For the past couple of weeks I've been using a digital camera to record some stuff for my grandfather who will be making a documentary about his making of pack baskets and snowshoes. He's decided to let me buy him a camcorder so that I can get better shots and actually record more than 20 minutes at a time. Looking at spending between 350-500$ on something, preferable from Best Buy or Sears, as thats the only local shops we have.

Anyone have any suggestions on what would be better?

I've used camcorders before, for my own recording purposes, but I'm not really up to date on who has the best of what and want to get the best camera I can for the money.

Thanks.

It's slightly different, yep, but they have similarities.

I don't know where else you'd post this, you could try the "graphics design" which includes all sub-forums http://forums.d2jsp.org/forum.php?f=105 So you'll get not just photographers responding, but others too.

I would suggest a camcorder that records to a memory card type of thing rather than a CD/DVD.

This post was edited by chantal7 on Aug 25 2009 12:13pm

buy a HDD Camcorder.

Memory cards can't record fast enough for the frames per second the camcorder records.
Unless you buy the Class 6 SDHC Cards which are like $70 - $130.

Any Sony Handycam HRC for $499 would work though.

Save up for a 3CCD camera - you can find a used VX2000 for like $800 if you look around.

I have a higher end Camcorder! Well, two and they are VHS, and probably 5-10 years old. I think they cost about $5,000 each when they were new.

But as for help, I would go with an HDD one like Black said.

This post was edited by kratos on Aug 25 2009 02:17pm

If your parents are rich bastards buy a RED. Lol.