Hello everyone, I'm just another noob to the video cam world.

I'm trying to find a reasonably affordable HD cam with as much bang for the buck as I can get, and I'm trying to find one as soon as possible, so I need some help in making up my mind on something so that I can watch ebay/deals for.

Things I need:
1. HD (I have a 61" friggin TV. I'm not watching SD on it!)
2. Image stabilization. I was born with very shaky hands. I understand that this also means I probably want a camera w/a *LITTLE* more weight to it than the lightest of lightweight cameras.
3. Good low light detection. I will be shooting a lot of home videos of my son, and I've found w/my digital camera that my house offers crap for light.
4. Ease of transfer. I'm used to taking pics, dling them to my computer, doing quick edits, throwing them on the net... etc. However, I also need something that I can just quickly play on my HD tv.

What I'll be using this for:
1. Home videos. My son will be 1 June 15th, so I absolutely MUST have a camera before them.
2. Drum videos. So... I need something that can handle loud actual audio that comes from a real drum.
3. Rock band videos - I'll be shooting video of myself *and* my TV... so it needs to be able to handle a DLP TV source.


Now I realize I picked two cameras with completely different formats, and although I don't fully understand each of them.. I do understand the basics. MiniDV will give me better quality, but will take longer to transfer because it's all real time. It uses cassettes, but will also produce the least amount of artifacts. AVCHD will be much quicker, and will allow me to store a lot more data (which is good because I generally put off downloading stuff from my digi cam, and most likely will for the camcorder). HDD seems to be more up my alley, but I understand there is a drastic cost in quality (both from bandwidth and artifacts).. which of course I also want to conserve.

The reason I'm interested in the HDR SRXX series is because of this article: http://www.camcorderinfo.com/conten...-Sony-33975.htm
It *SOUNDS* like there are all sorts of new technologies that sony just came out with that are well worth the purchase. Will I be missing these technologies w/the HVXX series?

Finally.. the last things I worry about are regrets. Case in point: I didn't splurge on image stabilization on my digi cam, and I kick myself every time I use it because of this. Ultimately I'd like to be able to get the HDR SR11 or SR12... but I think they're a bit out of my price league... even w/Ebay deals. Will I be kicking myself that I didn't spend the extra couple hundred dollars for this model?

Also in line w/regrets... are there other models I should be looking at given my needs? Am I being dazzled by technical stats that I don't really need? Am I missing things that I'll most likely run into given the types of activities I want to use the camera for? Am I going to look back in a month and say, "why the hell didn't I look at THAT series instead?"

Thanks much!!

(also... any deals on the given models that you might know about are highly appreciated...)

Canon HF100. You will need a tripod anyway, I have shaky hands as well, no image stabilization can help shaky hands.

Well.. obviously I'll be handling my cam during home vids... but for my drum vids, I was planning on propping the camera on a bookshelf located conveniently by my drum set... or on some boxes or something.

Thank you for your suggestion. I'll research it right away!

Well, I looked it up, and although it doesn't seem to get nearly the same hype as the HG10, HV30 or SR10+ series, it seems to actually be better than all of them (at least as far as the CMOS sensor goes).

It's been really hard trying to get an accurate comparison though, because it seems that a handful of sites each have good descriptions of one or the other, but not an easy comparison of all of them. Best I can find just to compare specs is: http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cam...32786397-4.html

And actually, with the exception of the Sony HDR SR10, those are *exactly* the models I've been looking at. I tried looking up some pannys/JVCs, but there were almost always negative comments about them in every review, so it doesn't seem worth the time to research them.

As far as price goes, it looks like the HF100 and HG10 are more in my price range. It just doesn't seem to make sense though, that the HF100 is better than the rest *and* costs less. There's gotta be something I'm missing... can you clue me in?


EDIT: yes, I know that the HF100 does not include media, so I have to factor an SD card into the price...

* No media
* No viewfinder
* No focus ring (and no focus wheel like the one that the HG10 has)

Ah... I see.

Well.. I think I'm back to wanting the SR11.

There's one that's currently going for $860 on ebay.. going to end soon. I don't think I'll be able to find it that low otherwise.

Know of any good deals/places?

Go with what you like, the statement you madeis just not at all true! There is no drastic difference, and until you have looked at both one after the other on the same viewing equipment I would say that you probably wont even be able to tell the difference! The SR11 would be a great choice.

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First I was a 403user than I was a 405user now I am a UX1user!!!! Plus a Popcorn Hour NMT and 42" 1080p LCD HDTV Life is Good!!!!!
Link to a few raw unedited SD dvd cam sample clips http://www.4shared.com/dir/1728796/25f562f9/sharing.html

Your forgetting a few things you will need to concider:
1. What kind of computer you will be using. Example: If your computer
has a celeron processor, crunching HD video will choke. Its doable
but will take alot longer than a quad core system.
2. What kinf of software will you be using to process your video. Some
programs don't work well with certain camcorders.
Nothing sucks more than coming home with a nice camcorder only to find out your computer or software won't work with it. What kind of computer do you have and what software are you planning on using? This will help us give you a better suggestion. I myself use a hard disk camcorder, (Sony SR100, SD) and get great videos from it. It looks very good on my 50 inch sony tv. Not crystal clear like watching a blueray movie but very good. No different than watching a SD dvd movie. You could buy the most expensive camcorder but the results could look like crap due to your camming abilities or how you processed it. Definately takes time learning this but its so cool when you see the final product you created AND it turned out just how you wanted it. I learned alot from this site and from those who offer there 2 cents in these forums. (sorry, got long winded)

Personally I think Sony HDR-SR10 is better for you.

I ended up grabbing the SR11. There's on on www.provantage.com for $98something. Turns into $995ish w/shipping.

I took this price into my local best buy and asked what the manager could do w/it. He said he could match it. I then told him that tax would push the price well over what I could get it for online. He lowered the price to $950.

Came out to $1022 w/tax!