Best Camcorder: £250-£300

[puggit]

Any advice

I know nothing about these beasts - but would like to capture pics as well as video if that's possible!

[simpo two]

Not really, but I see that Mini-DV ones are getting down to £300 now.

[m12_nathan]

www.letsgodigital.co.uk

250 for a mini DV cam

[puggit]

What's a mini-dv. I may be a techie, but I'm clueless with camcorders

[simpo two]

puggit said:

What's a mini-dv. I may be a techie, but I'm clueless with camcorders

Maybe you need to do a litle research first before diving in. Mini-DV is the cheapest digital format (unlike S-VHS and Hi-8 which are analogue and pretty much defunct now)). That means you can play it into your computer using FireWire, edit it and splurge it out again with minimal loss of quality.

[meeja]

Personally, I'd recommend the Sony camcorders that have Carl Zeiss (sp?) lens fitted to them.

Some of them may now fall into the sub £300 bracket.

For example: http://uk.pricerunner.com/sound-and-vision/vision/camcorders/98503/details

(Okay, at £349 it is above your price, but you may be able to find it cheaper on Tottenham Court Road for example)

Also make sure that your camera has DV-out enabled, and can have the DV-in "fixed"

This will give you easy (almost) lossless transfer to PC for editing, and then back to tape.

Mini DV is definately the way to go, because of it's versitility, and *shouldn't* be outdated for a while to come... Although other formats are around, DV should be a mainstay.

Also bear in mind that many broadcasters use DV formats in programme making.... albeit better cameras, but the tape format is still the same.

>> Edited by meeja on Thursday 3rd June 08:40

[puggit]

Thanks everyone - done some reading up - the winning candidate so far is the Sony DCR HC14E - as featured at www.letsgodigital.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Sony_5.html

I'd love one that incorporates a Sony Memory stick, but they are WAY out of my range!

[meeja]

simpo two said:

That means you can play it into your computer using FireWire, edit it and splurge it out again with minimal loss of quality.

What a marvellously descriptive term!

Describes it beautifully!

[simpo two]

meeja said:

What a marvellously descriptive term! Describes it beautifully!

It's done with Adobe Splurge 3.0 . Not that I can do it, but as a video producer I work with people who can not only 'splurge' but also 'stir it about a bit' (digitally composite).

[WMHV70]

Have a look at:

www.robertwhyteltd.co.uk/

But call before you order online, they sometimes don't have stock, but will debit your card and put it on back order...

[size13]

puggit said:

Thanks everyone - done some reading up - the winning candidate so far is the Sony DCR HC14E - as featured at www.letsgodigital.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Sony_5.html I'd love one that incorporates a Sony Memory stick, but they are WAY out of my range!

I've got the DCR HC40 with memory stick slot for stills. The stills aren't great at 1M pixel but good enough for use on a website/ I've got a normal still digicam for better pictures.

The steadycam feature is very good, as is the touchscreen (not sure if the 14 has that). They get poor reviews as you can't do a great deal of manual stuff easily as it's all on the touchscreen. But for me, I wanted a point and shoot job, so it does fine. You can also shove it in your pocket.

I also bought the extra capacity battery - it lasts about 4 hours.