then you will use miniDV tape for video capture and a moderately priced (or higher) external microphone for audio capture.
If you want excellent stills, you will get/use a still camera.
Most standard definition camcorders do not support HDMI... at the moment, only high definiiton camcorders might support HDMI... which is why the JVCs you listed do not have HDMI... and the Sonys you listed do - and are more expensive... the Sony's you listed use AVCHD compression when capturing high definition video - What are you planning to edit with?
Other stuff: JVC hard drive based camcorders use a .mod file type which is not directly usable by most video editors.
We know what you don't want to spend - what is your budget?
Please read the Camcorder forum sticky - it may help your investigation.
1. I am about to purchase my first camcorder, I want excellent picture/sound, but I dont want to spend $5000 on my first camcorder.
2. I am not sure if I need the camcorder to have excellent photo taking ability as I already have a digital camera that I think suits my need, can someone with more experience please help?
3. Does the filter size of the camcorder really affect the picture quality? I know its not a single component that will determines, its the whole design, but does bigger filter meaning better picture?
4. I am looking at JVC MG505/MG555 or Sony SR1/SR7. which one should I take? JVC's MG series models is a few hundred cheaper than Sonys and yet its spec seems to match my need, although MG505/MG555 doesnt support HDMI, but I am tempted to think it doesnt matter that much after reading a lot of reviews...am I wrong to make these statement or is there other alternatives that I should consider as well?
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