Video camera for every day use?

Question

I need a video camera that isn't too big, or too small. I don't want the crappy point and shoot thing, i want something that has a light for filming at night. I just need something to film every day stupid stuff and hanging out with friends, it needs to be something i can carry around without it being VERY noticable.

Answer 1

JVC's are good...they have good features and are a reasonable size.

Answer 2

take into account the recommendations above & take a look at the reviews:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ratings.php

Answer 3

sorry for the lengthy reply but there are a few things to talk about in this -

there are a couple of considerations when looking at cameras.

first, look at budget and then work out the best you can get for the money spent. try to steer clear of second hand units as they are usually more trouble than they're worth.

second, decide on a format to suit your style. most people are getting Hard drive cameras without thinking of the implications of the design. i will keep using mini dv tape myself until the bitter end as i think they are still the best format for low budget film making. you can use them in many HD cameras and will offer better archival storage and far superior image quality compared to DVD and HDD.

stick with mini dv - you can't miss. (btw mini dv only comes in 2 sizes - 60 min or 80 mins - it's true that you can set cam to shoot Long play and get 90 mins + on a tape but it's not worth it - always shoot SP)

on the subject of storage, i would seriously recommend getting an esata internal drive or a separate fire wire linked external drive (assuming ou have at least 2 fire wire ports)

the general rule of thumb is that 1 hour of DV/HDV will use around 12 to 15 gb of hard drive space. most people shoot a ratio of 10:1 as well. this means that for every minute of useful video you may have 10 mins of c**p. look at your shots carefully before you import and only start and finish importing the parts if you are concerned about space.

third - what sort of shooting are you looking to do? indoor studio? or outdoor sporting events etc. many cameras are good for one but might be lacking for the other. try to find something that suits your needs and work out features you may find useful. eg - night vision sounds great but it's highly unlikely that you'll use it regularly. but if you found something with decent mic inputs and separate sound controls you may find that FAR more useful.

consider you applications, decide your format and look at how much you want to spend. make a short list then try them out.

Answer 4

You may want to look around on the internet or in the electronic stores. I honestly do not own a Video Camera so I don't know what to recomend.

Answer 5

The question is how much are you willing to spend on a video camera?  In this day and age You get what you pay for.  Do you want to go HD which will be the norm soon on all TV's.  Some cameras has night vision and can give very good pictures in very low or no light.  Buying a camera is like buying a car. There are lots of them out there.   For me I would get a palmcorder and one that uses a memory card that you can take out and plug it into a player or computer.  Best you talk to a sales person and tell him your needs then go on the internet and compare prices.  Good luck.