I’ve got a basic Sony miniDV camcorder that I’m looking to replace with something smaller and very user friendly. I’d like to keep at least a similar level of image quality and zoom ability.

From £100, you seem to get the “FLIP†type cameras which seem very easy to use but I’m not sure what image quality will be like and you certainly won’t get the sort of zoom you get off an old type camcorder.

From £200, There’s the more conventional looking video cameras but they do look a little like toys at the lower prices. Do these digital products exceed the established cheap analogue tape output?

Or spend a few hundred on more of a grown up video camera – more functions, and to be sure of better image quality etc.

Which group do you think I should look to buy from? Model/budget recommendations welcomed.

No takers on replacing one of these?

With one of these?

Or these?

Or these?

If it were me i'd be going for the last option..

Kev

If it were me i'd be going for the last option..

Kev

Wants Vs. Needs

I don't use my existing camera much but want something easier to handle and use and get the video off without sacrificing (too much) quality.

Wants Vs. Needs

I don't use my existing camera much but want something easier to handle and use and get the video off without sacrificing (too much) quality.

I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing just now, as we have a little un on the way and want to capture some cute / funny / embarassing footage with which to blackmail the little tyke with in later life. I'd looked into the cheap flash storage cams, and although they're OK for quickness, the image quality isn't all that according to the reviews I've read.

I think you'd miss the functions of a 'proper' camcorder as well. The new breed of full HD cams aren't that much bigger than the small flash cams anyway.

I'm considering this Panasonic, which is on offer at Costco just now for £293.00 inc VAT.

Myhttp://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5634574.htm?_$ja=tsid:11527|cc:|prd:5634574|cat:photography+/+camcorders+and+accessories+/+camcorders+/#pdpFullProductInformation link

I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing just now, as we have a little un on the way and want to capture some cute / funny / embarassing footage with which to blackmail the little tyke with in later life. I'd looked into the cheap flash storage cams, and although they're OK for quickness, the image quality isn't all that according to the reviews I've read.

I think you'd miss the functions of a 'proper' camcorder as well. The new breed of full HD cams aren't that much bigger than the small flash cams anyway.

I'm considering this Panasonic, which is on offer at Costco just now for £293.00 inc VAT.

I've been through that and don't use the camcorder unless we're doing something specific as its a bit of a pain to sort it out, is it charged, how much tape left etc. Then the trouble of capturing the video off the tape. I've got quite a few tapes to sort :S

Normally I just grab the normal camera (Panny TZ3) and shoot some video at 800x600 which is normally adequate. The issue with that though is that it would be nice to edit the footage I've collected. WinMM won't pick-up the .mov format the camera uses.

Really want something that takes seconds to turn on, is camera sized and easy to transfer files (in a simple format). Do those Panasonic camera need thier own software?

Been looking around for a solution myself and found these contenders:-

ZOOM Q3HD

SONY BLOGGIE

SANYO VPC-PD1

ION TWIN VIDEO

Looking like the ZOOM Q3HD for its good all

around spec!

As an update, I ended up buying this from Amazon,

Panasonic sd60

The price seems to have gone up. I paid £275 in December, maybe the VAT increase has taken effect.

Unfortunately I can't tell you if it's any good as the bloody SD card I ordered from Play.com is stil MIA after 2 weeks! It's very small though, so small I managed to fit into my old Lowe Pro camera case that I kept my old Sony digital camera.

Not sure if this is worth posting but I plumped for a Veho Kuzo VVC002 1080p HD camcorder

It should retail at £150 but I got it for the princely sum of £36 from the Veho Outlet Shop on ebay! Absolute bargain and so far dead chuffed with the quality/price ratio...

Edited 21 January, 201115 yr by skomaz

Actually got back this morning.

Took the Sony which provided its usual sterling service despite the bulk. If I could take a photo of my camera you'd see the sort of damage my wife can achieve to electronic goods so I decided to keep the miniDV camera until its fubared - already cosmetically damaged (by her) but still working.

I brought a new budget video camera recently, and tried those cheap cameras, and they were dire.

They do great on static, and slow moving stuff, but add in fast moving objects, and bad light, and they are rubbish.

I ended up buying a Sony 1080p camera, and after the recent VAT back offer, got something really decent for £200.