Buying HD Camcorder - help!

Troezar

Troezar

Troezar

Soldato
Joined
6 Aug 2009
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I'm pretty well up on PC tech these days but I have no idea on camcorders. My parents are buying us a camera as we're off to get married abroad soon. The budget is up to £500 but less is better to allow some room for buying any extra bits and pieces.

Any specific or general advice on buying one, features, good to haves etc.? Really needed for general use but I'd like to get the best I can for the money. Any suggestions where to start would be greatly appreciated:)
 
3ccd is for that budget anything panasonic sony canon brand name really..

you can get really good ones today for £200 even but it thats your preferred budget go 3ccd
 
Congratulations!

startrek2 said:
you can get really good ones today for £200...
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No you can't. Pay £200 and you will get a POS PnS that will disappoint as soon as the light becomes slightly sub-optimal.

The Panasonic 3MOS approach is now a viable alternative to Canon's single CMOS - last year it was rubbish, but they've worked magic with it in their new hardware.

For £500, just go on to Amazon and look in that price range for anything by Canon or Panasonic as theirs are the best in terms of output. Panasonic are more user-friendly, Canon allow for more tweaking of settings (at equivalent price).

For £500, you won't get a bad camera, regardless of the model you buy (assuming it is a current model).
 
I've been looking around and for £405 I have found the Panasonic SD600 which looks pretty good for the price. Throw in a few 16GB SDHC Class10 cards at approx £22 I think it should do the job.

Anyone got any thoughts on this or alternative models?
 
Looks like a good one - probably the best in the price range assuming you don't want to go any over £500.

To be fair to SD cards, however, the only time you'll ever notice higher transfer rates with them is when downloading the videos to your computer, and the output from these new cameras is so high, that you're going to be there a while, anyway.

Good choice, however.
 
Just an update, in the end I went for a Panasonic SD600, 1xSandisk 16GB 20MB/s SDHC and 2x8GB same type (bought with £30 promotion gift cert that came with the camcorder purchase). Plus a Tamrac Aero 94 for £15.

Initial impression of the camera is easy to use and the reproduction is excellent. Very pleased for the money :)
 
That's a good price, with the £30 mine came in about £11 more but very pleased with it. Amazed how big HD files can get after a few mins recording at the highest setting!
 
Troezar said:
That's a good price, with the £30 mine came in about £11 more but very pleased with it. Amazed how big HD files can get after a few mins recording at the highest setting!
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LOL yeah just a bit! Worth it though. Looks incredibly crisp. The wife is well chuffed with it and the price was instore too because they priced it up wrong lol.

RoEy
 
RoEy said:
LOL yeah just a bit! Worth it though. Looks incredibly crisp. The wife is well chuffed with it and the price was instore too because they priced it up wrong lol.

RoEy
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It's funny how the other halves can actually get enthusiastic about camera gear that enshrines their favourite memories in great detail.

Good buy!
 
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