HELP! Canon Elura 100 or Panasonic PV-GS300 ??

by lgh5000 Nov 20, 2006 5:56AM PST

Hello!
I'm off to study abroad in England next semester, and want to buy a video camera to record my stay over there. I think I've narrowed my search down to the Elura 100 and Panasonic GS300 (there's a $90 difference between the two, the GS300 being more expensive).
I really like the true widescreen capability that the Elura 100 has, a long with the night shot function.
The Panasonic GS300 has 3 CCD, and will have a better picture.
Is it worth getting the GS300 for the better picture, and sacrificing the additional features of the Elura 100?
Or do you think that the Elura 100 is a good enough camera that I should just go with it?
Help! I really don't know too much about camcorders, besides what I have read in reviews...
Thanks so much!!

Discussion is locked

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A suggestion....

by whizkid454 Nov 20, 2006 7:02AM PST

Go for the GS300 because even though it doesn't have true widescreen, you are still able to record in widescreen. This only matters if you have an 16:9 widescreen TV and you dont want to some video quality. If there's no preference TV, then GS300. It's true GS300 is a very good camcorder. Very popular. Definitely worth the extra money...

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I agree with Whizkid, but

by boya84 Nov 20, 2006 8:15AM PST

for different reasons...

The Elura 100 does 16:9 (widescreen and 4:3) like the GS300, but the Elura100 uses electronic image stabilization - where the GS300 uses a better optical image stabilization system...

It looks like the larger single CCD in the Elura 100 has better (low light) characteristics than the GS300's 3 CCDs... but you can also use the GS300 as a web-cam which you cannot do with the Elura 100.

Both have external mic-in jacks, but the Elura 100 does not have an accessory shoe, so you'd have to get an extra accessory shoe bar if you go this route... The GS300 has an accessory shoe... If you don't do an external mic, this does not matter - but once you use one, you won't know how you got along without it...

If you go to http://www.camcorderinfo.com, you will find the GS300 a lot higher rated... These two cameras are actually in different leagues.

You will be happy with either camera...

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whichever camera you get,

by boya84 Nov 20, 2006 8:25AM PST

be sure to get a monopod or tripod (consider getting either when you get THERE so flying is not an issue)...
and an extra high-capacity battery,
and maybe a charger (though you *could* just charge in the camera if you plan well enough),
and a small camera case with enough room for the camera, the extra (charged) battery and a few mini-DV tapes... the charger and other extra tapes can stay with the rest of your stuff.

And a power adapter for all the other electronics that you might be taking (computer, MP3 player, whatever) that can't deal with the outlets and power on the other side of the pond...

And for editing, to transfer the video from the camera to a computer, you will need a FireWire cable (4-pin-camera to 6-pin-computer). Neither of these cameras includes that cable in the box... and your computer needs a FireWire port.

Travel safe, have fun!

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Here's what I did...

by senna_z Nov 26, 2006 7:28AM PST

I had the same question and I went with the Elura 100. So far so good. I took a video production class, and I chose the Elura, because for all practical purposes, I am not trying to make top image quality stuff, I am just using it as a family camcorder.

If I were going for higher quality, I definitely would have gone for the pv-gs300, however, the actual costs are significantly higher. I knew I wanted a tripod and an external mic, so my total package was about $550. If I would have gone with the panasonic the total costs would have been at least $200 more.

Happy picking!

HELP! Canon Elura 100 or Panasonic PV-GS300 ??

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