hard drive camcorders?

[stormie427]

jim and i r looking into purchasing a camcorder, and i'm totally stumped as to what to buy. i've done some research but then when i think we're totally set on a certain type...whamo someone comes along and discourages us.

for instance...i was leaning towards the sony dvd recorder...my sis says why not just get the tape and then transfer on computer; i want to make it simple. i figured having it already on dvd would easy...i understand they r only 30 minute dvds but that isn't a concern. the other thing she said was she heard the battery life sucks.

so i started asking about the hard drive camcorders...new on the market. they have lots of video time and great picture. my only concern and all u computer junkies please don't laugh...once i have video how can i get it onto dvd. could i only use a computer? this is why i just want it simple.

what do u guys think? r any of u familar with camcorders? could u please steer us in the right direction. jim and i r going up north again and would like to take video for my dad. thanks in advance :)

stormie

[rdf]

hi stormie, you'll be able to burn the video to a dvd if you buy the new hard drive type. They might be quite a bit more expensive, but any camcorder should have capability for transport to other mediums.

[tekniko]

It should be about the same process transferring the video to the computer maybe even hooking it up to a DVD recorder would maybe work as well.

[PN]

Hi, Stormie.

You may want to begin with a Froogle (http://froogle.google.com/froogle?hl=en&q=camcorder%20with%20hard%20drive&btnG=Google+Search&sa=N&tab=wf) search just to see what's out there with camcorders that have hard drives. Then I would read the Customer Reviews over on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Everio-GZMG77-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B000E1332W/ref=dp_return_1/102-1332335-8012135?ie=UTF8&n=502394&s=photo) when you have narrowed down your search. Then go over to Camcorderinfo (http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/JVC-GZ-MG37-Camcorder-Review.htm) for honest independent professional reviews. From the little reading I have done it sounds as though they like the Panasonic VDR-D100. I am told, and you need to make sure, that these camcorders come with a Firewire cable along with the standard USB 2.0 and the software for your computer. Firewire allows the video to move faster down the pipe into your computer and I think it is a better technology. However, your PC (you may have a Mac, I don't know) has USB 2.0 and that is fine, but you can always buy a Firewire card. Your DVD burner in your computer will do the rest, so you will have this content on a DVD. Sometimes buying from a brick and mortar store is a safer way to do business but most only give you two week return policy on electronics. Therefore, if it doesn't work out for you, return it and try another rather than shopping online where you will be stuck with shipping and maybe restocking fees. I like Costco (http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=&topnav=&search=camcorders&N=0&Ntt=camcorders&cm_re=1-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search) because of their exchange policy and I have also had very good customer service at Office Depot (http://www.officedepot.com/textSearch.do?uniqueSearchFlag=true&Ntt=camcorders&x=0&y=0).

Good luck.

[PN]

The Sanyo Xacti HD1A (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GT4BCI/leoville0f-20) is certainly worth taking a look at even though it doesn't have a hard drive. It records onto SD flash memory and it's an affordable solid-state camera (better technology). Battery life looks to be about 70 minutes when shooting video.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GT4BCI.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_V63188325_.jpg