Okay, I have decided to go HDD. My price range is $400-750, so HD is out of the question. I would like to stay in the lower part of the range if all other things are equal.

I am looking at the Sony DCR-SR80 at the big stores. I have heard mention of the Sony DCR-SR100 in this forum...what is the difference between the two?? How about the SR40? If I can go with a $400 cam instead of $750, that would be great.

Also, the JVC cameras are cheaper...whats the deal there? Kind of a "get what you pay for" deal?

Any other cameras I should be looking at?

I shouldn't say anything because you must have your reasons? A HDD camcorder is the last kind I would want. They have absolutely no advantage over MiniDV and some big disadvantages. But that is your decision to make.

If you want the highest video quality for your money and the least amount of trouble getting that video into your computer, I still think MiniDV is the way to go.

Dave

They both have their pluses and minuses.

With MiniDV you're carrying around a bunch of little DVDs. I'm not sure how much they hold but the Big Box sales people told me 30 minutes each? That may have been High Def since that's what I was looking at. On the other hand, all you need to do to transfer to computer is plop the MiniDV into your computer and away you go.

With a hard drive you have a much longer recording time. Transferring isn't all that difficult, just use USB/Firewire (camera dependent). I can record 4 hours of High Definition video on the 30GB drive on my camera. I think it's 7 hours of SD though I've yet to record in SD.

MiniDV is tape. It is still the best way to transfer the video onto the computer for editing from everything I read.
I wanted to get a DVD camcorder or an HDD unit but 1 year ago the MiniDV was the cheapest way to go. I'm glad I did as everything I read holds the MiniDV (tape, usually 60 minute) as having the least compression and the best editable format.

I wish they could make Silicon Memory cards capable of storing the info. That would be the cleanest, easiest and most lightweight way to record Video. I imagine Silicon Memory is too slow and the codecs used would be inferior to those used with MiniDVs.

Sorry I'm not up on the jargon for all these different camcorders.

What would make tape better than a hard drive? That's a serious question besides price of the original purchase (which will go down as hard drive camcorders gain acceptance)?

Yeah, Ive got my reasons. I wont want to edit, Im not making movies, too busy to screw with making edited movies. I know the tapes are cool for archive, but I simply cant imagine "tapes" being a good tech to get into for the next 15 years until I buy my next camcorder.

I dont want to get into the debate, I will be transferring the vid onto my comp and burning DVDs. Im looking for speed and ease of use. I dont care that MiniDV is a higher quality image.

What I want is the best HDD in my price range. The diff b/tw the Sonys that I mentioned seems to be Megapixels captured...I imagine that is a pretty big difference?? How about JVC, are they decent?

Im looking for speed and ease of use.

That's what I was trying to help you with. But since your mind is closed, Good Luck.

Dave

I dont want to get into the debate

Okay - Good luck

Sorry I'm not up on the jargon for all these different camcorders.

What would make tape better than a hard drive? That's a serious question besides price of the original purchase (which will go down as hard drive camcorders gain acceptance)?

All formats use different methods of compressing the signal. Tape uses the least damaging to video picture quality method. And it is the best version to edit with.

If picture quality doesn't matter to you you might want to consider the several cameras that now offer 720P recording on Silicon memory. You might be able to find one of these cameras at BB or CC. Sanyo and Samsung are a couple of the company's that make this kind of camera.

I don't like tape but it seems the best way to go for my purposes.

Good luck

Ha. I found my own thread. Mods, plz delete the new thread I started (sorry).

Ya, I didnt buy back then, but I have my first kid coming in about 7 weeks, so I will buy now. Still no definitive answer though...

Went to BB and found a new HC3 for $670. I picked it up, but I am a little afraid they are going to call me back and say they can't find one. The guy said he had ONE coming in and it was one of the last 6 HC3s in BB's inventory (for TX).

So...if he calls back and won't/can't do it, I am considering an HV10 from an e-tailer for $750.

Thoughts???

Went to BB and found a new HC3 for $670. I picked it up, but I am a little afraid they are going to call me back and say they can't find one. The guy said he had ONE coming in and it was one of the last 6 HC3s in BB's inventory (for TX).

So...if he calls back and won't/can't do it, I am considering an HV10 from an e-tailer for $750.

Thoughts???
For just a few more $, the next generation CANON HV20 was available on Amazon 2 weeks back for 866, no tax, free shipping. Frankly, I would not go any less than HDV at this point since you can always down-convert (from the camera) if you don't have the desire or equipment to do HD editing. This deal or a better one will probably come back again.

Tapes are inexpensive archive that you can always go back to should you lose your hard drive versions. Seems like cheap insurance to me and you can pick the MiniDV tapes just about anywhere on vacation if you need more and failed to pack enough (been there :eek: ).

Went to BB and found a new HC3 for $670. I picked it up, but I am a little afraid they are going to call me back and say they can't find one. The guy said he had ONE coming in and it was one of the last 6 HC3s in BB's inventory (for TX).

So...if he calls back and won't/can't do it, I am considering an HV10 from an e-tailer for $750.

Thoughts???

gooters,

Glad to see you found an HD camera in your price range.
As others have mentioned, HD for some of us is the only way to go!



Here is a device that will work for you to make copies of your footage in excellent dvd quality, without using a computer (you can use it with one also)http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=VRDMC3

thx guys