OK folks - I'm back - usually I only post on football websites so it's unusual to be so interested in J's favorite site.
I have done HEAPS of research on camcorders. I would say
- only buy mivi dv camcoders. Digital 8 refers to bigger sized tapes - generally older models. Not many are made in digital 8 format anymore ans the tapes will get harder to get hold of.
To explain a few terms - AV = analogue video. DV= digital video.
You get cameras that you can use to hook up to a computer to edit your videos and add music, effects and things. You can then watch this on your computer or burn it to a cd or dvd (burning to a dvd requires a dvd burner (£50 and some fairly cheap software.) These need to have DV /out - ie you can take digital video out of them into your PC. TO watch it on your TV straight off your camcorder you need AV/out.
You want a camera that has a good lens - sony or newer panasonic ones. Most camcorders have one chip which processes the picture - some expensive ones have 3 chips - these are called 3CCD. You used to have to spend about £900 to get a 3ccd camcorder and these produced "broadcast quality" video pictures. Panasonic have introuced a much cheaper 3ccd one which you could get for around £500 - I think I mentioned the name of it in my earlier post. This would be perfect except the image stabilisers (which stop the camera-shake looking so bad) aren't very good and the lens isn't as good as a sony.
Most new lenses are 1/6th of an inch in size (small) and the small "very handy" (or fidelly) ones are even as small as 1/8th of an inch in size (too small I think) My one is a bit bigger and has a 1/4 inch lens. This means that it lets in more light and therefore performs much better in low light conditions. A lot of camcorders talk about low light and nightlight settings - these are not great - they allow you to see and record things in the dark - but what you get looks like a CCTV image - not nice to watch. You are far more likely to be shooting in a dimly lit room than in total darkness - so it's more important for a camera to perform well in low light than to have special "night vision" settings.
You also need to know what you want it for. I mainly use the camera for baby stuff around the house and wee projects for my work. If I were to take the camcorder on holiday a lot I might be looking for something smaller - which J could put in her handbag. But in my opinion it's not worth having a comcorder if it's very difficult to operate because it's to small and has a small lens so it's not much good in low light.
I like camcorders which let you control the focus or light level if you want - therefore I like the option of maunual focus of manual exposure. On a slightly larger camcorder (like mine) these can be laid out in a way which is easy to use without stoping and looking onto the side of the camera. The smaller ones tend to be far more difficult to find the controls and still hold the camera still.
If you can afford it buy a sony or the new panasonic 3ccd range.
If you can't - try and get a 2nd hand sony - like my one. Jessops have a website which is worth a try - but you need to know the model and phone individual stores to ask for prices. If you have no clue - phone a Jessops store and ask to be put through to their used department - tell them your budget and ask them for the best used sony camcorder in your budget - they will deliver to you as well.
The model numbers are a hastle - but it does mean you can copy it into google and quickly read reviews and see pictures of each camcorder - which is how people like me can get so many opinions.
A few links
The panasonic 3ccd one - under £500!
http:/www.digitaldirectuk.comproducts_moreinfo3/index.asp?product_id=4184
A good sony one - a nice big good quality one - also explains why sony's are so good.
http:/www.unbeatable.comproductscamcordersSonyDigitalssonydcrhc85.asp
A uk price for that one - £608 at the sight below.
http:/www.pricerunner.co.uksound-and-visionvisioncamcorders197829prices
A small sony handbag one - £374
http:/www.pricerunner.co.uksound-and-visionvisioncamcorders193164prices
Mine - a 2 year old equivilent of that £608 sony. I plan to sell it on ebay for £300 but if one of you emails me I will do it for £275.
The prices above are the best online prices I could find - high street prices would be at least £50 more.
Hope this helps. I will be delighted to talk to anyone on the phone or through email. It's good if any of my research can help others as well as me.
Hope your babies are all asleep and bringing you loads of happiness. Hi to all J's friends who are probably laughing at me for finding another place to bore people about camcorders.
God Bless,
Mark