I want to start making documentaries, what are the best cameras under $400, and which is best dvd or mini dvd?

Question

I want to start making documentaries, what are the best cameras under $400, and which is best dvd or mini dvd?

Answer 1

Any kind of Sony is really good. I would suggest you spend atleast $600 to get the best features and specs on the camera. I would also suggest you get netiher of the DVD's but get the Hard Drive Camera that holds atleast 60 Gigabytes. It is also easier to delete the scenes you don't like and easier to import. You can also hold a lot of memory so you can import once you are done filming

Answer 2

You mean Mini-DV, as in digital tape.

If you're looking for quality, the Mini-DV format offers better quality and easier editing than DVD, Hard Drive, or Flash Memory camcorders currently. At least potentially... this was originally a professional format.

Now, for under $400, you are not going to find the best Mini-DV camcorder (or any format), but you might find something decent.

Non-tape formats use MPEG compression, which is lower quality than DV. As a plus, they do offer fast transfers to your PC.

My main problem with DVD is recording time... you get about 20 minutes at top quality per DVD, versus up to two hours on a DV tape. I don't like HDD because the drives are relatively fragile, but also, if your drive fills up, you're out of luck -- you need to go unload to your PC (and you need some place to back up dozens of gigabytes worth of video). You can also keep extra tapes around, or buy them at Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, etc. HDD models are also more expensive than tape or DVD.

With that said, in 2007, DVD was the most popular consumer format, followed by DV, but HDD was a very close third.

As far as models go, the DV camcorders under $400 are generally pretty basic... most advanced users have moved on to high-def formats. I can recommend the Panasonic PV-GS320. This offers three CCDs, like professional DV models, rather than the single chip. The consumer Pannys aren't great in low light, but in sunlight they're among the best cheap standard-def models.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/47...

One lower cost camera I like is the Canon FS-11.. this is MPEG based, and it records on SD Flash cards (16GB internal memory), but it has a fair set of advanced features for a low-cost camcorder, such as microphone input (you will eventually want an external mic... sound is the weakest thing on cheap camcorders).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/53...

Another option, if you like the idea of an HDD camcorder, is the JVC GZ-MG330 or MG335. This does record on HDD (JVC is the leader in this kind of camcorder), but it can also record on SD cards... so you have some option if you fill up the HDD while shooting. This is a 30GB model... most HDD models are a bit more expensive.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/53...

Another option is to buy a slighly older model being liquidated, or a used model. Both of those are a bit harder to do if you're not an expert on camcorders, though.