Question: Best Digital Camcorder for ~$500

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

Hi, all.

I'm not sure if this group concerns still cameras exclusively, but I'm
in the market for a decent digital camcorder for between $500 and $600.

My normal first step would be to hit eopinions.com. But there are so
bloody many to pick from, it'd take forever to weed through them all.

Are there any recent comparisons or 'shootout' reviews that compare
various levels of digital camcorders? Or are there any sure-fire gems
out there on the market now, in my price range?

Thanks for any feedback!

Cheers,

DW

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

You can even get a decent one for <$200 - a basic 1CCD DV camcorder.
eg. last year, it was the Sharp VL-Z3U that blew out at ~$150 at
amazon.com. Today, you can walk into most BestBuy, GoodGuys, etc.
stores and find excellent open-box items for <$200.

Otherwise, look for solid 3CCD camcorders for better detail & quality -
eg .various Panasonic 3CCD's go for ~$500.

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Alternative is the MPEG-4 camcorders -- these record directly to flash
cards, and are the 'future' of consumer level camcorders in size and
durability. Xacti C4/C5 series and Sony DSC-M1 series are such examples.

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Otherwise, save up for the latest Sony HDR-FX1 HD camcorder $3700.


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more reviews ...

http://www.dvspot.com/