I Need Help--Digital Video Recorder

[Hot4huntin]

I have not tried my hand at videoing yet, so I know squat about recorders. However, my 12 year old son is not into hunting anymore, but does like to sit in the blind and record. It helps keep him involved with the family at the lease.

Anyway, I want to get a him a recorder for Christmas, nothing top of the line, probably not even middle of the line. I would like something under $300.00. At 12, he is still pretty rough on stuff and I plan on upgrading as he gets more responsible. I would like to encourage his interest in videoing and putting together videos.

Any suggestions, advice or recommendations is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

[Hot4huntin]

ttt

[Gerald S]

This one is under 300 and also has 32x OPTICAL zoom. There are more in that price range but they are really all close to the same as far as features. Check out the link and look around that section of B and H photo for other options.

[Hot4huntin]

Thanks, Gerald!!

[SaltwaterSlick]

Hey Dena,
If you or your son happens to have a sony Vaio computer, you could get most any Sondy MiniDV camera and they all hook up together. The sony computers all come with sony DVgate software that really makes video editing fun and easy. You can get a really good miniDV format camera with great resolution for 300 bucks. With the DV format, you can edit, copy, download stills, etc. all with virtually no loss in picture/video quality. You can make him look like a pro video guy for 300 bucks. One other thing that will help with quality is to use a tripod, and if you get a camera with a LANC jack on it, Sony makes a tripod with a controller on the tilt/pan handle of the tripod that uses the LANC port to control the camera remotely. This also makes controlling the camera much easier.

[huntman933]

I have a Sony handycam. It has a Carl Zeiss lens. You can get it for around 300. It plays the mini DV disc. The screen is a touch screen, it would make him a good camera! Good Luck!

[texag93]

Many of the MiniDV cams by Sony, JVC and Panasonic can be had for under $300. MiniDV is the way to go.

[Eric4x4]

That would make a great gift, and maybe get him interested in hunting again.

[Hot4huntin]

Thanks for all the responses! I will check into the MiniDV cameras. It sounds like the way to go.

Charlie, I wish we had that set up. Great information! Thanks for sharing! He is very creative and I'm amazed at some of the things he comes up with on the computer.

Eric, I am hoping that it will help him get interested in hunting again! As long as he stays outdoors and enjoys nature, I think that he will return to hunting eventually.

[Death from Above]

What is the difference between mini dv and mini dvd?

[texag93]

MiniDV is a small tape(Tiny VHS looking thing), MiniDVD is a mini DVD disc that is recorded on. The experts say that the MiniDVD isn't as good a quality when dumped onto a PC and edited for playback in other formats. Hope I said that right.

[Death from Above]

How hard is it to get a mini dv onto my pc.

[mikep453]

Canon ZR850 I just bought one a few weeks ago and I really like it a lot. Good quality camera for under $300. Definitely go with the MiniDV. The DVD camcorders are junk and I've heard the software isn't perfected yet for the hard drive cameras.

[mikep453]

How hard is it to get a mini dv onto my pc.

Its not difficult at all but most of the MiniDV cameras will require a firewire connection. Very easy to install and costs less than $50.

[Swat791]

I also recommend something in the MiniDV format.

Click on this link B & H Photo

it should take you to a page that shows all video their camera in MiniDV format and priced from $150 to $399.99.

This will kind of give you an idea what is out there...hope it helps.

Donnie