Camcorder Suggestions

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Nov 22, 2007 | 11:44 PM

CobraXP

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From: Fort Smith

Camcorder Suggestions

As much of technology as I keep up with, I am running behind on camcorders. I have an older (6 years old) Canon Hi-8 that served me well, but with a new 2 month old, my wife and I have been talking about getting something better. Who is holding the market right now in quality and ease of use (so my wife can use it also

)? As far as hard drive, DVD, or mini DVD - which is the best choice? I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest, but I don't need to have the best just to have it either.

Nov 23, 2007 | 12:46 AM

King Triton

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From: Michigan

I use a Smith-Coronna,,,It works great,,,is very inexpensive,and usually comes with a tape already to use,,,,I forget what brand it is,,,,but when my neighbor,,,don smith is drinking coronna,I borrow it as soon as he passes out!

Nov 23, 2007 | 01:20 AM

furball69

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From: Calgary, Canada

As much as I dislike sony, their cameras are among the best... especially in typical, non professional, low light situations, Sonys shine.

JVC cameras are also good and if I were in the market for a camera, I'd have to pick between these ones and budget would decide which one.

http://www.jvc.ca/en/consumer/produc...model=GZ-MG50U

http://www.jvc.ca/en/consumer/produc...?model=GZ-HD7U

http://www.jvc.ca/en/consumer/produc...?model=GZ-HD3U

Nov 23, 2007 | 05:18 AM

Aztrainer

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From: Valley of the Sun AZ

I just upgraded to a HD and love the picture quality. I did a lot of research and went with a Sony. It kills my old Cannon in low light and picture texture and display. It uses a miniDV tape and can down play to record in normal def. It records at 1080i. While it cost some money, I am looking at not having to get a new camra in a long time.

Here is a link.
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-HDR-HC7-D...5816551&sr=8-2

Nov 29, 2007 | 07:33 PM

CobraXP

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From: Fort Smith

Thanks for the advice from everyone. I looked at the JVC's, Canon's, and Sony's, and ended up picking up a Sony HDR-SR5. It is HD and has the 40gb hard drive. Just playing with it learning the buttons - it seems to do very well.

So........

I guess the next question will be what software do you recommend for editing, etc...?

Nov 29, 2007 | 07:44 PM

jimbo beam

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From: Hawkeye Country

Quote:

Originally Posted by CobraXP

I guess the next question will be what software do you recommend for editing, etc...?

If you have a PC with windows you should already have windows movie maker on there. It a nice program for editing, you can add music and voice tracks, add effects, pretty much everything you would need.

My sister has a Sony camera, Handicam I think its called. She's recorded a bunch of videos of nephew with it, I just simply load the video off her camera, run it through movie maker, and burn it straight to dvd.

Nov 29, 2007 | 09:24 PM

Aztrainer

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From: Valley of the Sun AZ

I am using Pinnacle 11 Pro. It has an interface for burning HD, but without an HD burner you do need the function. It is good to have in the future. IMHO If you do burn HD it is going to take a LONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG time to process on a computer older than a year.

It has a lot of bells and whistles and very easy to use. The SD is very high quality. I have a Sony HD camera and used a lot of tape on a vacation. They pick up low light very well also, so shot at night.