video cameras

[Wyattboche]

I'm looking to get a decent video camera. What would you suggest I should get? Never had one before so would be my first video camera. Will use it for everything from dunes to family outings.

[Doug Heim]

Sony Handy Cam with a hard drive built in. I have one and it is awesome. 30 gig I think mine is.

They are going for like $450

[komelika]

Definitely get one with the built in hard drive. I bought a cam two years ago that records on the mini-dvds and has the option for the memory stick. IT SUCKS! I can't upload from the DVDs and the memory stick is so pixelated you can't even stand to watch the video. Huge waste of money. Should have researched it before I bought.

Doug, how much do you have invested in your setup, including editing SW?

[Doug Heim]

Editing software is Pinnacle at $100

[Boostinjdm]

I've been eyeballin the sonys at wally world for a while now.  They got 'em on clearance now for $269 and $349 I think.  I can't really justify having one right now, but if it snows again soon I might just pick up enough cash to go get one.

[Boostinjdm]

I think this was the more expensive of the two.  I think the other one was only like 30GB, but it said something like 29hrs of recording.  Who actually  keeps that much video on thier camera?  I tranfer mine to the comp after about 15 min.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-Handycam-Dcr-Sr47-Blue/10965634

[Baloo]

hi

l had a look around before l bought mine and settled on the panasonic SDR-SW21   http://www.trustedreviews.com/camcorders/review/2009/03/14/Panasonic-SDR-SW21-Rugged-Camcorder/p1

found it to be great little camera, it's small enough to fit in your top pocket, produced good clear video, easy to use but the bit that conviced me was that its a "sports" camera and as such has no moving parts inside, no disk drive, tape, hard drive etc so its ideal for bolting on the front of a buggy and thrashing with out fear of damaging it or producing an poor vid due to viberation etc,  its also water proof to 6 feet under  so those river crossings wont hurt it either, l just scrape the mud off and wash it under the tap 
here's one l shot 2 days ago
 

[odypilots]

I've never had one with a hard drive, and they are fine camcorders. The one downside to them, I hear, is the hard drive is subject to vibration, so it may not be suitable for on board video.

[fabr]

I've never had one with a hard drive, and they are fine camcorders. The one downside to them, I hear, is the hard drive is subject to vibration, so it may not be suitable for on board video.

BINGO!!! I'll NEVER have an onboard cam with hard drive ever again. Hard drives are great otherwise.

[Doug Heim]

Thats why a good onboard uses anSD card. No hard drive or disc / tape.

[fabr]

Additionally I'll never take a good camcorder to the sand again either. So far I've had 2 really good ones killed by the blowing sand.