Any Digital Video Cam Recommendations?

ScottW

ScottW

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Staff member
Since early 2000, I have been a proud owner of a Canon GL1. And as proud as I was of the color richness and quality of the videos, I rarely used it. Even though I have a daughter, I couldn't seem to get myself to pull out this massive peice of equipment to video tape anyone, so I sold it.

Now I am on a mission to find a lower-cost (less than $1k) camera that is small, but still takes great pictures. I know I wont get as good as my GL1, and that is fine. Taking "sub-par" video is better than no video at all, in my opinion.

I had been looking at the new Canon ZRX65/70 models, and seem to hold well in your hand, look easy to use. But, a recent view of a 65 on dvspot.com seems to talk about motor noise and less than rich colors.

I'd like to get some feedback on what people have used, what they liked or didn't like.

Thanks,

Scott
 
I LOVE my Sony TRV18. The picture quality is great, has the nice Carl Zeiss optics, etc. The only complaints are really hearing the motor noice when it's completely silent. But to be honest, I've yet to see a miniDV camera thats in a compact form not have this problem. I got mine a couple months ago for around $500 ($700 retail) after rebates, it's now a discontinued model (all the new Sony's just came out in the last couple weeks) so you can probably find a pretty good price on it.

Brian
 
I have a Canon ZR 40. $384. I have noticed no motor noise, but I've done most of my filming outside. Very small, easy to use, big buttons, great screen, well put together. I highly recommend it for a low cost but high quality DV camera.

I have read that if you get a small microphone, hook it to the shoe, you get not only better sound quality but you eliminate all machine noise. I've seen this recommended a couple of times. It would add to the hassle and the cost, but like btonelli said, for a small camera, you're probably not going to find one that is noise free.
 
yeah i likeusing the cannon ZR series cameras. small but easy and useful

and the only sounds that you hear is loading the slot where you load the DV film (don't know what to call those)
 
You will want as much manual control as possible - focus, white balance and exposure. Forget about all the on board effects - this is what computers and editing software are for! MPEG and still pic ability are not something I really use on my camera - may just be me though.

Find one that feels nice and that you can control the zoom easily and smoothly.

I have a Sony TRV-27 and I love it, but there are plenty of good cameras out there.
 
I helped run a small video program in a local HS and we had both Sony's and canons. the Canons were great when it came to size but the picture quality was not all that great. the sonys were great it had excellent picture quality and color. I would recommend a sony camera. the only thing is that the both were kind of noisy but hey what do you expect for under a G.
 
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