Which HD camcorder should I buy?

Question

I need a high definition camcorder with a long recording time and battery life in under 600 USD.

This would mainly be used for travelling purpose. I'm assuming NTSC/PAL would not be an issue.

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Try this -- Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer

review : http://www.shopping.edailyshop.com/Photo...

Great hd camcoder

Answer 2

There are a lot of cameras available that can do this in that price range.  The batteries that come with the camcorder will normally last no more than 2-4 hours, so you will want to spend no more than $500 on your camcorder which will leave more than enough to get up to 2 extra high capacity batteries and a portable charger (if you do not want to charge the batteries in your camcorder).

The only question will be what recording media you want to use.  There are 4 types:

1. MiniDV and HDV tape provide the best quality for recording and storage, but most tapes do not last more than 60-80 minutes.

  

2. MiniDVDs can be played in most DVD players immediately after recording, but they need to be changed every 20-30 minutes.

3. Flash Memory and 4. Hard Disc Drive (HDD) camcorders can record for several hours without the need to change media or dump the recorded files to a computer.  With the use of a high capacity battery and a CMOS imaging system, the maximum length of recording on Flash and HDD cameras can exceed more than 4 hours depending on your equipment.  The only problem is that if you fill up one of these cameras and don't have more memory cards or can't copy the files to a computer, video files will need to be deleted before more recording may continue.

Answer 3

If you want some general information on choosing a HD Camcorder take a look at the article “Choosing A Camcorder” at http://www.ClickDigitalProducts.com/arti... it indicates the benefits and disadvantages of the different types of camcorders and the current  Best Buys for the different Camcorder types.

You can also register for a free copy of VideoMaker magazine from this same web page which you might also find useful.