Mini DV camcorder for storm chasing on a budget?

Question

Need: Mini DV with lowlight capabilities, infinity focus, and image stabalization for $300 or less.

I am interested in purchasing a mini DV camcorder to use during storm chasing. The most important features I would need are low-light capabilities (not using a spotlight, just low light with no possibility of making it better), image stabalization, and an infinity focus. Since I'm in college, I'm poor and hoping to find something that's about $300 or less. Most storm chasing cameras are around $1000, I'm not ready for that yet. Do any camcorders fit this description?

Answer 1

This website might help:

http://panasonic.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=35266

However, dont buy any of the analog formats and try to stick with miniDV, as this will save you a lot of headaches later. Most cams in this price range are very similar, so picking one over another probably isnt going to make that much of a difference. If possible, get a cam with optical image stabilizer, although it might be out of your price range. As for infinity focus, every single camera every created has it, and low light, once you turn the low light function on, there will probably be lots of motion blur and noise. You can get better low light without blur, but then you would need larger chips, and they cost more. If you dont mind using used equipment, look on ebay. I recently bought a canon gl2 for $1500, which is $1200 off its MSRP of $2700, although the gl2 did come out 4 years ago, but its still a nice camera. You might be able to find a camera that came out last year for maybe $100-300 off its original price. This way, you can get a $300 camera a lot cheaper, or you could get a more expensive camera for $300. You might be able to get a pv-gs250 for $300, which offers optical stablization, 3ccds, manual controls, and pretty good low light for a consumer cam. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Okay, i would suggest u to check out the Canon Elura series frm last year, they have a pretty good chip at 1/4.5.
Basically, u can search for this urself but u need to know the factors that make a camcorder suits u and ur needs.
U need a cheap camcorder with a larger CCD size. Larger CCD size means it captures light more efficiently, resulting a more bright image overall and less noise in low-light situation.
Sony, Canon and Panasonic, they have a range of entry-level camcorders that r affordable yet good enuff.
Normally, cams at this range have a decent CCD at 1/6 size. This is normal, but look for a largersize, for example, 1/5, 1/4 or higher.
As for focus, normally low-end camcorders have bigger optical zoom range. U can expect a standard 20x. Get a zoom adapter

Good luck in your search, try to look for last years' models with larger CCD size. Can also try a used cam. U may also need a wide angle adapter for a wider field of view.

Answer 3

Mini DV is a thank you to pass. the different procedures of recording which incorporate DVD or no longer ordinary drives compress the video so which you directly lose video high quality. additionally in the adventure that your no longer ordinary force on your workstation crashed and you didnt make a back up all your video is long gone. a minimum of on a tape you have a reproduction that doesn't degrade over the years.