camcorders?

not sure if this is the right forum, but I'm looking for some information about camcorders. I'm looking into buying one and was just wondering what kinds of features are availiable these days and what to look for. Looking to spend under $300. Technology doesn't have to be brand new, but preferably fairly recent. I'm a fan of JVC, Canon and Sony electronics if that makes a difference.

I would go with a Digital8 camcorder, any Sony TRV model should do. D8 has all the filmlike quality of a Hi8 camcorder, with the accessibility of a digital output. If you want to convert video to your computer or DVD, firewire is the only way to go, which is supported by D8 and DV. You're not really going to find a decent DV camcorder for under $300, but finding a top of the line D8 model on eBay shouldn't be too hard.

thanks for the reply. I have not used a camcorder in nearly 8 years. That was back in highschool for a multimedia class. The camcorders we used in there were rather large and heavy. I believe they used a video cassette-like tape. A friend of mine actually just purchased a Sony TRV model camcorder. It uses smaller tapes, I figured with the advancements in technology, we'd be way past tapes by now and into other forms of media. Perhaps I was wrong. I guess you can just hook the camcorder to a computer via USB to transfer video onto DVD...am I correct?? Aren't there camcorders now that don't require the use of tapes? I thought I'd seen some that used DVDs directly or even other forms of media.

That particular Sony I played with looked nice, but there weren't as many features as I would have expected with today's technology. It was actually somewhat larger than I would've expected as well. One thing I did notice about it was the ability to take still photos with it. That's pretty cool. How do still photos from camcorders compare to those from your average digital camera these days?

What are some of the advancements in the technology in recent years? Also, what kind of features will I expect to find on camcorders these days (optical zoom, night vision, etc) and what should I look for? I don't have any exact reasons for wanting a camcorder at this point, it just seems like it would be fun to have for trips, events, etc. thanks again!

You're not really going to find a decent DV camcorder for under $300, but finding a top of the line D8 model on eBay shouldn't be too hard.
I disagree. I recently purchased a Canon ZR500 from woot.com for $159.99. It was very highly rated on multiple opinion type websites and also from many previous owners of this particular brand who were buying a second camcorder at that time,( woot has a forum for people to trade info and comments on the products featured.) I am very pleased with the results from this DV camcorder. I was going from an RCA VHS that I bought in the early '90s for over $800 to this and can say that these devices have come a LONG way in improvements. I can do so much more with this model and my computer or my DVD recorder(also purchased from Woot.) DO a little research and you can find some good websites that have camcorders like these at very good prices.

There are plenty for less, but finding a Mini DVD one, hm, that'll make it tough. At least something nice. Simple sure and especially if you go DV. But to go for more money you can get a HDD one which is real nice. I love having a HDD one, just easier to use in my opinion.

thanks for the advice, y'all. Can someone tell me what "DV" and "HDD" mean? Also, which kinds of media are popular?...eg tape, dvd, etc.....and does it really matter? Only reason I want to shy away from a tape is because of my experience with VHS tapes in VCRs....over time they wear out and the quality becomes lesser.

I'm looking at the SONY DCR-DVD 108. It has a 40X Optical Zoom as well as other features. However the price is a little high, but I'm in no hurry to buy right now.

You may want to consider noise from the moters inside the cameras. We have a DV50 that all you can hear is the motor in the background from the camera. I know technology has come a long way since then but my understanding is that it is still a problem. Less of a problem on the HDD and DVD cameras.

HDD is Hard Disk Drive. Ya know, like with a computer. Only problem I don't like with the mini DVD is size. 30min per disc. Gag me.

If I was buying a camcorder, I would get one with an internal hard disk. JVC were pioneer's in this area - so they have the most experience making them - if you're already a fan, why not research their current models that feature a hard drive.

The deal breaker here would be if you don't have a laptop - maybe a hard disk model wouldn't be as appealing.

I don't have any first hand experience with these models apart from using some friends' for brief periods, but they consistantly get good reviews.

USB2 had a comparable transfer speed to firewire, so it's pretty much whatever your computer supports.

Remember - the smaller it is, the smaller the lens has to be - which is the crux of the image quality you'll get (besides megapixels...or gigapixels, or whatever they're up to now :p )

thanks for the replies. I have a laptop and like I said earlier, I like JVC products. I hadn't thought about one with a hard disk. The amount of recording time is one of the biggest complaints I've read about with the miniDV recorders.

which kinds of media are popular?...eg tape, dvd, etc.....and does it really matter? Only reason I want to shy away from a tape is because of my experience with VHS tapes in VCRs....over time they wear out and the quality becomes lesser.

I believe the tape models are still quite popular, at least in my part of the country, but DVD versions are making inroads fast, especially if the price keeps dropping like it has been. My DV camcorder has had no problems with the tapes I use. A big part of this may be that I followed the advice of some of the people's reviews I read online prior to purchasing my camcorder. They recommended any brand but Sony as many had issues with that brand, I guess because of the chemicals they used in the production of the tape(?)I don't worry about them wearing out either as I take whatever I have recorded and transfer it to a DVD via a hookup from the camcorder to my DVD recorder. You can also upload it to your computer. If you end up dong it this way, you have a hard copy of what you recorded on a DVD and can replace the tapes on a regular basis if your concerned about quality of the recording, since thee tapes are rather inexpensive when purchased in multipacks. Originally I was interested in purchasing a DVD model camcorder, but current prices are out of my range, so I bought a DV camcorder to serve my needs in the meantime, while I wait for the price to get lower, and technology to further improve (hopefully).

You may want to consider noise from the moters inside the cameras. We have a DV50 that all you can hear is the motor in the background from the camera. I know technology has come a long way since then but my understanding is that it is still a problem.
A good way to avoid this is to read any customer reviews about the camcorder you are considering. There are many sites online where one can read reviews, especially a site that sells them may offer the reviews and a chance for you to leave one. When I bought my DV camcorder from www.woot.com I had the chance to read through customer's reviews of the product and sound from internal sources (i.e. motor) was mentioned. Many reviewers had commented that in this model it was barely noticeable if at all compared to other models they had owned and used in the past. That one another reason why I chose that particular model and the reviewers were right.(I also discovered through reading the comments, that many had already owned this particular brand/ model and were purchasing a second one because they were pleased with the first one.