Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

jszrules · Dec 19, 2003, 05:29 PM

Hi, if I had to buy a digital camcorder tomorrow, what features should I be looking for (within the $400/$500 range)? Any preferences or respective strengths among different brands like Sony, Canon, JVC, etc? Any other helpful pieces of advice would be much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

nate_02 · Dec 21, 2003, 11:21 PM

-look for digital (of course)
-I personally would get a regualar mini dv camera as opposed to the digital ones with the tiny tapes
-make sure it can do 16:9
-I have had a lot of good luck with sony handycams
-Also, make sure you can record onto it through composite inputs. For example, so you can plug a VHS deck directly into your camera and record onto it. Just in case you need to convert VHS to digital to import it into your computer.

C.J. Moof · Dec 22, 2003, 02:37 PM

Motor noise and low light sensitivity are things I'd look at if you're going to make indoor videos. Mine works decently enough, but every video has a low level motor noise over it.

Also, a forward mic placement is good. Mine is better at picking up the voice of the camera holder than it it the subject, which isn't ideal.

willab · Dec 22, 2003, 10:08 PM

I really like the Canon zr-60. Bhphotovideo.com has it for $350. I do not get motor noise and the sound of the subject is good.

techtrucker · Dec 26, 2003, 12:52 PM

Just got a Canon ZR60 too...works great, only thing is it's so-so in dim lighting conditions, but for me (an amateur) it's just fine.

macdevil · Dec 28, 2003, 08:14 PM

Any feedback on the Panasonic Mini dv camcorders? I am interested in the pvdv73, I think. I have been looking at a caouple of Canon models also, ZR 60, ZR 65. I am getting married at the end of the month, don't really want to wait for the new models after CES. Get waht I need for a good price, but willing to pay for quality.

TerryJ · Dec 29, 2003, 04:17 PM

I have a Panasonice PV-DV102 and it's absolutely great! I looked at JVC, Sony and a few others and for the $$$ this one was the best deal and camera. It can even work as a webcam and I use it with iChat all the time. It is auto-recognized in iMovie, QT Broadcaster, iChat and Yahoo chat just fine and seamlessly. The video quality is great and there is no motor noise problem at all. It has a SD card slot for taking still images as well.
Highly recommended!

macdevil · Dec 29, 2003, 10:16 PM

I think I have my choices narrowed down to either the Canon ZR 65 or the Panasonic 203. They are roughly thye same price. The Canon has a better optical zoom, they both have SD card capabilities. The Panasonic has a higher total zoom with digital. I am leaning toward the Canon, but the post regarding motor noise are disheartening...

techtrucker · Dec 30, 2003, 06:17 AM

If you can go check out a few in the stores...For me the motor noise of the Canon is not objectionable.
I went for the ZR60 and saved myself $100, the still photo quality of entry level camcorders is poor, an inexpensive digital camera does much better for stills. And IIRC the only other difference is the ZR60 is 18X zoom whereas the ZR65 is 20x.

macdevil · Dec 30, 2003, 02:04 PM

Thanks for the advice. The local Best Buys has both the ZR 60 and ZR 65. I have an A50 for the digital camera, so I guess I just need to weight if the price difference is woth the difference in the zoom and the ability to take stills pix on to a car if I want to. I don't think I will use it that muck if ever, so I don't know if I really want ot pay for it.
Thanks again Trucker

rjc3 · Jan 2, 2004, 04:33 PM

for what it is worth, my brother just got a zr-60 and it is a really nice camera for the money. I would second the earlier comment about the difference between the zr60 and zr65 - afaik, the only dif is the presence of a removable media card on the zr65, ostensibly to allow still photogrpahpy in addition to video. As I recall, the zr65 can double as a digital camera with all of 0.7 megapixels of resolution. The resulting photos might be OK to post pics of your new ebay auction, but will be very poor even for posting ot the web. If digital photography is important, spend the monmey and get a real camera with 3.2megapixels or higher.
Bottom line: don't let the built in storage of the zr65 justify the higher price. It is a classic 'bell and whistle" that offers little in true function.
Get the zr60 and put the money you saved towards a dedicated dig still cam.
Good luck and happy new year!

jszrules · Jan 4, 2004, 04:54 PM

Thanks for everyone's replies. I ended up getting the ZR70. As I spend more time with it, I will reply with it's strengths, etc. I am primarily concerned with its ability to shoot amateur films, a step up from ordinary home movies - basically sufficient video and sound quality.