Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

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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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 714

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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Matt Nichols
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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 293

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

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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

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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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 1683

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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Registered: Mar 2001
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 441

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

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Registered: Mar 2001
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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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Last edited by Yorick on 06-18-2001 at 08:26 AM

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

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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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: NJ
Posts: 517

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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Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Twin Cities, MN
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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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