Hi All-

Sorry to be such a newbie. I have searched hi and low and still not sure which way to go. I need a camcorder to record my new baby that is due soon. I think i like the tape-less option but not sure its the best way to go for my money. there seems to be so many choices and not sure if I should buy miniDV or HD based. or should i consider DVD?

i dont think i will do that much editing but not sure and i think i want point and shoot for the most part.

any help is MUCH appreciated!

thanks

Please help, running out of time. I need to make a choice Would these hard drive based units or microdrive based units be good for a beginer or should i stick with a minidv camcorder?

is the low light bad and is the video quality bad on the hard drive based stuff?

I basically need help making a choice.

I am thinking

JVC GZMC200
JVC GZMG50
PANASONIC PVGS250
PANASONIC PVGS400
JVC GR-X5


THANKS!!

I can tell the size of CCD does matter . The bigger the CCD , the better the movie quality and less noise in low light . I own Mc500 . But I will go MG50 if I did not have it . F1.2 lens and 1/4.5" CCD is defintely a plus . If you can wait a little longer time . JVC has a 1/3" CCD model coming - MG-70 . I will never go back to the day of catpuring avi once I tried the hardidsk camera . I hope this will help you .

thanks for the repspone. i am running out of time so i dont know if i can wait but i appreciate your input!

I just bought one GZ-MG50 two weeks ago. It is really a stunning camcorder! The 30G hard disk allows you to record 'unlimited' long video! Think about this, <30G hard disk = 7.5 hours DVD movie quality video>, it is just amazing and awesome!

Forget about miniDV or even DVD camcorders. MiniDV camcorders are very cumbersome when you use them because the post-processing of miniDV tapes will take your huge amount of time to copy them to your computer! Regarding DVD camcorders, the only one I think good of is the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 DVD Camcorder. But keep this in mind: you need to replace new blank DVD disks frequently if you use this camcorder because each DVD blank disk has very limited storage. Comparing to the 30G hard disk of GZ-MG50, DVD disks are nothing at all.

Hope my words are helpful to you. Good luck!

hi-

thanks for the info!!!

(1) how is the camera in low light?
(2) how do you back up the video you take? dvd burner?
(3) can you hook the mg50 straight up to a dvd burner without a computer?

thanks?

You are welcome.

For your questions, my answers are as follow:

(1) Please note that the minimum light requirements for recording using GZ-MG50 is 15 Lux, referring to 3000 Lux of bright sunny outdoor condition. But, honestly speaking, the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 DVD Camcorder I mentioned has a minimum of 3 Lux! So, if you were really concerned with low light video quality very very much, Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 DVD Camcorder might be your major consideration. But we would never turn off all the lights and then shoot our indoor video. Never! Right? So, in a normal indoor light condition, GZ-MG50 works very good! (By the way, I should add something here: Please be noted that GZ-MG50 uses a F1.2 lens instead of the conventional F1.8 lens used by many other camcorders such as the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 DVD Camcorder. An F1.2 lens takes in twice the light that an F1.8 lens does. This means the video quality with F1.2 lens is much brighter that with F1.8 lens.)

Because I am not sure if you are a newbie to camcorder or not, so I have to mention that : Please, do not expect any consumer video qulality to be as good as the DVD movies we rent from the Blockbuster. These are totally different two things. The commercial DVD movies are made by specialists in movie industry using much more advanced machine and tedious post-processing technology rather than our consumer camcorders.

(2) Yes, DVD burner. (Just a quick message: recently, there is a new product on sale. It is a portable DVD burner called APACER DISC STENO CP300 PORT.DVD W/LCD. You can use it to burn the videos you took using GZ-MG50 directly by hooking your GZ-MG50 to this portable DVD burner. No computer needed! It is not expensive, maybe just arouond 300 or 400 US Dollars which I am not very sure)

(3) The 3rd question has been answered as above.

Good luck!!

Thanks Thanks and Thanks again for the info. I am just trying to figure out if the GZ-MG50 and that dvd burner is worth the price of around 1300 dollars total?

are you sure thats the dvd burner for MG50? is there a cheaper option, i wonder?

choices choices....?

I am 90% sure of it (10% remaining for any unexpected cases).

Because I am in Canada. I can only give some Canadian website for this portable DVD burner you have interest in. Please enter the JVC Canada website for a general review of GZ-MG50's accessories including the portable DVD burner:

http://www.jvc.ca/en/consumer/prese...verio/acce.html

You will see the portable DVD burner, Apacer AD330, which seems to have the similar function as the APACER DISC STENO CP300 does. But, by any means, call and contact your local electronic retailers first of all to make sure Apacer AD330 or Apacer CP300 is the product you truly want.

Actually, you can google both of them first and get an initial impression.

Good luck!!

got it THANKS! I will check it all out and make the plunge sooner then later. I will let you know what i find out.

Cheers!
uD

You are welcome. Wish to konw your impression of this video camera.

Regards,

i spoke to a very nice person at apacer and the 330ad will be available at the end of the month and the 330ad is specifically made for the GZ-MG-series.

where is the best place to buy the MG50?

Yes, that's true. I heard about the same story, AD330 is specifically for GZ-MG series. This is great news.

But, regarding where to buy GZ-MG50, it really depends on where you are living. I guess many major electronic retailers have GZ-MG50 on sale. Just check with your local major electronic retailers, please.

Good luck!!!

i am looking for the best price "go figure" should i do crutchfield with 30 day no questions asked or datavision for 180 less but restocking fee i am sure. or abes of maine? how are they?

Some internet-based retailers do charge restocking fees for returned items. Mind this. But I am not familiar with electronic retailers in the States. You may have to do some research on internet and compare their prices and check return policies before going any retailers' stores or putting your order on this video camera. Good luck!!