Can someone help me find the right camcorder?

Question

i dont know if i should get hard drive, dvd, or minidv but i defienently need it to have firewire; usb is optional. im going to be doing some serious video taping and editing

Answer 1

I'd go with the Sony DCR-DVD108 MiniDV, If you want it I saw it on sale at the Ritz Camera site, they also got some promos at http://www.prioritycodes.com/Electronics/RitzCamera.com-Priority-Codes/index.html for a discount

Answer 2

I strongly recommend you get one that records to DVD. That way, you can just take the DVD out and play it in your DVD player or computer. If you get one with a tape, like mini-DV, not only do you have to spend a lot of time transferring it to some other format, but you can only go slowly from any one point on the tape forwards or backwards to another point. With a DVD, it is random access to anything instantly. If you get one that records directly to memory/hard drive, the image quality will be bad so that they can use as little memory as possible.

Answer 3

Well you're always going to get the best quality on Sony's camcorders and the safest way to go that I find is mini dv, DVD and hard drives are just to risky one malfunction or scratch and that's it. As far as models go get the DCR-HC28 or 38, neither of which come with USB cables so your only other choice would be firewire which is cheaper than USB and easier to find.

Answer 4

Only Mini-DV (tape) has FireWire.

Hard DRive is mostly USB and saves in MPEG2 format not AVI.

DVD has no connections except AV and saves in VOB format which requires special deocding software.