Digital Camcorder

[CAP1]

looking at digital camcorders that i can get through a program with napa.

 there's 2 in my points range that i like.

1) canon vixia M30
2)sony handycam HDR-CX110

it looks like the cannon has 8gb flash memory, whereas the sony looks like it needs to have an hdsc card. the cannon has 15X zoom, the sony 25X.

 i'm mostly hoping to use this at air shows this year....and they're from points i've already earned by doing business with napa.......and they friggin expire next week.

any suggestions/help?


thanks dudes!!  and dudettes!!

[68ZooM]

Sony's a great cam and with the 25x might be better for Airshow Pics (during flights) granted you might have to get a Hdsc card (is it not included? is there any memory included?) that would kind of suck to sell a Cam with no memory capacity, there both good cams it just comes down to what you really need it for  15x zoom or 25x zoom, personally i like the 25x for distance pics

[ImADot]

I don't know much about 'em, but...

Does the Canon offer a spot to put a memory card, or are you stuck with built-in 8Gb?

What is the optical zoom for each?  Once you go past that, it becomes "digital" zoom and generally the quality starts going down fast as the processor figures out how to make the image bigger for you.

Do they have image stabilization technology?  While sucking up power a little faster, you'll get much less camera shake that you see in almost all "weekend home videos".

[APDrone]

I had the Sony on my short list for final consideration.. until I got my old one working again.

I don't understand why none of the Canon have decent optical zoom.  15x just isn't enough.

Even 25x isn't good enough for me, but it's the better of those 2.

The Sony has the 1/4" sensor, which is a bit larger than the real cheap ones out there.  Couldn't find out the size of the Canon, but since their still photo is 3.8 MP vs. the 3.0 for the Sony, I'd imagine it's a little bigger.

The zoom would be the deciding factor for me.

 

[TwinEng]

SDHC memory cards are dirt cheap now.  And all these cameras need is a class 4 speed card.

You can buy a Sandisk 16 GB Class 4 SDHC card for only $40.   See:

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-Class-Memory-SDSDRH-016G-A11/dp/B0012W7HQK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1269541224&sr=8-2

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[TwinEng]

If you can afford to spend $200 more, I would go with the Sony HDR-CX300.   It has a much higher quality sensor that would look noticeably better on a HD TV.   While these others can take still images at only 3 MP, it has a 7MP still camera feature.   That is quite an improvement in the quality of the sensor.

The zoom lens on this camera also also starts out at a real nice wide angle.   Much better than these other two.  And that would make it much easier to film indoors in tight spots.   Or take lovely landscape videos outdoors.  Plus it has 16 GB of memory built-in. 

Downside is that its street price is around $700   At least that is what Amazon.com is currently selling it for.

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[gyrene81]

looking at digital camcorders that i can get through a program with napa.

there's 2 in my points range that i like.

...and they're from points i've already earned by doing business with napa.......and they friggin expire next week.

If you can afford to spend $200 more, I would go with the Sony HDR-CX300.   It has a much higher quality sensor that would look noticeably better on a HD TV.   While these others can take still images at only 3 MP, it has a 7MP still camera feature.   That is quite an improvement in the quality of the sensor.

No offense TwinEng...but as you can now see...he's not buying a camera, he's trading in promotion points earned from doing business...and that camera you recommend is not available.




Go with the Sony Cap...the SDHC cards are cheap and you can carry enough around to do whatever you need.

[TwinEng]

No offense TwinEng...but as you can now see...he's not buying a camera, he's trading in promotion points earned from doing business...and that camera you recommend is not available.


Go with the Sony Cap...the SDHC cards are cheap and you can carry enough around to do whatever you need.

This would be my advice to anyone looking to buy a digital camcorder today.  Look carefully at the specs, and find out exactly what you are getting.   

It is as much a general recommendation to anyone in the forum reading this thread, than anything else.

.

[Shuffler]

While I hate the company Sony..... I like their cams.


I have one..... don't tell anyone... shhhhh 

[Ack-Ack]

1) canon vixia M30
2)sony handycam HDR-CX110

I've go the Sony HDR-CX110 at work I use to make videos and it's been worth every penny so far.  The only issues I ran into it is that some editing software doesn't like the video format it uses and have to convert it to another format to edit. 


ack-ack

[CAP1]

I don't know much about 'em, but...

Does the Canon offer a spot to put a memory card, or are you stuck with built-in 8Gb?

What is the optical zoom for each?  Once you go past that, it becomes "digital" zoom and generally the quality starts going down fast as the processor figures out how to make the image bigger for you.

Do they have image stabilization technology?  While sucking up power a little faster, you'll get much less camera shake that you see in almost all "weekend home videos".

the canoon camera has a place for an sdhc card.........but it wants a class 4.
 canon opt. zoom is 15x, sony's is 25x. they both have IS tech..

 one thing i can't seem to find, is if the sony has any of it's own memory, or if it uses only a card.......and i can find the sony has a battery pack, that can be changed, whereas i can't seem to find that info concerning the canon.

i like the looks of the canon a little more, but am leaning more towards the sony, as i have a sony still camera, and like it. i also like the higher opt. zoom, as i hope to be making more airshows this year.

[CAP1]

This would be my advice to anyone looking to buy a digital camcorder today.  Look carefully at the specs, and find out exactly what you are getting.   

It is as much a general recommendation to anyone in the forum reading this thread, than anything else.

.

yea....that's mostly what i'm looking for, is your guys opinions.

thanks!

[CAP1]

I've go the Sony HDR-CX110 at work I use to make videos and it's been worth every penny so far.  The only issues I ran into it is that some editing software doesn't like the video format it uses and have to convert it to another format to edit. 


ack-ack

ok...does this one have any of it's own memory, or does it only record to a card?

[Skuzzy]

At $700, I think it would be hard to ignore this Canon.

[CAP1]

At $700, I think it would be hard to ignore this Canon.

it only zooms to 10x.............

don't forget also....i'm stuck within the limits of the points i've earned..........


 on that note.........i didn't even know they had this program. my old sales rep never told me about this stuff. i just got a new sales rep a few weeks ago, and he told me about this program.

 it's pretty cool, because i am a napa auto care center, which requires me to buy the majority of my parts from them(for the nationwide warranty). just by buying from them, i get this stuff..........