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General discussion

What Camcorder meets my needs?

May 18, 2005 1:32AM PDT

I'm looking for a digital camcorder for the budget minded. I would be using it mainly to shoot family movies (our girls' school activities, vacations, etc) with the following options:

1. external light, (or hot shoe) (for those graduations or recitals in low light) (really important)

2. top or side loading, (for when I have the camera on a tripod)

3. minimum 20x optical zoom

4. memory card (is this absolutely necessary? Why or why not?)

5. remote

6. analog input for me to transfer 8mm video through the digital camcorder to my computer so I can burn them onto DVD. (really important)

7. I would prefer Mini DV or DVD media format.

Any recommendations would be great. Thanks

Discussion is locked

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To start...
May 18, 2005 1:39AM PDT

Take that list to where you buy such units. Go from unit to unit and add it if it meets the list. All you need is make/model and price.

Now go home and hit up cnet.com and http://www.camcorderinfo.com/ for reviews of your selections.

As to DVD creation, here's the lesson I've learned. Connect with firewire, use Ulead DVD moviefactory or better and if transfers are a problem, look up WinDV on google.com

Best of luck,

Bob

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The memory card, IMO, is next to useless.
May 18, 2005 3:09AM PDT

It allows you to take photos. Video cameras do not compare well with cameras designed to take photos. Video cameras are designed to make videos.