Can you help me shortlist some camcorders?

[chrisgeary]

Hi,

I'm new to the world of camcordering but not to photography. I'm looking for a secondhand camcorder (unless you can tell me a good reason why I should buy the latest new camcorder x?) with the following features:

- Really good image quality (should I be looking at larger sensors?)
- External mic input
- Handheld but tripod-able

I'm not bothered if its SD or HD or what recording format it uses. In fact I'd prefer an older recording format if the image quality was better.

Initially it will be used to capture my wedding in May indoors in a room with average lighting. After that, hopefully family antics and holidays.

What camcorders should be on my list? Budget around £300 s/h or new.

thanks

Chris

[Mr Lazy]

If you're going to be filming "indoors in a room with average lighting" then no camcorder costing £300 (and you won't even get a decent 2nd hand pro model at that money) will give you "really good image quality" - you will see a fair amount of noise/grain due to the low light levels (ie. the brides dress may look spotty). Imagine the sort of thing you see on You've Been Framed (ok, maybe not quite as fuzzy).

I filmed two family weddings on my old MiniDV camera and I'm not happy with the results. I'm just glad we payed a professional to film our wedding.

[chrisgeary]

Understood.. can't stretch to a pro and the video isn't that important. So I guess that is my compromise.

I presume camcorders have the same megapixel limitation that DSLRs do - the more doesn't necessarily mean the better? How much would I be looking for a decent 2nd hand SD semi-pro camera?

[senu]

Originally Posted by chrisgeary

Understood.. can't stretch to a pro and the video isn't that important. So I guess that is my compromise.

I presume camcorders have the same megapixel limitation that DSLRs do - the more doesn't necessarily mean the better? How much would I be looking for a decent 2nd hand SD semi-pro camera?

How much is your budget?
The tape HDV camcorders are very decent consumer SD models. The great thing is you dont even need to shoot SD
As for megapixel ( ect) it matters even less with video because video resolution is fixed anyway
What does make a difference is that larger sensors are so much better in low light
Although DSLRs with video ability are currently a " gimmick" thier absolute low light abilty rivals that of camcorders costing 5 figures even if they are not that great for video in other ways

[chrisgeary]

Well budget is such a loose word. I'm prepared to spend what I should but if I can buy something s/h, I'd prefer to do that.

[A n d r e w]

Here's my two cents' worth:

Originally Posted by chrisgeary

- Really good image quality (should I be looking at larger sensors?)

Yes. As you're no doubt aware, larger sensors = better light gathering = less noise, greater clarity.

Originally Posted by chrisgeary

- External mic input

That's the deal breaker. Few and far between these days, especially on budget models. As far as second-hand goes, you're talking about something like the Panasonic GS400 or GS500 (both standard definition camcorders) but you'd be pretty lucky to find either for sale, and even luckier to find either for 300 nicker. In the world of high definition, there are Canon's HV20 and HV30, which you do see for sale from time to time (the HV30 is still on sale as new, although its replacement, the HV40, is due out some time over the next few months). As Senu has pointed out, these HDV camcorder can do high or standard definition. Or, look for a second-hand Canon HF100: like the HV30, a current model soon to be replaced by a new model. New they're about £500, so again you'd be lucky to find a second-hand one for much under £400

Originally Posted by chrisgeary

- Handheld but tripod-able

Threads come standard.

Originally Posted by chrisgeary

Initially it will be used to capture my wedding in May indoors in a room with average lighting.

Look for 1/4" sensors minimum.

Andrew.

P.S. Warning, this might hurt: Jacobs Digital were selling end-of-line HV20s for the amazing price of £350 at the end of January. I hear they've sold out. Still, might be worth contacting them just in case.