Camcorders. Which format is best?

[ntel]

I want to buy a decent camcrder but which format do I go for. DV, DVD, Hi 8, digital 8, I dunno? Also does anybody have experience of buying these things abroad which, I assume, will be a lot cheaper.

[edc]

DVD is not meant to be so reliable atm. Just got a Mini DV top spec Sony from Hong Kong. Not available here yet several £100 cheaper than best spec ones here.

[ErnestM]

State of the art right now is mini-dv. That being said, the next great leap will be HD on mini-DV. Sony just released their HDR-FX1 :



This one streams MPEG (2 I believe) on to mini-DV tapes so at least you won't have to buy all new media when it catches on...

ErnestM

[simpo two]

I'd plump for Mini-DV.

(DV just means 'Digital Video') Unless you mean DV-CAM of course, which is Mini-DVs big brother.

[nighthawk]

I bought an Mini Dv cam while on holiday a few years ago, great quality and still going strong.
I paid 1/2 the amount of it's uk retail price too.

[tinman0]

mini dv is the only format worht buying at the moment, and ideally you want a 3 CCD cam. personally, i prefer canon, but many people like sony.

[murph7355]

MiniDV definitely.

Camcorders are probably the only gear I'd buy from Sony. Canon ones are pretty good too though.

[ntel]

Thanks for all your contributions. Mini DV it is then. All my audio / visual gear is high end JVC which I believe is pretty good stuff so I think I'll plump for one of those.

Thanks Chaps