Hi all,

After weeks of reading about camcorder for newbie, I compiled the spec. of several entry level camcorder. I use information from cnet.com and camcorder manuals. If there is any mistake please let me know so I can edit them.

Comparison Sheet

I hope it would help with your camcorder shopping, particularly for those who is totally new to camcorder world. This is my first camcorder. I highly suggest that you go to local store and try them out. I got mine at circuit city. If you can get your hands on the 10% discount coupun, you will get very good price on it.

I decided to buy GS85. It suited me most, however it is not the best in every ways. Here is summary of pros and cons.

Canon zr500
Pro: Super cheap, External Mic. Input
Con: Out-dated, Motor noise when zoom, can't change tape when mount with tripod

Canon zr800
Pro: External Mic. Input, Charge Batt while on DC jack
Con: Motor noise when zoom, can't change tape when mount with tripod

Canon zr830&zr850
Pro: Reasonable resolution still shot, USB, Remote, self-timing, Charge Batt while on DC jack
Con: expensive (compare to GS80)

Panasonic PV-GS80
Pro: VDO quality, Sharp LCD, External Horse shoe, Zoom Mic
Con: Heavy, Can't charge battery while connect the DC jack to the camcorder, Optical Image Stabilizer

Addition feature on GS85: Digital Still Camera(DSC), Dual Recording (Take picture and filming at the same time), Self Timer, SD Card slot, Build-in Light, USB 1.1, Webcam, Self-timer, VDO clip to card

JVC GR-D750&770
Pro: Built-in light, Cheap, AV in, Data Battery, Webcam, Charge Batt while on DC jack
Con: Potential lens cap defect, can't change tape when mount with tripod

Additional features on D770: Digital Still Camera w/ dual recording capability, USB & SD slot.

I chose the GS85 because it seems to have best Video&sound quality of it's class. It doesn't pick up much of the motor & zoom nice like the canon. I didn't know much about JVC so I didn't take chance since the GS85 is about $20 more expensive. To me, I think GS80 is good enough but I can't get it in local store anymore and GS85 was the best buy for me at the moment (got it for $255)

The GS8x is very decent camcorder. It works right out of the box (after charing the battery) if you use Windows XP. The webcam feature works with MSN right away. The over all picture is great and it has very decent LCD. It is only model that has an optical image stabilizer feature. It is good if you use tele-zoom often. It seems to have decent low-light performance, and the build-in light helps a bit. However, you can always get external light to put on it's external horseshoe.

The GS80/85 won't be right choice:

- If you don't want to buy extra batter. GS85 doesn't allow you use camcorder through the power adapter and charge battery at the same time.

- If you want to adjust setting while filming, it will be hard to keep the camera steady since you have to use right hand that hold the camcorder to adjust it. Canon and JVC has joystick control on the LCD so it is easier to adjust setting while holding the camcorder with both hands.

Canon zr500 & 800 will be your choice:

- if you want to do serious vediography for low price. It has external mic input which allow you to use high quality mic. Interestingly, they are only models that have this feature.

- Check this out for more info.
Videoblog gears. With this setting, I think you would get very good quality video as well as low motor noise but It's not for me because I don't want to carry this many extra gears around.

JVC fall in between Canon and Panasonic. It is just not cheap enough for me to want to buy it. The D750 has most of the useful feature in place. It even has built-in light and able to use as webcam.

I will post more of my GS85 experience on the Panasonic section.

Good luck buying the camcorder that's right for you. I think all of these models are great in their own way.