wife wants to experiment with video

[o sole mio]

Hi

My wife has suddenly decided she doesn't want to upgrade to DSLR cameras and instead wants to experiment with digital video.

It's become a very confusing market since I last looked. Just don't know where to start to figure out what's good.

We saw a couple of models at a shop and she likes the HDD JVC Everio as it's direct to PC, comes with a dedicated DVD burner, and is very small and light (important considerations). But I always thought Sony & Pansonic have better image quality.

I guess best to give you the criteria.

Has to be small and light
Semi pro/prosumer quality - she wants to do handheld interviews - presumably in artifical/low light. Also want to try capturing light in an interesting way. (So both poor light and weird light I guess).
Budget can be above 2K for a good one.
Relatively easy to edit on PC or good software support
Easily converted to DVD

Lot's of easys - must be already an expensive camera!

Any advice is very much an enlightenment for me. Cheers

 

[JaPhotos]

Hi,

JVC/Pana/Sony are good brands offering a wide varities of camcorders for different type of users. You have to decide which is more important features.

Small & Light (< 1kg) - Than this means that most prosumer level camcorders are out. leaving only the high end consumer level camcorders.
(For doing handheld interview, recommend to get one that allows mic in.)
(Low light - 3CCD cam will handle low light better than 1CCD)

Editing - Most camcoders video can be easiliy editable (yes, even MPEG2) only the new AVCHD is not fully support by most editing s/w.

Convert to DVD - this can be done by most DVD burner s/w like Nero. so no worries abt this. Once you got a s/w to edit your videos...you will have no problem getting it on DVD.

Good luck to your search. =)

 

[tommon]

Go with the HDD models, saves you lots of time downloading and also on recording medium. The JVC Everio has 3 CCD so will give you quite good quality and an extra light unit will cost you another $100-200 and be sure to get extra long batts.

 

[o sole mio]

thanks for the info. Will now start the buying process

 

[Kid Shotter]

OK,some suggestion:
A 3 CCD,tape,non HD small cam since you don't want a heavy one.For vied editing program,use Sony Vegas Movie + DVD.This combo should get your wife started.