Recommend a nice, cheap Camcorder!

[faraaz]

Hi, I'm looking to pick up a camcorder which takes decent to good quality video. I dont know too much about video cameras, so I will need some help with this. Not more than Rs. 20,000 since that's my budget...and yeah, I'd prefer a camcorder with an internal HD...also, it should have reasonable recording capacity at good quality!

Any suggestions?

[Anindya]

U posted in the wrong section dude!


As far as i know its hard or impossible to get a HDD based camcorder at that range. U will not even get a good minidv at that range. Hdd based cams come in the range of 30-35K min. Check out the websites of sony samsung panasonic. Read reviews about models. As far as quality is concerned minidv cams r the best.

[VideoEditingIndia]

Good Quality for Rs.20000 in HDD?

No you have to choose one. Do you need

1. HDD in MPEG-2/4) or

2.Good Quality in DV (For Rs.20000)

[faraaz]

What is DV? The tapes based thing right? If yes, then I don't want DV..I'll manage with memory card based video recorders.

If its something different...educate me!

[Anindya]

Yes u r right DV means those small cassettes its known as MiniDV. If u buy a cam based on that then u r going to get good quality pictures.

[VideoEditingIndia]

Low end HDD cameras uses MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 compression for capture. It uses Inter & Intra frame compression and you will not get good quality even with 3CCD Chip.

But if you can't carry Mini DV tapes, I advice you to go with HDD, if you are not editing your shots in PC too much. (Editing MPEG-2 is a hell even with Canopus MPEG Craft!)

[faraaz]

And then...the HDD cameras are more expensive...AARGH...this is such a pain.

How about those camcorders that record on DVDs...what about them?

[VideoEditingIndia]

No, it's even worse! If you carry the DVDs, then you can take Mini DVs with you, isn't it?

Buy Mini-DV, if can't, buy HDD. But never buy DVD based camcorders. I don't find any advantage in DVD over HDD.

HDD cams are coming now... and we are expecting cheap DV/HD - HDD camcorders soon!!! Yes it's possible with removable HDDs/MicroDrives. So you can wait for the HDD revolution.

Or if you don't care about MPEG2 artifacts, go for MPEG-2 based HDD cams. You can use high bitrate for good quality. (All Film DVDs are encoded in MPEG-2 only @ 8000-9000kbps). And if you never going to edit your footage, HDD is the best.

But in 2 years, we can find camcorders that uses your IPOD to record digital video. So think before buying HDD cams!!!

I recommend this link for further reading: http://www.cnet.com.au/camcorders/camcorders/0,239035915,240061716,00.htm

[faraaz]

No, it's even worse! If you carry the DVDs, then you can take Mini DVs with you, isn't it?

Buy Mini-DV, if can't, buy HDD. But never buy DVD based camcorders. I don't find any advantage in DVD over HDD.

HDD cams are coming now... and we are expecting cheap DV/HD - HDD camcorders soon!!! Yes it's possible with removable HDDs/MicroDrives. So you can wait for the HDD revolution.

Or if you don't care about MPEG2 artifacts, go for MPEG-2 based HDD cams. You can use high bitrate for good quality. (All Film DVDs are encoded in MPEG-2 only @ 8000-9000kbps). And if you never going to edit your footage, HDD is the best.

But in 2 years, we can find camcorders that uses your IPOD to record digital video. So think before buying HDD cams!!!

I recommend this link for further reading: http://www.cnet.com.au/camcorders/camcorders/0,239035915,240061716,00.htm
Dude, thanks so much! That was good info, i guess i'll just wait and buy a hdd recorder..

[VideoEditingIndia]

i'll just wait and buy a hdd recorder..

It's not a good decision. Waiting for a DV based HDD is not adviced. But you can wait for a HD based HDD camcorder.

If you planned to buy a camcorder for learning, buy a MINIDV cam. Don't waste your ages. You can upgrade it to a HD cam after 2 years.