Topic: Looking to start shooting video, where do I start?

[Phil Zone]

Ok so is like to jump into the world of video recording. I'd like to keep the budget really really low, being under $200. I don't really want or need 1080, nor do I have the hard drive space. So all I'd love it a cheap video camera that's got a good zoom and hopefully the battery life to run a whole show, so at least 5 hrs I guess, and I don't mind battery changes between sets but I have no intrest in mid set battery swaps. I'm not looking for overly professional video quiet yet. Are there any cameras that can do this?

One other thing is it would be nice if the audio was good and maybe had an external mic plug and I can patch out of my recorder when using it, but not necessary i can always match up the audio later on.

Thank you

Ps if anyone has a old camera they would sell in that price range let me know please!

[willndmb]

Canons are the only ones I know of in that price range with mic ins
My bud has a zr800 or something like that he might sell. He was asking me about it a few weeks back
Has like four batteries, charger,  16:9 sd minidv
I had one before and it does pretty good job
Lmk if you are interested and ill find out the deal
I don't think any camera will get you close to 5 hr on one battery, maybe 2.5

Spoke to my bud, pm sent

[yousef]

A secondhand Sanyo Xacti HD1000 or HD2000 might come in just over your budget and would meet your spec alongside excellent picture quality.

The little Panasonic Lumix point & shoots have very acceptable video too - the ZS3 and its many successors.

I think five hours battery life is pushing it a bit for video btw.

[2manyrocks]

Extended battery packs on my Canons will run about 1 1/2 hours.  I think Canon has a proprietary external battery cable.  Never really tried to run an external battery. 

[holbrookjustin]

I have a Canon HV20 that I'm probably going to be selling. Not sure how much I'll be listing it for quite yet. It comes with a Jag35 DOF 35mm adapter (which aren't made anymore), a manual focus ring, AC power adapter, leather bag. Not sure about battery life as I haven't used it in a few years. Let me know if this is something that interests you. Again, not sure quite yet how much to sell it for, but I'll figure it out.