Topic: looking for a digital video camera

[tapernateva]

i am looking for a decent quality digital cam not hd for around 500 bucks can the ts community help?!?
thanks
nate
ps will be using this mainly for video of the family and maybe a show here and there

[stevetoney]

i am looking for a decent quality digital cam not hd for around 500 bucks can the ts community help?!?
thanks
nate
ps will be using this mainly for video of the family and maybe a show here and there

I started by buying a new Canon ZR500 and I guess it worked fine the picture quality was also reasonable...it cost $300 and did a reasonable job for me.  Then I saw the picture quality from a Sony DCR-PC100 and was astounded at how much better the Zeiss optics are.  This camera pushed $2000 when it came out in 1999 or so.  Now it's common to find it on ebay for between $300 and $400.  The image quality resulting from this camera is simply outstanding.  While the camera might not be new, I personally would buy this camera ten times over again before buying something that's new and the same price.  Sure, the new camera might have more bells and whistles, but where the rubber meets the road, I put the Sony up against anything for $400 and in fact I'd bet that it outperforms the others hands down for image quality.  Having said this, these are my only two points of reference, so I can't comment on other camera models.

EDIT:  I forgot to mention an important feature of the Sony camera.  Even though the optical zoom on this camera is only 10X whereas lots of digital cameras have higher zoom ratios, the digital zoom on the Sony is outstanding and you can REALLY zoom in on objects without sacrificing image quality.  On most digital cameras (either still or video), the optical zoom is the only acceptable zoom because as soon as you zoom into the digital zoom zone, the image quality immediately starts degrading.  This is not so for the Sony...although there is some point in the image magnification up the the 100x digital zoom range where of course the image quality pixelates.
Steve

[mikesalvo]

this is most likely out of your price range, but I have a Panasonic AG-DVX100B for sale. its the oine w/ the 2 channel XLR ins. It's got about 25 hours only on the heads. Its mint. Bought it awhile back for some projects, not its just not being used. Its been kept in a hard case in a safe place for about 6 months.

lemme know if you may be interested. Im looking to get rid of it w. a tripod, 3 filters, 1 - 8 hour battery, lots of high quality gells, filter, diffusions, etc...and Ill throw in a fresh 10 pack of mini-dv tapes. Im looking to get $3,000 for the package.

lemme know if anyones interested...

[beefstew]

i am looking for a decent quality digital cam not hd for around 500 bucks can the ts community help?!?
thanks
nate
ps will be using this mainly for video of the family and maybe a show here and there

I started by buying a new Canon ZR500...

thats what i currently use and i love it

its small [great for stealth], mic in, great lowlight - when i got it back in december it was $199 at Sears

[Brennan]

Sorry guys, OT.. but how exactly do you stealth a video camera? I did it once, but that's cause security were complete idiots and didn't check mom's jacket LOL

[BayTaynt3d]

Sorry guys, OT.. but how exactly do you stealth a video camera? I did it once, but that's cause security were complete idiots and didn't check mom's jacket LOL

Jedi mind tricks of course.

[joekar]

" You must FEEL the FORCE "


 
jk

[Brennan]

Sorry guys, OT.. but how exactly do you stealth a video camera? I did it once, but that's cause security were complete idiots and didn't check mom's jacket LOL

Jedi mind tricks of course.

I'm cool with learning some, care to elaborate?