Where can I find a good camcorder for legal concert video taping?

Question

I am looking for a video camera that can have good sound at loud concerts and preferably a jack for a microphone and is at a reasonable price ($500 or below).

Answer 1

The Sony DCR-HC96 *might* work. The problem on audio for most camcorders is the low-end does not have manual audio control so the loud band noise makes the audio muddy. The HC96 has a menu selection for "Normal" or "Low" - in "Low" mode, the auto audio leveling circuit can handle loud noises a lot better than "normal". You can use Sony mics in the proprietary "active interface" shoe, or you can get http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/47... and use pretty much any mic. B&H is the only place that carries this adapter.

The best way is to use manual audio control either internally (the only consumer camcorders I can find that have full manual audio control are the Canon HV20, HV30 and Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9... and they are more than you want to spend). The other option is to get a Canon ZR800 AND a BeachTek DXA-6vu... and you need to use XLR mics with that XLR adapter...

And since miniDV tape provide the best available video quality... you should be good to go.

Answer 2

you are not going to find a (new) decent sounding video camera with great enough audio for 500 or under, unless you'd buy a used one off of ebay.

I know for a fact that the sony PC-100 has incredibly excellent audio for a minidv cam. It's a sony, and several generations old (Like a 1999 or 2001 model) but it rocks. You may find one of these on ebay for under $500 if you're lucky.

Happy hunting.