Camcorder Opinion Q

[momoffduty]

Looking for a camcorder for a non-editing family. Thinking the straight to miniDVD is the way to go? For under $300, any ideas? Found 2:

Sony DCR DVD 610 or Canon 2691B1001

[jackfalbey]

As much as I dislike the miniDVD format for a multitude of reasons, if they just want to shoot and watch - without any extra steps - then miniDVD is probably the best choice for them. Check camcorderinfo.com for reviews and recommendations.

[Bobby]

I agree with Jack, although I don't like the format either.

We got one for my grown daughter last year. She wanted simplicity, and the ability to just take the DVD and pop it in the DVD player to view - no editing, and she is very happy with what she got.

But she is in fact starting to edit a little bit now. I showed her now to get the video files and put them into Windows Movie Maker, so there is some hope she may expand her work in the future.

Be aware that miniDVD prices are fairly high. If you can I would recommend using RW (rewritable) disks and reuse them. Of course, youi would have to copy or unload them between uses.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

A key question is how quickly the family concerned might wish to progress from non-editing to wishing to edit for a better finished video. I know that when I started along this path I thought that the Ulead basic editing product (can't recall its name now) would be all that I needed. Then I got hooked and, via PrEl I now use PPro.

My advice - FWIW - is if the family are unlikely to need to want edit to any significant degree then go with the suggestions already made.

[momoffduty]

Really undecided.....the miniDVD is a mpeg2 file? What is the hard drive camcorder file? Think the problem is their computer may not be capable or have the capacity for the video files. If they lived closer I would offer to transfer their tapes, so thought the miniDVD would be the next best bet.

[Chuck Engels]

Hard Drive camcorder files are generally AVCHD.
The only real question is if they are ever going to want to edit the footage.
If they do then they may need a whole new computer to do that, as many of us know is most often the case

If they don't think they will want to edit the footage then go with the DVD camcorders but do some research on the best models first.

[momoffduty]

If they do then they may need a whole new computer to do that, as many of us know is most often the case

That is the truth! Learned the hard way. For my first editing piece with PrEl bought a firewire cable only to get home and find out I did not have a firewire card One of many hurdles.