My wife and I need a camcorder but can't afford to go crazy so we've been looking at things around the $200 range. I really want HD and would like something that has the option to add storage on the go, such as an SD card. I really like what I have seen on the Flip MinoHD but if I take it with me on a vacation I'm screwed after 60 min. We only have a PC at home (no laptop) so storage options would be nice.

Any suggestions?

My wife and I need a camcorder but can't afford to go crazy so we've been looking at things around the $200 range. I really want HD and would like something that has the option to add storage on the go, such as an SD card. I really like what I have seen on the Flip MinoHD but if I take it with me on a vacation I'm screwed after 60 min. We only have a PC at home (no laptop) so storage options would be nice.

Any suggestions?

Yeh, having only 60 minutes of storage built-in without being able to put a card in would be a drag. I don't know why that didn't include a slot for the MinoHd...

This is a good deal, a Kodak EasyShare Z1285-IS
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8828147

High Definition video, plus 12 megapixel stills. It takes memory cards, but I think the most you can shoot at once in HD is a half hour. The lower resolutions, more. But it's better than not having any memory expansion at all.

You can see sample videos here:

http://www.vimeo.com/videos/search:Z1285



Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5A also does high def video. This one has 9.1MP for stills.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-TZ5A-Digital-Optical-Stabilized/dp/B0011Z6D9U/ref=sr_1_4/177-0062894-8305664?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1227561442&sr=1-4


There are similar cameras out there. I would much rather have something like this... That MinoHD with the locked in 1 hour of storage stinks. I wouldn't do it.

My son has an Aiptek HD which does 1080P. It looks great in bright daylight type environments, but really sucks in low light. I think it was around $170 and it uses SDHC cards.

I have the HD Kodak Zi6 and am very happy with it,,,$180.00,, I also have a bunch of other camcorders but my favorite is still my Flip Ultra,, its not HD but it takes some really good video.

Cheers
Davyo

Thanks for the feedback... taking still photos is not a factor as we have a nice Nikon for that. I'd like to get something with expandable memory and HD so I can put the SD card in my BD player or transfer to my PC.

One of the things that has been turning me off is how bad motion looks on a lot of the HD camcorders... it's like the camera can't keep up with a dog or kid running. Are most of the cheap ones like this??

Does anyone have any experience with this Insignia (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8940015&type=product&id=1215217076309)?

Thanks for the feedback... taking still photos is not a factor as we have a nice Nikon for that. I'd like to get something with expandable memory and HD so I can put the SD card in my BD player or transfer to my PC.

One of the things that has been turning me off is how bad motion looks on a lot of the HD camcorders... it's like the camera can't keep up with a dog or kid running. Are most of the cheap ones like this??

Does anyone have any experience with this Insignia (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8940015&type=product&id=1215217076309)?

The fact that one of those point and shoot cameras doesn't say "camcorder" shouldn't be the concern. You don't have to use the still pictures function. I was recommending one of those Kodaks because you said that you would only be willing to pay $200. And, for under $200, that's about the best video quality you're going to get.

The Insignia is an off-brand copy of an Aiptek. The Aipteks are really not that great. I've used one; it's decent if you keep it still and on a tripod - otherwise if you move it the image will warble.

If what you buy absolutely needs to to look more like a camcorder than a still camera; it's up to you.


As for the quality of the videos you see online/motion, and, specifically Vimeo; take into consideration that:
1) it's streaming HD content over the internet
2) Vimeo processes the video (I think to 24p for all)
3) The computer you're viewing it on might not be able to handle HD content (At Vimeo click the HD ON button to HD OFF.)
4) The internet connection you're viewing it through might be slow


You can go back to some of those Kodak videos and other cameras at Vimeo...and, if you don't already have a free account, then sign up, log in, then go to the bottom right of any given page that has a video and choose "download the original content"...

...then download it and watch it on your pc and you will see the quality is much better. Do this for more than one video for each camera, because some people will shoot video better than others.


...and here are the two videos @ Vimeo with the Insignia camcorder:

http://www.vimeo.com/videos/search:Insignia%20camcorder

The fact that one of those point and shoot cameras doesn't say "camcorder" shouldn't be the concern. You don't have to use the still pictures function. I was recommending one of those Kodaks because you said that you would only be willing to pay $200. And, for under $200, that's about the best video quality you're going to get.

The Insignia is an off-brand copy of an Aiptek. The Aipteks are really not that great. I've used one; it's decent if you keep it still and on a tripod - otherwise if you move it the image will warble.

If what you buy absolutely needs to to look more like a camcorder than a still camera; it's up to you.


As for the quality of the videos you see online/motion, and, specifically Vimeo; take into consideration that:
1) it's streaming HD content over the internet
2) Vimeo processes the video (I think to 24p for all)
3) The computer you're viewing it on might not be able to handle HD content (At Vimeo click the HD ON button to HD OFF.)
4) The internet connection you're viewing it through might be slow


You can go back to some of those Kodak videos and other cameras at Vimeo...and, if you don't already have a free account, then sign up, log in, then go to the bottom right of any given page that has a video and choose "download the original content"...

...then download it and watch it on your pc and you will see the quality is much better. Do this for more than one video for each camera, because some people will shoot video better than others.


...and here are the two videos @ Vimeo with the Insignia camcorder:

http://www.vimeo.com/videos/search:Insignia%20camcorder

Thanks for the input, turning off the HD on Vimeo made a big difference. I'm thinking of waiting a few more weeks to up my budget to the $300 mark and find a Panasonic SD5. The videos I saw from it look pretty good and it seems to have gotten good reviews.

Thanks for the input, turning off the HD on Vimeo made a big difference. I'm thinking of waiting a few more weeks to up my budget to the $300 mark and find a Panasonic SD5. The videos I saw from it look pretty good and it seems to have gotten good reviews.

That's really weird... I was going to suggest doing the same thing with same camcorder. I agree, the videos are very decent and is worth the extra 100 or so. There are after-market batteries and accessories for that camcorder on ebay. Hope it works out.