[macgeek2005]

My only requirements are that it's at least 720p and can film in real 16:9. I don't mean the fake 16:9 where it's not actually the shape of a movie. I need it to be the shape of a widescreen DVD.

I'm looking for the cheapest thing possible.

Thanks.

[sanford]

Well, I'm afraid I can't offer a suggestion, except to say if you can do without HD, the advent of HD camcorders sure has made the SD digital camcorders cheap. You can get a hard-drive-based model for $500 or less.

[sonicularulus]

i really dont think that is true (sanford's statement)

there are many hd camcorders out there (actually, just a good number) and a few of them may fit in your requirements.

sony, i believe, manufactures an HD camcorder priced at around $1300. i think that is as cheap as it gets, so check it out.

its the sony hdr-hc3.

[sanford]

Sonic, well SD camcorders sure are much cheaper in comparison to the last time I sort of casually priced them. Although I will admit never really being in the market for one. I'm not a filmmaker, even an amateur, and we decided that although we have three kids and are prime targets for the camcorder industry, the excellent SD TV resolution movie clips limited only by the size of our Canon digital still camera's memory card are enough. After all, nobody, not even the parents, really wants to see the *whole* soccer game.

$1,300 does seem like the lowest I've seen even in casual review of HD camcorder prices. In a non-professional sense, we're sort of unimpressed with HD around our household. We even have an HD games system running on an SD TV. It's like HD only looks so outstanding when you see it in the electronics store on a $5,000 50" plasma flat panel running right next to a cheap round-tube model. I've forgotten how great my MacBook screen looks until I see it up against the original 17" Apple LCD Studio Display we have attached to our G4 Cube. But I can certainly see the need for HD in proper filmmaking.

[macgeek2005]

That's $1300 camera looks great! But does it really film in TRUE 16:9? Like a widescreen DVD?

[iMOTOR]

For around $1000, the Canon HV10 looks like the best camera you will find, and it does full 1080i.

I'm thinking of buying one myself.

[macgeek2005]

Alright.. i'm starting to see that these cheaper cameras aren't quite good enough. What's the best thing in the $2000 range?

[Veltliner]

Sony hc-3 gives a good picture and a decent low light performance.

Downside: you can only attach Sony microphones to their idiotic proprietary hot shoe. It has also almost no manual controls.

Avoid the small Canon. Even though in bright light it is excellent, its low light perf is horrible.

Check out camcorderinfo.com for details.

If you can get your hands on a Sony hc-1, it would be the best.

Those are all camcorders for under 1400$.

There are a few new avchd models out there: Sony and Panasonic. Sony Sr-1 and Panasonic SD-1.

Check them out on camcorderinfo.com

Those are all basic models. You pay about 250% of the price for a standard def model like the Panasonic gs-500, and you will have trouble editing if you don't have a fast computer, because the hd codecs are highly compressed.

[Headshot]

Guess What? There really are no terrific models out there now.
I mean every one of them has a major drawback.

The Sony uses a format that is almost impossible to edit.
And only the SR1 has a mic jack.
The Canon really blows in low-light, and has NO audio jack to add a real mic.
The Panasonic also uses the new AVCHD format.

[Veltliner]

This is why I'm still shooting SD.

I just made the list above for someone who really, really, really wants to shoot HD - and is not afraid to encounter major problems.

I have heard people discuss about transferring their HDV footage to another codec, then editing it, moving it back...

Sometimes, over all that editing trouble, they really can go out, and actually shoot some footage.

But, seriously, if someone wants HD, he can do it. It's feasible. The Canon A-1 and the more expensive Sony's and the Panasonic hvx-200 aren't bad.

It is just, that HD equipment bought now, will be even quicker out of date than usual, because the next - and first good - format is just around the corner.

Panasonic has a new intraframe compression format. Currently you have to spend around 26 000$.

But, as things go, rather sooner than later this format will find its way into the prosumer range of camcorders.

Then there will be a lot of electronic stuff out there which will have lost a lot of value. It will be labeled HDV or AVCHD.

I guess if someone is a professional, who needs HD now (TV, digital movie shoot, etc.), the 24p Sony, the Panasonic hvx-200 and the Canon A-1 or H-1 makes sense.