[Tallen234]

After having a new baby (well my wife had him, I merely watched), I believe it is time for a new Camcorder. My budget is in the $500 to $750 range. I will mainly use it for documenting the little one's typical stuff. A couple of questions:


1. Is there anything new on the horizon which will be a "game changer" which will justify me waiting or buying something well under budget to tide me over?

a. If so, then what would be a cheap camera that would tide me over


2. If not, what would be a good choice in the $500 to $750 range for me?


Thanks!

 

[dustindu4]

I'm going to save you a lot of time, heartache and confusion. Buy the Sony CX500 from Abe's of Maine right now for $680 with the coupon code Loyalty15. It's Sony's flagship camera until March 1st (when the CX550 comes out) and it was $1100 a few months ago. they are about to sell out so don't wait long

 

[ericjut]

I second that suggestion and would highly recommend getting now instead of waiting, your son will not get any younger and there always going to be something better on the horizon.


If anything, you're already late getting the cam if the baby's out of mommy's tummy.

 

[droht]

I agree with buying it now, but I applaud you for waiting until the little guy was on the outside. Some things are better seen in our memories than on our HDTVs. Look for something with decent low light performance. I think the Sony mentioned fits the bill pretty well.

 

[Tallen234]

Thanks for the recs, although I HATE the Memory Stick, I am strongly considering pulling the trigger on that today. It really does look like a good value at that price. Any other camera I should consider?

 

[dustindu4]

I hate the memory stick too, but dont let that derail your decision. I had the CX 500, it is a very good camera

 

[tingham]

You might want to check out the new JVC HM550 before you buy the CX500. It's due to come out any day, and with the new Back-Illuminated CMOS the lowlight recording will most definitely be better. It might equal the Sony's CX500 in that department? Plus, you will get SD card support and some features that might interest you. Maybe "Auto Record" for when the baby crawls into the picture..

.


You are so close to the release of all these new cams. What's a few more weeks doing without one. You might possibly find another unit that suit's you more?


Hopefully, pro and user reviews for all these new units will be out very soon, so we can all make a better decision as to which cam would be best.


imo, the CX500 is going to be available for quite some time..maybe at a even more discount than they are going for now?


Here is a link to the HM550.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

 

[Tallen234]

Good points. But I hate to miss a "liquidation" of the Sony if it really is a limited time deal.


How about Canon S10 at $100 more than the Sony, is that a better deal?


Thanks again for the help (and patience at a newbie question)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tingham /forum/post/18209962


You might want to check out the new JVC HM550 before you buy the CX500. It's due to come out any day, and with the new Back-Illuminated CMOS the lowlight recording will most definitely be better. It might equal the Sony's CX500 in that department? Plus, you will get SD card support and some features that might interest you. Maybe "Auto Record" for when the baby crawls into the picture..

.


You are so close to the release of all these new cams. What's a few more weeks doing without one. You might possibly find another unit that suit's you more?


Hopefully, pro and user reviews for all these new units will be out very soon, so we can all make a better decision as to which cam would be best.


imo, the CX500 is going to be available for quite some time..maybe at a even more discount than they are going for now?


Here is a link to the HM550.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

 

[ericjut]



Quote:
Originally Posted by droht /forum/post/18208067


I agree with buying it now, but I applaud you for waiting until the little guy was on the outside. Some things are better seen in our memories than on our HDTVs. Look for something with decent low light performance. I think the Sony mentioned fits the bill pretty well.

FWIW, I never meant to hint at recording the labor. As you said, there are things that are just better never experienced again.

It's just that I hate myself now for not having taken more video shots of my little ones on their first day, week, month. Now, it's too late, they'll never be that small anymore...


Of course, I would hate myself a LOT more if I didn't have a camcorder during those precious first weeks. You might not think much of those shots right now (after all, your son's probably mostly sleeping, eating or crying), but in a few years, when you'll be done wiping his butt and won't be able to cradle him in your arms anymore without getting a backache, trust me, you'll have fond memories watch videos of when he was a little 10 pound munchkin. And he'll have a blast watching himself as a baby if he's anything like my two little monsters.


Oh boy they grow so fast...

 

[ericjut]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tingham /forum/post/18209962


You might want to check out the new JVC HM550 before you buy the CX500. It's due to come out any day, and with the new Back-Illuminated CMOS the lowlight recording will most definitely be better. It might equal the Sony's CX500 in that department? Plus, you will get SD card support and some features that might interest you. Maybe "Auto Record" for when the baby crawls into the picture..

.


You are so close to the release of all these new cams. What's a few more weeks doing without one. You might possibly find another unit that suit's you more?


Hopefully, pro and user reviews for all these new units will be out very soon, so we can all make a better decision as to which cam would be best.


imo, the CX500 is going to be available for quite some time..maybe at a even more discount than they are going for now?


Here is a link to the HM550.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

Not sure I would buy something that's not been proven yet (relying on specs). IMO, JVC would have to prove they're better first before I would switch to them, since in the past 5 years, they haven't been the cream of the crop (from pro reviews anyways).


To me, the appeal of the Sony latest CX or XR series isn't just the low-light, but the whole package: DD5.1 audio, very easy P&S experience and results, amazing stabilization, etc. If you can get one for less than $700, I would highly recommend it.


Also, while MS are a pain, you don't *have* to use one since the CX500 comes with plenty of internal memory.

 

[Tallen234]

I definitely agree! We've been recording short videos on our Canon 780is camera (720p). We want to move up to something more dedicated.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericjut /forum/post/18211103


FWIW, I never meant to hint at recording the labor. As you said, there are things that are just better never experienced again.

It's just that I hate myself now for not having taken more video shots of my little ones on their first day, week, month. Now, it's too late, they'll never be that small anymore...


Of course, I would hate myself a LOT more if I didn't have a camcorder during those precious first weeks. You might not think much of those shots right now (after all, your son's probably mostly sleeping, eating or crying), but in a few years, when you'll be done wiping his butt and won't be able to cradle him in your arms anymore without getting a backache, trust me, you'll have fond memories watch videos of when he was a little 10 pound munchkin. And he'll have a blast watching himself as a baby if he's anything like my two little monsters.


Oh boy they grow so fast...

 

[droht]



Quote:
Originally Posted by ericjut /forum/post/18211103


FWIW, I never meant to hint at recording the labor. As you said, there are things that are just better never experienced again.

It's just that I hate myself now for not having taken more video shots of my little ones on their first day, week, month. Now, it's too late, they'll never be that small anymore...


Of course, I would hate myself a LOT more if I didn't have a camcorder during those precious first weeks. You might not think much of those shots right now (after all, your son's probably mostly sleeping, eating or crying), but in a few years, when you'll be done wiping his butt and won't be able to cradle him in your arms anymore without getting a backache, trust me, you'll have fond memories watch videos of when he was a little 10 pound munchkin. And he'll have a blast watching himself as a baby if he's anything like my two little monsters.


Oh boy they grow so fast...

^No doubt^


I've got those shots on VGA from my digital camera. I really wish I had spent whatever it would have taken to buy a good camcorder and a DSLR 5 years ago.

 

[klperry1]

Congrats on your new child!!! I would get last years Sony, before I bought an LED light from JVC. I've had a DVD and a stereo burnout in less than 3 months, and I no longer buy JVC products. Your budget is good for a mid range HD cam.

 

[newbeestl]

Here's a vote to not support the Memory stick. Get something else.

I would buy a Canon if I were you.

 

[Tallen234]

Thanks everyone, I went ahead and got the CX500. Given that it was 1100 a couple of months ago, I figure this is a decent deal.

 

[Pjtan]

I've had 2nd thought on doing the same this past week (bought last Fri before my son's Sat BBall game.


I'd waited over 10 years (last camcorder a Hi8) and am glad to have gotten the Sony at sub700.


Just uploaded a High Def version of my daughter's school play to YouTube this week as well. Easy and it looks great.


pros: love the OIS, love the 32 gig - will get about a gazillion pics or 240 minutes at the highest HD level, good zoom (but not wide angle), great low light capabilites


cons: memory stick only (you just need one really anyway), not 24 Mb/S recording speed, not 1080p recording, not wide angle (but 12x vs 10x zoom)


let's face it, for 699 there's nothing in the same class.

in 2 months it will be obsolete, but only in the $1000+ category (which it isn't in anymore)


enjoy, I am

 

[tingham]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallen234 /forum/post/18212485


Thanks everyone, I went ahead and got the CX500. Given that it was 1100 a couple of months ago, I figure this is a decent deal.

Congrats..you should be very happy with it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericjut /forum/post/18211140


Not sure I would buy something that's not been proven yet (relying on specs). IMO, JVC would have to prove they're better first before I would switch to them, since in the past 5 years, they haven't been the cream of the crop (from pro reviews anyways).

I would not purchase any unproven product also. The Sony CX series lowlight and stabilization capabilities have proven to be one of the best, if not the best at the present time. They are nice cams with good features.


I have no idea how the new lowlight recording and stabilization of the JVC's will perform. That's why I suggested to the OP that he wait for some pro or user reviews on all the new cams coming out (one being the JVC, but Panasonic and Sony also) before making a decision on the CX500.


I personally think, by seeing video clips of last years JVC HM400 that it's outdoor video performance is top notch, and might be better than the Sony CX500 in this regard. The GZ-HM400 was Camcorderinfo.com's 2nd highest rated cam for it's pricepoint.


Imo, if the 550 matches it in performance- has better lowlight capabilities than the HM400 does, and is pretty close to the Sony CX500 cam in low light recording and stabilization performance, I would have a hard time purchasing the Sony over the new JVC right now. But, only time will tell how the 550 matches up to the competition, or the CX500.

 

[dustindu4]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallen234 /forum/post/18212485


Thanks everyone, I went ahead and got the CX500. Given that it was 1100 a couple of months ago, I figure this is a decent deal.

you won't have any regrets

 

[jjgear]

I am also looking but $500 would be on the high end of my budget. Any recommendations?

 

[camnoob]

i find the new panasonics sd66 a good value