P.S. That last sentence about the knowledgeable camera store was not meant to imply that the advice here would be less than knowledgeable -- I was trying to emphasize my own ignorance! That sentence did not come out the way I intended ![]()
Just found out that I have to film a few high-school soccer matches in the coming week. The camera will be perched on a tripod up on a low hill overlooking the soccer pitch. My PC isn't capable of playing 1080p video smoothly but it handles 720p OK, so I'm looking for a video camera with the following features:
<div><div><div>
-- 720p HD mode
-- 90-minute recording time in 720p mode onto memory card
-- autofocus
-- wide-angle lens to minimize panning; no blurring during a slow pan
</div>-- rapid optical zoom
-- LED visible on bright sunny days or with some sort of flip-up visor to block sun-glare
-- 100% rain-proof
-- tripod mountable
-- USB transfer to computer
-- solid, compact construction
-- very easy menu-driven setup
-- MSRP $350 USD or less
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