Looking to get a digital camcorder and leaning towards the DVD format. Any recommendations, pros and cons for DVD vs Mini DVs and hard drive camcorders?

Looking into the Canon DC50 and Sony DCR-DVD508, comments and recommendations appreciated.

All you ballers out there, I don't want to spend more than $1K on this.

 

I have a Sony Hi-8 Mini-DV Digital Camcorder, I'll sell it to you for $999.99...

 

have a Beta Max and a VHS camcorder... buy one get the other one free...

 

You guys are no help!!!

May be I should get this then.....

 

The one I'm looking at is the Canon HV10, the HV20 just came out... The Sony HC7 and SR1 (Harddrive HD) is also a contender...
if you want under 1k, the Sony HC3 is a good deal since the HC5 and HC7 just came out. You should be able to find the HC3 right under 1k @ the Sony store in valley fair. If you look around online, you should be able to find it cheaper.
I would recommend miniDv for now since both the harddrive and the DVD are recorded in AVCHD format which haven't been fully supported in a lot of the editing softwares. If you are not planning on editing it, then the HD is a great way to snap video without tape and the DVD is a great way to archive it without editing.
If you can spend <1k on a stroller, I don't think you want to skimp out on HD and record your baby's every step in Standard definition. You should get HD especially since your TV can support it. Imagine when you play it back for your kids when they got bigger and they'll say.... "Daddy, Daddy, why am I so blurry"

and lastly......
I know Chad is planning on getting HD.... so you'll end up buying a 2nd camcorder eventually anyways

 

Really??? Chad is buying HD? May be I'll just wait a couple of weeks, then he'll upgrade again, and I'll pick his up then........

 

the new wave of new camcorder are starting to hit the market so if you want some saving and don't need the latest greatest, now is a good time to buy the last generation. And you know if you try to chase Sony or Canon's release schedules, you'll be wasting a lot of money... they release updates way too often...

 

Dave, I have a question for you. I am looking at the Sony DVD508. Checked the specs and the video actuals and stills actuals are 2280K which is the same is the High Dev UX7.

Why is that? Does that mean the DVD508 is also High Def and they just don't advertise it so?

 

nope
The DVD508 is 530lines.

3.0 Megapixel (Gross) ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor
1/2.9” ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor with 2280K (effective) pixels (16:9) provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution) and still image performance. The megapixel technology enhances your digital videos and digital still (3040K) photography performance (4:3).

The UX7 is 1080 line of resolution in HD mode or 530 lines in SD mode

2.1 Megapixel (Gross) ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor
1/3" ClearVid CMOS Sensor provides stunning detail and clarity with exceptional video (1080 lines of resolution, HD mode or 530 lines of horizontal resolution, SD mode) and still image performance (4.0 megapixels). Unlike traditional CCD imagers, CMOS sensors require less power, providing better battery performance.

I think it has to do with what actually gets recorded to the DVD and not the effective pixels like camera uses.

 

Thanks, too bad they're only 1080i , may be I'll just get the DVD508.

 

it's ok even at 1080i. It's still better looking than sd.
I had my wedding videos in SD.... the quality sucks.. especially when I'm viewing them on big screens.....

I don't think 1080p camcorder will be out for a while... and at a price point that is within reach...

 

Alright alright........

Chad, can you please go buy the High Def camcorder NOW and let me borrow it. I promise to return it when your baby is due.

 

Hey Moodie,
Here is some best buy coupon for you to use to buy your HD camcorder...
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/9932/bb2dd6.jpg
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/5952/bb1ys6.jpg

 

Depending on why you're recording something DV tapes might be better than DVD disks.

I have a few (3) Mini-DV recorders and find that I am able to re-use the tapes time and time again. I sit down following a shoot and dub off the tapes digitally into Avid Liquid and edit them down. The tapes get re-used the next week.

If you're just shooting stuff to save forever the one use only DVD disks would be fine. Just make sure you finalize them before trying to play them in a set top DVD player. Once finalized you can not store any more video on them and they then can play back in a normal DVD player.

 

Thank you. The camcorder is for recording the baby that's on the way......highly doubt I'll have time to do any editing.

 

Sony HDR-HC7

 

you bought it? I was looking at the hc7 vs the hv20...
what I really want is the FX1.

btw, doesn't look like the baby is here yet from the rear mirror

 

You guys will know it when the baby's here. And I beleive your car should be a little too bumpy for the wifey now.....

 

the stock suspension is back on the car
man, why aren't you pimping the mini van?
don't tell me you're embarassed to be seen in it?

 

My lucky minivan already had a cracked windshield (being replaced) and my wife already already put a big scratch on the rear bumper (thanks to her not parking the van deep enough to clear the garage door)