I wanna DVD camcorder

Addicted2Chocolate

With my first baby due in 6 weeks I want to buy a camcorder. I like the look and idea of the DVD camcorders. Can anyone recommend one? I am a camcorder novice, want something easy to use.
A Bargain would be good too! looking to spen up to £250 approx.
thanks

slowen

Seen a advert on the TV the other night and think Curry's have one on offer for around £270

black-saturn

Yes they have, it's the Sony one.

Addicted2Chocolate

the Hitachi one for £270 looks quite good..anyone got this one...?

gerretl

Hi. I work selling camcorder for Currys at Lakeside. Maybe I can help. I won't get too technical, but heres a few pointers when buying a camcorder.
1) There are four main formats of camcorder. Advantages,/ disadvantages are as follows.
Mini DV- Its a tape format, that can be connected directly to the PC and TV. Tapes are cheap (About £2 each for 60 minutes). Cameras are also very cheap. Downside is that you have to wind forward to the action.
DVD- these use small DVD disc (yes, they do fit into your player. There is a small tray in it, just look very hard). Very simple to operate. Film, and stick into the player. Job done. Downside - Discs are expensive (About £5 for a half hour disc) discs are also very fragile, you really need to look after them. There are also three formats of disc, DVD +, DVD-, and DVD-RAM. Check what formats your player can take.
Hard Drive- These have a computer hard drive built into the camera, so no discs tapes etc. Very easy to connect to the PC or TV. JVC make a good range. Downside- still a little pricey.
Memory cards- Similar to hard drive, but store on a memory card instead. Nice small camera, but the memory cards are still very expensive.
2) Feel the camera before you buy. The cheaper makes don't feel right. They feel plasticy, too light, and the controls are just out of comfortable reach.. Try holding a JVC 350 (Budget), and a Sony HC24 (not budget), and you will get the idea.
3) Any salesperson who tries to sell you a camcorder on the basis of it having a bigger zoom does not know what they are talking about. Zooms come in two types, optical (where the lens moves,)and digital ( where it blows up the picture). You do not need more than twenty times optical zoom. The quality of picture deteriorates so much with digital zoom, that it is not worth talking about (the hitachi you were talking about has 1200 digital zoom). The only time you will use a load of zoom is if you are filming Lord Lucan, riding Shergar, with the Loch Ness Monster in the background.
4) Don't discount editing. I know you are filming the baby, but (and no disrespect intended) people will get bored of even two minutes of a sleeping baby. The rough proportions of your filming will be one sixth utter rubbish (Out of focus, filming the floor, or wobbly camerawork) two thirds will be alright (groups of people enjoying themselves , yawwwwn), one tweflth pretty good (bit of action, granny falling over etc) and the remainder will be excellent (Lord Lucan riding Shergar with the Loch Ness monster in the background). Ulead and Pinnacle do some great packages, where you can whittle down an hours filming to about ten minutes very quickly, and stick a few fades and titles on it. Believe me, it is well worth it. People will want to watch the footage.
5) Don't zoom in and out when you are filming, it makes people feel sick when they are watching it. Zoom into the subject, until it is framed as you like it, and start filming. Don't stop filming immediately the action has stopped.Keep gpoing for five seconds longer. If you do edit, the splicing is a lot easier.
6) If you get a small camcorder, you can carry it all the time. You never know when you will capture that clip that is broadcast world wide (i.e. Lord Lucan riding Shergar with the Loch Ness Monster in the background). You can then retire, (like the bloke that took the picture of Bing Crosby playing golf, just before he died.)
Hope this helps, and if you live near Lakeside, pop into Currys, and I will run through the models if you want.

derbyjo

Your post was much appreciated, but I wonder whether there are any models which you would suggest going for, if the purchase is going to be via internet, and so I can't feel the camcorder in my hand before buying.

gerretl

Hi. My money is definately on the Sony HC24. Great features (infra red night shot, Carl Zeiss lens). Feels great, and is good for southpaws. The record and zoom controls are on the screen and easy to use for a left hander.
if you can get one, look for an HC 19. It is the previous model, but some argue better than the current one. One thing when buying on the net. Make sure it has all its accessories. It may be cheap, but if it lacks a charger, thats another £30 down the drain.
They are both mini DV model, but fine for a casual user.
If the budget can stretch it, look at the Sony HC 35. It has DV in/out, which means you can put edited versions of your film from the computer onto the camcorder tape, and a dock bay. This plugs into the mains and your computer. You rest the camera in the dock, and voila, it is always charged, without having to dig out the charger, and remember to charge it. Its about £30 more than the HC 24, but I reckon its worth it.

gerretl

Addicted2chocolate, I just had a thought. Have you contacted the National Childbirth Trust? Over the years, we have had vouchers for 10% off camcorders. It seems to go in fits and starts, and I don't know if it is a short term promotion. I haven't seen one for a couple of years, but its worth a try.

black-saturn

They sell those mini dvds in Poundland. You get 3 for £1.

Sheel

Can't see a Sony for around £270 on Curry's website Cheapest is £339. Might be some vouchers about though which would bring down the price a bit.

I have a Sony DVD camcorder and although I liked the JVC mini dv camcorder that I used to have , I prefer the Sony as it's so easy to use. Can't say i've noticed any disadvantages to using it so far , not had any problems with the discs and you can get them cheaper than £5 each , such as THESE Sony discs which are £5.94 for a 2 pack. Or maybe THESE Verbatim discs which are £8.97 for a 5 pack , never used them though :undecided

black-saturn

Ok, so with those DV ones how do you watch them? Is it a case of putting the required tape into the camcorder and plugging it into your telly or can you transfer it onto a tape?