Camcorders - CoasterBuzz

Hey guys. A friend and I are looking to buy a camcorder. We have something picked out but are still looking. We have a $600 limit and are looking for something that you can hook up to a comp to edit and make nice videos with. What's out there? Thanks

-----------------
www.moviecoaster.com

*** This post was edited by PkI FaNaTiC on 9/29/2002. ***

get a nice Sony DV cam. there great :)

-----------------
John
Albany Entertainment:
http://home.nycap.rr.com/albanyent

Get a sony whatever you do.

Anything mini-DV will work, and you can stay on budget. My personal opinion is to stick with Sony, Canon and Panasonic.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Whatever you do, don't get a JVC. Canon seems to be a good bet(at least so far).

-----------------

Walt (from Virtual Midway) and several of my relatives have Canons, and yes, they all love them! My still cameras (Elan IIe and D-60 digital) are also Canons. They get my seal of approval.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Check out the Canon ZR series MiniDv cam's. They are the best for that price. If you can go alittle higher than that, I'd HIGHLY recommend Sony. I've got a Sony DV cam that is amazing! They are alittle more expsnsive, but definitely worth the price. Also, get a wide-angle lense. The diffrence is amazing.

-----------------
Corey
"I make it a rule never to get involved with possessed people. Well, it's more of a guideline than a rule." - Dr. Pete Venkman/Bill Murray

Can anyone provide a link for a mini DV?

I would stick with Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic.

I've found three pausible options. They're all pretty much the same thing though.....

http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=1&cat=33&scat=36&e=11099525

http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=1&cat=33&scat=36&e=11099021

http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=1&cat=33&scat=36&e=11102595

Is there any one of those three that really have good standout features? They're all $600 and are pretty much the same. Is there something I could be mising?

I must be missing something here......I thought this was COASTERbuzz.....

-------------
So many coasters, so little vacation time....

Sony DCR-TRV18 - Retail $799.99 - Now $487.00

OR

Canon ZR50MC - Retail $799.99 - Now $504.99

Both are awesome choices for their prices. I'd compare features and check out weight and size. Both look very nice

MiniDV is the way to go. Don't come near Digital8 or any other format unless it's MicroMV.

*** This post was edited by xShorty on 9/30/2002. ***

Yes, I have the Canon ZR45. I'm very happy with it. Great video (mini-DV) and average digital still. You can see the quality of the stills on the construction page of my site. Most of those photos were taken with the Canon ZR45. As you can tell, it's average quality - nothing to write home about. But the video is wonderful. For the price, you can't go wrong. I bought it for the video, the fact it takes average stills is a bonus at that price.

I also use a Canon (EOS Rebel) for print film. Bought the camera in 1993 and it's worked well since.

I got a great deal at eCost.com, though the same deal is no longer available. But this one is easy to find under $600. Whatever you decide, stay with mini-DV as Jeff said.

-------------
Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Don't buy Sharp. Sharp is crap.

RollerFreak: Move along now. If you have nothing to contribute, go about your business. This is a relevant topic considering the number of us who drag cameras and camcorders around the world to shoot our favorite rides.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Sony is great, but whatever you do,

DO NOT BUY SONY MV

It is a very compact digital camera, but Sony has invented THEIR OWN micro-digital format. This is looking to turn into their Mini-discs (which didn't last if you remember). The only editing program you can use with it is (surprise!) Sony's own Movie Shaker software, which is lacking in almost everything.

I bought the Sony MV IP-5, and kinda regret it. I plan on buying a regular dv soon.

-----------------
-Bret Pritchett
AIM: DrFrreezz
If at first you don't succeed... skydiving isn't for you

Same thing for Sony's Digital8. It is beyond me why they keep introducing propreitary formats. miniDV is a standard agreed upon by all manufacturers, and a much safer bet.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

digital8 just makes use of a different media. the actual video format is the same for minidv and digital8.

Jeff said:
RollerFreak: Move along now. If you have nothing to contribute, go about your business. This is a relevant topic considering the number of us who drag cameras and camcorders around the world to shoot our favorite rides.
-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz

Riiiight... So following THAT line of logic I can think of a plethora of things that are "relevant"
Shoes should be a good topic, we all wear those to run around our favorite park.
Food. We all eat while visiting a park.
How about a topic about cars or trucks? We all drive to our favorite park.
I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll let YOUR line of logic speak for itself.
Oh, by the way, "move along now", please, you'll have to do better than that to intimidate me. I'm not the typical 14 year old who cruises this site.

-------------
So many coasters, so little vacation time....

Rollerfreak,

You forget one thing...YOU ARE NOT THE OWNER OR MODERATOR OF THIS SITE. If Jeff wants to talk about his grass growing on his webcam ( http://club.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=11&TopicID=12283 or http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=11&TopicID=12283 ) then he will let the topic go...it is not your decision - get over it! If you want to have control of a coaster site, then create your own...

As far as Jeff saying, "Move along now" to (as you put it) intimidate you, be glad that's all he did or said...

BTW, Rollerfreak, Happy birthday...oops can I say that? It's not about coasters...

-----------------
Le roi est mort. Vive le roi.
Thanks Great America!

*** This post was edited by redman822 on 10/1/2002. ***

WOW, some of you are so easily impressed with "Jeff". He's just a guy who runs a little coaster site, he's not GOD!

Oh, what can he do to me! Delete my account. If he feels the need. I'm only speaking my mind, I live in America and in America we have this thing called freedom of speech.......I use it...

-------------
So many coasters, so little vacation time....