Digital camcorders

[uncguy]

All,

This past weekend, I just found out that I am going to be a father for the first time! (nervous, excited, tons of things to do!)

My wife wants to get a nice digital camcorder so we can document her pregnancy and our little ones childhood

Any tips/advice for a camcorder? I am not a professional movie editor or anything, just looking for something easy to use though still good quality.

Preference of hard drive vs dvd? Would like to take still images as well. Have a DVD burner at home so media is not an issue.


Any one with first hand experience, I would appreciate your suggestions!

[fishepa]

Re: Digital camcorders

Tough time because the HD ones are coming out right now although they are a little expensive. I don't have one, so I can't help much.

[uncguy]

Re: Digital camcorders

I know, probably the worst time to purchase a gadget - right when new technology is coming out, old technology dying off...

I am just wondering if anyone has any problems with using miniDVD vs. a hard drive.

[Heelfan71]

Re: Digital camcorders

only problem I notice with those mini dvd's is you can't record a whole lot on one disc. I would go with a Mini DV (not dvd) or hard drive based one personally. Not sure how computer savy you are but it's pretty easy to transfer your videos to your computer and save them and/or put them onto a real dvd.

[The Chef]

Re: Digital camcorders

Mini DV (not disc) will get you the best clarity between them all thanks to the high compression rates in Mini DVD and HDD, the other formats provide other advantages like longer recording time on HDD or ease of use on Mini DVD but for clarity purposes the Mini DV will look the best, unless of course you go with HD and then the difference isnt as large.

The other thing to think of is the burn time, when burning from Mini DV it will basically burn in real time, as in 60 minutes of footage should and will probably take approx. 50-55 minutes to burn.