So, just yesterday I started looking at the HV20.

Just wondering if there is confirmed knowledge of any other HD camcorder offerings going to be available in the near future. I probably won't need the camera for a year or so. Just would like to know if there is something great just around the corner.

Thanks

Within 1 year... They will ALL release a newer model.

Sony threw in the towel, they are stopping all HDAV development, JVC is going back to building ugly speakers, and the Canon engineers all left to work on their tan. :)

So, just yesterday I started looking at the HV20.

Just wondering if there is confirmed knowledge of any other HD camcorder offerings going to be available in the near future. I probably won't need the camera for a year or so. Just would like to know if there is something great just around the corner.

Thanks

is this post for real? :confused:

Yes its for real. I haven't been following camcorder technologies like I would say, video games or home audio. I was just asking for some advice, as in, buy now, or wait a little while for the next great thing to come out.

Yes its for real. I haven't been following camcorder technologies like I would say, video games or home audio. I was just asking for some advice, as in, buy now, or wait a little while for the next great thing to come out.

If you do that you will always be waiting for the next great thing, because there will always be a "next great thing" around the corner.

A bunch of great camcordrs have recently been released. Buy one or wait for the next batch, it's really up to you.

Kyser

buy for your today's needs, that's been my guide.

My todays needs are yadda yadda yadda. If there is a (fill an electronics item here) that will fullfill my today's needs, I'll buy them today. If not, then wait.

I didn't buy a consumer HDV camera until last month because there was nothing that fills my needs up to that moment. The same goes with HD DVD vs BD. I ended up buying HD DVD because it fills my need at the time I bought it. Now that BD can fulfill my requirements, I also own a BD player.

In general, that advice is what I follow for other areas of electronics. The thing is, that for once, I am using some foresight. I don't actually have any current needs, all my needs are based on the future (children mainly).

then, seriously, don't buy anything until about 1 month before you really need it (to give you time to get used to the camera). Save the money because "better and greater" may always be on the horizon.

My usual strategy is to study and research it until I can't stand waiting anymore, then jump in with as much knowledge as I have gained.

BTW since you mentioned kids, the other factor is spousal "approval" timing. I've been eyeing a new camera to replace my broken higher end camera that was going to cost $350 to repair. I responsibly (for a change) made the decision to wait and not bring up the issue yet. We went to see our daughter in Calif last month and my son needed to make a dvd for a science project while we were there. My wife suggested we get a cheap camera to make that possible right away, and I was able to turn the "cheap camera" into a Sony HDR-SR1 "for the children." :D

So when we came home we produced an earthquake and a tar pit video.
Price of the Sony camera - $xxxx
Air fare to LA - $xxxx
Travel expenses - $xxxx
Two A plusses for my son? - priceless! ;)

Just wondering if there is confirmed knowledge of any other HD camcorder offerings going to be available in the near future. I probably won't need the camera for a year or so. Just would like to know if there is something great just around the corner.

AVCHD is a relatively new format so it'll definitely be around this time next year. HDV is a format with good supoprt so I think that'll also be around next year. The only other flavor of HD for consumer camcorders is JVC's own brand of MPEG2. They *just* released a model with that format so it won't be disappearing anytime soon. (I'm not reading many rave user reviews about that model, though.)

For technology, no one can predict what'll happen in a year's time. I'm sure we'll see a general improvement on overall performance. Other than that, who can say?

If you ahve absolutely no need to video anything between now and then then wait.
If you have some memorable momemts you would like to capture, get to be familiar with the camcorder so you can become experienced with it when it is time to really need it then get it now.
Any camcorder can shoot your kids. Any will capture all those wonderful moments (and some not so wonderful). If you are going to buy it and it will sit in the box till next year then don't buy it and wait. If it will get used then buy it now.