What is good family cam corder for me to buy?

Question

I want this video camera to record birthdays, my daughters first steps, and stuff like that. It's not for professional use or anything. But I still want it to have good picture quality. Also, an affordable price too. Does anyone have a good video camera for family use that they can recommend?

Answer 1

Here's a good camcorder buying guide to get up to speed on what important features to look for:

http://www.easycamcorders.com/content/Be...

and here's a list of the top camcorders for 2007 by price range:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Cam...

and finally, here are some articles & tips for most family situations:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/d/Columns&l...

Answer 2

Best video quality continues to be captured with miniDV tape based camcorder. The digital video stored on miniDV tape can also be a good archive for long-term storage if the tape is kept in a cool, dry place.

What is your budget? Consumer MiniDV camcorders range from about US$250 up to US$3,500... standard definition to high definition...

Low-end: Canon ZR800.

Something in the middle... Sony DCR-HC96 or Panasonic PV-GS320.

High - and into high definition: Canon HV20 and HV30; Sony HDR-HC7, HC9

REAL high end: Sony HDR-FX1, FX7, HVR-Z1U, V1U; Canon XL2, GL2, XHA1; Panasonic DVX100B, HDX200