1. I was going to get the Panasonic GS320, but read in the forums that there were numerous problems using it with Vista. Are there any problems using Vista with Sony SR85 or the Canon HV30? Do these 2 camcorders work with Premiere Elements, which is my preferred software?

2. If I were to buy the SR85, which has 60 GB, is there a difference in the quality than say buying the 30 GB?

3. I'm going to Moscow for 2 weeks and don't want to take laptop with me. In the Specs for the SR85 it says, "you can record to internal HDD or choose to record to the removable Memory Stick Duo. You can easily copy video or still images from the Memory Stick without using the PC." Does this mean that when I've used up all the memory in the camcorder for video, I can stick in a 8GB Memory Stick and have more use? (I know for still pictures one can download into the memory card, but didn't realize that video could be done the same way. I'm a little confused. - Is this something new?)

4. In reading the forums, half the people say go with MiniDV and the other half say HDD. Many have recommended the Canon HV30. So, it's between the Sony SR85 and the Canon HV30. I have Windows XP - VISTA. I also have Premiere Elements for my software. I want to buy a nice camcorder, go to Moscow, come home, get videoonto the PC via USB or Firewire, do some editing, burn a DVD, sit back and enjoy. I DON'T WANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS THING !!! I'm tired of listening to salesmen try and sell me something and not care if it's not compatible with Vista, etc.

5. And, I'd really like to know - why do so many people, on so many different forms, say go with 'tape'. Other than not having to mess with tapes, etc., what's so wrong with going with HDD?

Thank you so much. I've read a great deal in these forums and have come to trust you all.

Karen

The Canon HV30 is a High Definition Video (HDV) camcorder which records on MiniDV type tapes. It can also record in Standard Definition (SD) DV-AVI on MiniDV tapes

The GS320 is a MiniDV camcorder. It records in SD only on MiniDV tapes.

They both use Firewire to transfer video to computer: USB vs Firewire (For MiniDV and Digital8 Camcorders)

Some people have problems with Vista, some do not. I can't really comment much more.



Rich

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