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Dv

Anybody know of a not-too-expensive digital video camera that's good. My parents just asked me to research one that they could buy (the old canon camcorder recently broke).

Also, is 500 lines considered good resolution? What about pixels and optical zoom? I don't like digital zoom either.

Thanks

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500 lines is what a normal television (non digital/HDTV) is capable of displaying, DVD is about 480 lines I believe.

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What is your budget?
You can get Sony PC110 for $1300

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They don't want to pay more than $800, but I think I might be able to convince them up to $900 if they really see the need.

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You know it's bad when your Calculus Professor uses the word "Unpossible"

"It's a long way from my thoughts to what I'll say, It's a long, long way from paradise to where I am today." -Switchfoot, Home

Sony makes excellent digital camcorders, as does canon.

You can get a decent one starting at $600.

Optical zoom is the only important factor...digital zoom is fairly useless.

Between $600 and $1500 or so, the only main differences are in bells an whistles. From $1500, then you will be looking at better optics/lenses.

The main factors are size, and the extra functions.

You may also want to decide if you want to go with MiniDV or Digital8 tapes. The MiniDVs are smaller, but a bit more expensive than the Digital8s.

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Besides size and price, what's the difference between digital8 and minidv?

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You know it's bad when your Calculus Professor uses the word "Unpossible"

"It's a long way from my thoughts to what I'll say, It's a long, long way from paradise to where I am today." -Switchfoot, Home

For info on digital8 vs. MiniDV, go HERE and page down a screen or two.
Digital 8 is noted as a Sony exclusive product (though I've not verified that) which uses traditional 8mm tape.

changed phrasing, fixed typo

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quote:

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Originally posted by Matthew Nichols
500 lines is what a normal television (non digital/HDTV) is capable of displaying ...

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If you haven't gotten one already, a cheap good DV camcorder is the Canon ZR-10. The quality is great and I haven't had any problems with mine. The downside to getting a "cheap" camcorder is the lack of features. You can change the exposure, the shutter speed, and have manual focus, but it lacks other high end features. For family use (and a little DV movie making) it is a great camera. I got mine for $750 last August.

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quote:

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Besides size and price, what's the difference between digital8 and minidv?

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quote:

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TV Signal = 280 lines

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We're all naked if you turn us inside out.
-David Byrne