Which HD Camcorder to Buy

[Scott]

Looking for some advice on which camcorder to buy. I'm looking for an HD camcorder with 1080p resolution & internal HDD.

 

I have noticed a large difference in prices and also a fairly large difference in megapixles, often not to the ratio of the cost. Some of them advertise 10megapixles, some advertise only having 2. I'm guessing that the larger number isn't always better? They all have different size sensors, i'm unsure of the difference this all makes.

 

My budget is around the £500 mark. This one is a bit over that but it seems to tick all the boxes. Does the 3 CMOS sensor's make a big difference? I don't want to buy a camcorder with gimmicks, i'm looking for the best clarity & picture without bells and whistles.

 

I have had Panasonic in the past as well as JVC and Sony. The Panasonic was leagues ahead so that is what i have started off with.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-HDC-SD200-Definition-Memory-Camcorder/dp/tech-data/B001QXDLKQ/ref=de_a_smtd

 

Thanks

[Tricky-Ricky]

Although over a year out of date now, i bought a Sony HDR SR10, didn't like the equivalent Panasonic or Canon, but i know there are new models out now so personally i would be looking at Sony, mine does everything i ask of it including in car stuff without any problems, but i have always liked Sony stuff.

[MarkR]

I found this really useful. A very thorough test on all of them.

 

http://www.trustedreviews.com/filter/camcorders?price_min=nmin&price_max=nmax&score=2&section_id=20&filter=0&manufacturer=0&submit.x=16&submit.y=11

[MarkR]

On an aside, the new cameras that use built in flash memory with the option of adding additional flash cards are better than hard drive cameras. They're lighter, quicker and also less prone to damage due to no moving parts.

[johnny g]

I like Sony

http://www.trustedreviews.com/camcorders/review/2009/05/30/Sony-Handycam-HDR-CX105E/p1

 

8Gb for £25 isn't bad either, that works out at around an hour. Nearly all card readers take the Sony ProDuo memory too.

[pistonbroke]

What sort of record times do you get when recording at full HD.? I need a camera too, but need the capability of huge on board storage. For example, the 2007 Santa pod video in the vid section is 10 minutes long, but pre editted however, there was over 4 hours of footage.

 

I'd like to get a decent HD camera, my current JVC HDD one is crappy. It was no problem before as youtube was lo def crap, they're now hosting full HD stuff though, so would like to take advantage of it before my next video.

[Scott]

What sort of record times do you get when recording at full HD.? I need a camera too, but need the capability of huge on board storage. For example, the 2007 Santa pod video in the vid section is 10 minutes long, but pre editted however, there was over 4 hours of footage.

 

I'd like to get a decent HD camera, my current JVC HDD one is crappy. It was no problem before as youtube was lo def crap, they're now hosting full HD stuff though, so would like to take advantage of it before my next video.

 

I've not really found much info on the battery life but the storage of the HDD is silly long. If you use the cards then you can change them out at will. I think it works out approx 2gb/hour.

 

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I really don't like sony camcorders, although its been a while since i looked so i might give them another shot. I've been reading up on this 3mos system and it seems the way forward. My previous camera was a panasonic with 3CCD and it was far superior to anything in the same price bracket.

 

I guess i should get off my arse and sample the equipment first hand rather than browsing the net for answers lol.

[johnny g]

Get yourself in to a Camera / Electrical shop and get checking

[Scott]

Yeah i think i'll do just that

 

I just checked the info on the HDD model. 7.5hrs at full quality, 23 hours at lower quality.

 

2gb/hr is dvd quality, not HD. As you can see HD makes a massive difference.

[DaveK]

Be careful of Sony.

 

A friend of mine bought a camcorder a few months ago, and went for a Sony one. However, she records a lot of gigs and quickly found the Sony was showing a blue screen and "buffer full" message and she'd get breaks in her recording.

 

Searching online shows this to be a common problem with Sony HDD camcorders when in loud environments. The vibration stops it writing to the HDD, and it's internal buffer overflows. You can get round it - by recording to memory stick - but that rather defeats the object of buying a HDD camcorder.

 

So beware. It really depends on how you want to use it - but not everybody complaining about it online was recording gig-style volumes. Some were complaining about it happening at things like weddings, when the crowd was a bit noisy.