What's the best DV Camcorder?

[MPSmith]

I'd appreciate anyone's thought on the subject. I've always been a Sony fan and have been looking at the Sony DVD-405. I'd like something along those lines, as far as price and features go.

Thanks!

[Menneisyys]

I'd appreciate anyone's thought on the subject. I've always been a Sony fan and have been looking at the Sony DVD-405. I'd like something along those lines, as far as price and features go.

Thanks!

Well, I'd go for a HD camera instead of anything low-definition - Sony's HDR-HC1. It's about 2-3 times more expensive than LD cameras - while delivering true High Definition stuff. I'm pretty sure my next camcorder (I'm a serious camcorder user but can't afford $3000+ cameras) will be the HDR-HC1.

You may want to see http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HCR-HC1-Review.htm for more info.

[MPSmith]

Holy cow! This should be my next camera!!! Unfortunately, the best price I could find on line was about 1200 beans. That is likely a bit over my budget.

The lure of a true High Definition camcorder might be too much to resist. I doubt I'll find one much better for the price.

Thanks for the find!

[MPSmith]

I've been doing some research and found the HDR-HC3. Any improvement of the HC1?

My personal brief thoughts are: its smaller, more geared towards consumers, has slightly fewer features and cheaper.

What do you think?

[Menneisyys]

I've been doing some research and found the HDR-HC3. Any improvement of the HC1?

My personal brief thoughts are: its smaller, more geared towards consumers, has slightly fewer features and cheaper.

What do you think?

It's seems it's only available in Japan as yet (as was in March - see http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/27/sonys-hdr-hc3-hd-camcorder-leaked/ ). There seem to be no real-world, hardcore tests of it as yet. Size/price-wise (it's not bigger than most consumer DV cameras out there), it seems to be better than the HC1.

Hope we'll see some tests of it too so that we can be absoltely sure it doesn't have awful image quality.

[MPSmith]

It might be available now; I'm seeing it at a number of good on line stores. I found this zdnet review. I don't like zdnet, but its better than nothing...

http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Sony_Handycam_HDR_HC3/4514-6500_16-31749257.html

[Menneisyys]

Looks cool; I think I'll wait for a more decent review (for example, that of camcorderinfo.com ) before deciding.

I hope it had surround sound (some Sony consumer camcorder models already know that) though.

[Menneisyys]

Looks cool; I think I'll wait for a more decent review (for example, that of camcorderinfo.com ) before deciding.

I hope it had surround sound (some Sony consumer camcorder models already know that) though.

Hmmm... "You can use the proprietary hotshoe to connect a Sony-brand microphone" - that is, even a surround mike? That'd be great. I'd prefer it to be built-in though for more robustness.

[MPSmith]

Looks cool; I think I'll wait for a more decent review (for example, that of camcorderinfo.com ) before deciding.

I hope it had surround sound (some Sony consumer camcorder models already know that) though.

Looks like they DID review it: http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HDR-HC3-Camcorder-Review.htm

Looks very nice and what a thorough review!!! I'd be interested to know your thoughts in comparison to the HC1.

[Menneisyys]

Looks cool; I think I'll wait for a more decent review (for example, that of camcorderinfo.com ) before deciding.

I hope it had surround sound (some Sony consumer camcorder models already know that) though.

Looks like they DID review it: http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sony-HDR-HC3-Camcorder-Review.htm

Looks very nice and what a thorough review!!! I'd be interested to know your thoughts in comparison to the HC1.

Not bad! And it lists some brand new, sub-$1000 HD cameras too. I think I'm off to checking them out :)

[MPSmith]

I checked out all those other cameras and decided to order the HC3. I got it from Newegg with a camera case for $1,213 shipped.

I'll let you know what I think of it. Thanks again for the help.

Mike 0X

[MPSmith]

Does anyone know of a good digital video forum? So far, I've checked out:
AfterDawn.com (pretty much dead)
Camcorderinfo.com (ok site for forums, great for reviews)
Reviewcentre.com (just ok)
DVspot.com (ditto)
Videomaker.com (ok too)

Thanks

[CTSLICK]

how about PPCThoughts sister site?

DigitalMediaThoughts (http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/index.php)

[MPSmith]

how about PPCThoughts sister site?

DigitalMediaThoughts (http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/index.php)

Sure, its ok too.

Jason Dunn said it best in one thread there, "There really aren't that many sites on this topic...I think maybe because it's harder for most people to be passionately interested in video cameras"

http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10163