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General discussion

New camcorder help

Apr 28, 2006 9:35PM PDT

Wife and I are planning on buying a new camcorder. Haven't been in the market since 2000 when we got our first one... Sony miniDV. Had since sold that one after not using it for quite some time though.

Child on the way so time to get back into it. Only problem this time around is that the DVD camcorders are around.

Had it pared down to something like the Sony DVD305 or 405 if DVD or the Sony HC96 or Panasonic GS300 if miniDV, but just not sure which way to go. It seems as if the big manufacturers are abandoning the miniDV format. I've read about the pros & cons of each and still can't decide!!! Will miniDV survive for the next 5-10 years???

Discussion is locked

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You should have kept the Sony.
Apr 29, 2006 1:39PM PDT

Mini DV will be around for many years to come,,The dvd cameras may not be,, just an opnion.
DVD cameras have many draw backs. Short recoring times at high quality, low quality for longer recoding times.
IF you shake the camera while recording it my runing it. The MiniDV HC96 would be the choice. John

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dvd cameras
Apr 30, 2006 12:01AM PDT

I just went through the whole buying experience. Anything but miniDV is a much lower quality image due to compression of video and sound to the media type. Editing from other formats, be it HD, SD card or DVD (especially) is a nightmare.

If you can get a tape system, you will have greater durability and ease of editing. You will have much less headaches in the end.