material onto a DVD with my recorder

No the output would be Standard as your settop will not accept Hi def data
As an example, I have Hi def tape camcorders and a firewire compatible Settop DVD recorder . The Recorder does not see the Camcorder unless it is set to output SD ( which can be done " on the fly " with HDV tape models)
With the SD card HDD modes output would be via composite analogue or at best s-video ( if available)

(I understand it would then be standard def on a dvd but at least I'd have a High Def camcorder which may be a bit more future proof etc)?

True

So, budget and compatibility with my dvd recorder are my 2 criteria - any help would be very much appreciated. I have looked on the forums and see that the Canon 205 and Samsung MX20 are options in my price range

The Canon 205 will offer better quality for the money, not dissimilar in quality to your Panasonic
The MX20 is a very affordable stylish standard def SD card model for the PC Youtube generation ( see the write up in the stickys of this very forum) It record in H.264 9 an mpeg4 codec) which is very compressed,
Mpeg2 ( HDD or other SD card use that) and Tape DVC AVI
Look at it like this
H 264 : 1Hr = 2Gb
Mpeg2 1 hr= 4.7Gb
DV AVI 1 hr =13Gb
As such the MX20s video quality will not scare any MiniDV model but it has its own market

however I would really like to know if the cheaper high-def units are any good and whether they are compatible with my dvd recorder at all.

Which ones?
All camcorder have AV output so you can record to a settop recorder with them
However whilst they do great Hi def output , you may find their SD performance lacklustre;
Ironically the

[visioneer]

WOW! Can I just say thanks for such a detailed reply! I've got to go out just now so not got time to digest it all. I'll post back in a bit. Many thanks.