be sure one of the features is "AV-in". Lower priced camcorders are typically only AV-out - that is, you can connect the camcorder to a TV and playback using your camcorder as the playback device. Beyond the cheap machines, you can find that same jack either to be one-way (out) or two-way (in and out). You need the "in", so you need two way. In some cases, the camcorder will act as a passthrough - so the external VCR (or whatever video source) connects to the camcorder and the camcorder connects (via FireWire) to your computer.

I do not recommend using a mini-DVD camcorder... for ANYTHING. If you want to edit at all, the quality of the video (once transfered to your computer) is not good at all.

For an example:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11038809
Check the specs - on the left side, scroll down... Note where it states "Analog-Digital Converter" and "Yes (with pass through)"...

As compared to http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11039400
Note where it states "Analog-Digital Converter" and "N/A" as in Not available or Not Applicable...

Check out Panasonic and Canon, too...