Information on Digital Cameras

[chenanceou]

I'm trying to make up my mind, but it's hard with all those numbers flashing in front of me (Sony alone seems to have 100 different kinds). I need to buy a camera (the filming kind, not the photographic kind) and I'm lost in the sea of technology. Could any of you take some pity on one so technologically challenged and help out?

I need a digital camera that will film to disk (DVD). It's for "Look Ma, I went down the Nile!" use, but the image should be good enough to show on television.

Help?

Comments

Best I could do so far :)...

[hico.livejournal.com]

Ok,

given that you're looking for DVD-Ram Camcorders, Consumer Reports seem to like the Hitachi DZ580A (US $590), the Panasonic VDR-M50 (US $550), Panasonic VDR-M70 (US $695), and the Sony DCR -DVD101 ($605) and Sony DCR-DVD201 (US $655) , in that order.

Image stabilizers in the units seem to be preferred, to prevent shaking from affecting the picture.

Most models seem to have a problem with the automatic settings if used in Low Light conditions (ie.. poor picture quality)

In general picture quality tests, the Panasonic VDR-M70 received an EXCELLENT rating, whereas both the Hitachi DZ-MV580A and the Panasonic VDR-M50 scored VERY GOOD. Both of the Sonys tested scored GOOD.

In terms of ease of use, the Hitachi fared best, getting a VERY GOOD verdict, with all of the others getting GOOD.

All units tested fared equally well on Image Stabilization - EXCELLENT.

Audio Quality on the Hitachi and the Panasonic units was VERY GOOD, with the Sony DCR-DVD101 getting GOOD marks, but the Sony DCR-DVD201 only achieving FAIR results.

This info came from www.consumerreports.org

good luck :)

You rock!

[chenanceou.livejournal.com]

Re: You rock!

[hico.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome :)

As an addendum to the above info.. I was just reading an article in PC-World reviewing some camcorders.. and in that one, the newest offering from SONY , the DCR-DVD403 ( http://find.pcworld.com/48163 ) actually scored very well, garnering 4.5 stars (out of 5) . The image quality appears to have been vastly improved over the previous models. Of course, it is more expensive at $US 850 (as of 5/17/05) . The new Hitachi model DZGX20A ( http://find.pcworld.com/48153 ) only managed to get 3 stars, having a price tag of US$ 750.

I think, if you get a recent model of any of the brands.. SONY, HITACHI or PANASONIC, you should be OK :)

Keep us updated on your Quest.