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Small Camcorder with Image Stabilizer

minimoneysaver
minimoneysaver Posts: 2,222 Forumite
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
in Techie Stuff
As above. I'm looking for a small, cheapish camcorder, but my hand is way too shakey and I can't always use a tripod. The sound and picture need to be of good quality. Had a look around Amazon. Seems that loads of people are buying the Flip, but I don't think it has image stabilizers and zoom (for school plays). Am I right?
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Comments

  • Fifer
    Fifer Posts: 59,413 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    My Toshiba Camileo S10 has an image stabilisation setting, but I haven't really tried that feature much so I cannot comment on how effective it is.

    The zoom is a little 'jerky' but other than that, it's a great little HD camera.
    There's love in this world for everyone. Every rascal and son of a gun.
    It's for the many and not the few. Be sure it's out there looking for you.
    In every town, in every state. In every house and every gate.
    Wth every precious smile you make. And every act of kindness.
    Micheal Marra, 1952 - 2012
  • BillScarab
    BillScarab Posts: 6,027 Forumite
    edited 18 November 2009 at 4:59PM
    Kodak Zi8 has image stabilisation. It get's very good reviews.

    However the image stabilisation is not supposed to be that good and the zoom function is digital not optical and is stepped.

    If you want decent stabilisation and a proper opticla zoom you may have to look at things a step up from the flip, Zi8 etc.
    It's my problem, it's my problem
    If I feel the need to hide
    And it's my problem if I have no friends
    And feel I want to die


  • kwikbreaks
    kwikbreaks Posts: 9,187 Forumite
    The trouble with IS on camcorders is that you tend to forget it's still on when panning. The result is completely useless footage (can we still say footage? :))
  • Fifer
    Fifer Posts: 59,413 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    kwikbreaks wrote: »
    The trouble with IS on camcorders is that you tend to forget it's still on when panning. The result is completely useless footage (can we still say footage? :))

    It sounds like your metreage was decimated rather than decimalised.
    There's love in this world for everyone. Every rascal and son of a gun.
    It's for the many and not the few. Be sure it's out there looking for you.
    In every town, in every state. In every house and every gate.
    Wth every precious smile you make. And every act of kindness.
    Micheal Marra, 1952 - 2012
  • kwikbreaks
    kwikbreaks Posts: 9,187 Forumite
    It was more the increasing use of memory cards instead of tape rather than the EU hit squad I was concerned about although now you come to mention it they are probably watching me carefully.
  • minimoneysaver
    minimoneysaver Posts: 2,222 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Just looked at the Toshiba mentioned above. It does seem to have stabilisation. It says digital. What does that mean? Sorry to ask so many questions. Short of money and want to get it right.
  • kwikbreaks
    kwikbreaks Posts: 9,187 Forumite
    You can get digital or optical stabilisation. Optical is reckoned to be better but I don't know why.
  • minimoneysaver
    minimoneysaver Posts: 2,222 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    From what i've been reading, would I be better going with say the Panasonic SDR-S26 or SDR-S15, or maybe even one of the cheaper sony like the Sony DCRSR37ES. I really need to get this right as my budget is tight and is going to be for quite a long time.
  • timbim_2
    timbim_2 Posts: 1,292 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you wanted a really top notch, high-def small camcorder, the Sony HVR A1 is a really nice camera. Much too expensive though. Shame really, brilliant camera. Can record directly to solid state as well as tape. Nice external mic included as well. I've shot a lot with its bigger brother, the Z1, and that's also a fantastic camera. Little wonder it's used for even professional broadcast documentaries.
    Ubuntu is an ancient African word, meaning: 'I can't configure Debian'.
  • minimoneysaver
    minimoneysaver Posts: 2,222 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Amazing camera Timbim, but not quite what I was looking for budget wise. Really don't want to spend much more than 200.00
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