Great analog camcorder?

Question

Does anyone know of an old camcorder that would be fun to use? i love photography and i think it would be fun to try home movies and documentaries. i would like an analog camcorder for less than 100$ dollars. is there an older model that has a tape that can be recorded can be put in a VHS and watched on the TV?

Answer 1

The consumer analog camcorders were not great. The SP resolution is only 240 lines for VHS, video8 and Betamax, compared to miniDV which is normally considered to be 550 lines or D1 equivalent. The VHS VCR is also a relic from an earlier time, designed to look good on a 13 inch color CRT. Playback on a new LCD widescreen TV will look crappy at best.

Great analog camcorders only came is two varieties, BetacamSP and MII. It it much to hard to find tape (the size of VHS-C) for MII, but BetacamSP is still a viable format.  However a used BetacamSP rig will run about $2000 in used but working condition.  The camcorder does not play tape back, you will need to spend another $500 - $1000 for a Betacam player (used), but it will make broadcast grade pictures.

Big Lots has sold JVC miniDV camera sets for under $300, and retailers often run specials like this. When it comes time to show off your home movies to your friends, they will appreciate not having to watch VHS grade pictures.

Answer 2

I use a Sony Handycam VISION HI8 CCD TRV58  and it is great but just adding them to the computer is a little tough. Ebay, I see older models for under $100  http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll... . If you want to hook them up to the computer and burn them to a disk, then you will need a capture device (capture card) which can range from $20-$500.

If you want a newer format for under $200 (some are under $100) then visit here http://www.squidoo.com/CamcordersUnder20... .

Hope this helps!