I want to buy a new camcorder for friend events, trips, vacations, etc. I want to be able to upload my video onto my laptop and do editing, etc. There are so many options out there. I would love for someone to give me advice on what brand and model to look at. I don't want to spend anymore than 800 dollars or so. So my requirements are.

1. Night shot
2. Compatible with my computer (PC) and works with WMV, media players, etc.
3. 800 limit
4. reliable of course..

Any ideas from anyone?? please!!

Canon HV20.

I have been reading replys from you on other threads and you recommend the Canon to everyone. What if I wanted to go with a "hard drive" camcorder for convenience sake. Im not a big fan of Canon...I had a bad experience.

I have been reading replys from you on other threads and you recommend the Canon to everyone. What if I wanted to go with a "hard drive" camcorder for convenience sake. Im not a big fan of Canon...I had a bad experience.

Forget the Hard Drive. The Canon HV20 provides high definition PQ that is out of this world.

Become a big fan of Canon....the HV20 has won rave reviews from just about every source including major tech magazines , the New York Times and hard core users.

There really is no better choice at or around that price point.

I want to buy a new camcorder for friend events, trips, vacations, etc. I want to be able to upload my video onto my laptop and do editing, etc. There are so many options out there. I would love for someone to give me advice on what brand and model to look at. I don't want to spend anymore than 800 dollars or so. So my requirements are.

1. Night shot
2. Compatible with my computer (PC) and works with WMV, media players, etc.
3. 800 limit
4. reliable of course..

Any ideas from anyone?? please!!

That would be a MAJOR factor in all this. I'm REALLY enjoying my Sony SR7, but it's Hidef, and lists for $1400-ish. I'm really enjoying the hard drive -- you just drag and drop the file to your pc, or have the included software upload it for you. Quick and easy. Getting files from a tape to the pc is going to take some time and not all that convenient, though MANY would say that it's well worth it and the tapes are a good archival backup.

I don't see current HiDef cameras with hard drives for less than $1000 (the Sony SR5 for example). HOWEVER, if you only want standard def, there are lots of options. Sony makes several that list for $550-850 with varying sizes of hard drives and would fit your bill.

I went a little higher because I have the computing horsepower to handle HiDef, and I have displays that make it look really good. Playing HiDef recordings from DVDs is a little more difficult -- you need a Blu-Ray player, a PS3, or maybe an HD-DVD player to do that. If you have all the pieces, maybe HiDef is the way you should go. If not, standard Def will give you files that are more easily handled and used.

Hope it helps...

Larry Becker

If Nightshot is truly the most important aspect of your camcorder purchase, than Sony is the brand to examine most closely - they do nightshot better than anyone.

There are no camcorders that are not compatible with your computer, although there may be limitations based on what you currently edit with. You're indicating you want to make WMV files, does that mean you are using Windows Movie Maker for editing? (If yes, all HD camcorders will be useless to you in HD mode unless you have Windows Vista)

As for the $800 price limit, there are tons of cameras in that price range, so that narrows very little.