Looking to buy a handheld video recorder....

[HTM|Minion]

Price range under 500.00 (for the daughter for Christmas) any suggestions from user experience?

[{F8}Slaide]

Mine is older at this point, it's a Sony TRV530 I think. The one thing I have really appreciated about it is that if you take the tape out, it can be used as a pass-through.

I've used it this way by hooking a VCR to it, then connecting it to my PC via firewire. This allowed me to do video capture tasks of VCR tapes (or any other RCA source).

If I bought another one, I'd look into the direct-to-DVD ones. To be honest, I haven't looked in awhile though.

Accessories I'd recommend:
Extra Battery
Tripod
Carrying case that will hold the camcorder, the extra battery, and a few pieces of media (tapes, dvd's, etc. - whatever it uses).

[Moo]

Well... WHat ever the needs YOU CAN FIND IT ON www.ebay.com orrr



http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos350d.asp?dontcount=1

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_a620.asp?dontcount=1

[{F8}Slaide]

Yeah, good idea. I didn't even think about posting links. DPReview is a very good site. As is http://www.steves-digicams.com

[HTM~impos]

ok from personal experience, Sony's capture too much light, and colors are saturated, but the picture is crystal clear. You just need to get to know the camcorder, and you can compensate depending on the light situation, their Night Shot mode is quite good.

I replaced mine with a Canon, less adjusting necessary for picture, but it will pick up the cassette motor sound at low volumes (by low volume, I basically mean no other sound audible).

Pros and cons of tape: pros: inexpensive, available most everywhere, short powerup time cons: rewinding, durability

Pros and cons of MiniDVD: pros: durabilty, instant access to any point on the DVD cons: long powerup time on the camcorder as the drive needs to spin up before 'Record', discs relatively expensive (but coming down pretty quickly) and usually have to go to an electronics or camera store to buy them

I believe JVC is also making harddrive based camcorders, and HD camcorders are here, $2000 and up.

I don't know if this is any help, I'd just narrow it down to 3 or 4 and google them and see what you find, camcorder forums are good too.

[HTM|JaK_5quat]

DP Review is all still cameras. No video there that I know of. Great site though!!! The ONLY one I go to for still camera reviews.

I own a couple year old Canon Elura. IMHO Canon has the market cornered on digital video. For SLR digitals Nikon beats all, though the Canon Rebels are a close second.

[|HM|Tic]

I just got the Panasonic PV-GS31 and I have nothing but good to say about it, it does everything you can want, Very small, Great Pictures (holds 14,000 stills on a 1gig SD disk, and great video, uses standard DV mini Cassetts, instant download of stills by USB, and instant download of Video through DV wire, (Fire wire) with everything you need, cables, Tapes, Firewire, USB Cord, Youll be around 500 depending on what you already have.

[frogger]

i have a panasonic as well and have been very pleased. Ours is similar to this one...is nice to be able to just drop the dvd in the dvd player and be done with it.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-VDR-M50-Camcorder-Review.htm