I need help deciding on which video camera to get...

[79TAKid]

Ive been looking for a week now, on a budget, and I narrowed it down to four cameras, heres all the ones I looked at and am deciding on.. Cant decide which to get, it would be mainly for racing and cars, and id be doing video editing.

Heres the main one I was looking at: the HC36 (handy cam 36)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7602659&productCategoryId=pcmcat91400050050&type=product&tab=1&id=1130982552719 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7602659&productCategoryId=pcmcat91400050050&type=product&tab=1&id=1130982552719)

but then the guy suggested some other ones after I questioned him a little more.....

This one is a 3ccd and he said it would be a lot better than the other ones because it had 3ccd
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7605861&st=pvgs300&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1130983361174 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7605861&st=pvgs300&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1130983361174)
I didnt see any other 3CCDs there...

Then there were the two Hard Drive Cameras:
JVC 20GB:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=WNK2R133OFBARKC4D3HVAFQ?sku Id=7623075&st=gzmg21us&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1130985858450 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=WNK2R133OFBARKC4D3HVAFQ?sku Id=7623075&st=gzmg21us&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1130985858450)

and the sony 30GB (the IS is better)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=J4WUG1S2GOMK5KC4D3HVAFQ?sku Id=7888832&st=dcrsr40&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1149206842361 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=J4WUG1S2GOMK5KC4D3HVAFQ?sku Id=7888832&st=dcrsr40&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1149206842361)

lemme know what you think

[AccidentalArt]

I'm looking at the 20GB JVC too. I'm turned off from Sony, seems most their stuff has something proprietary about it. Could be wrong let us know what you end up with.

RW

[KevC]

3CCD is pretty much what you want.... Panasonic GS500 is amazing bang for buck... beautiful image quality aswell.

[ibdb]

Have you seen this site: http://www.easycamcorders.com/ratings.php

They've got some really good, very detailed reviews and comparisons on a bunch of cameras. They got me started down the road that led to my Panasonic purchase (that, and my brother had a previous year's model and loves it).

[Nekkid]

Hi,
I think mine's similar to that sony one and it works well, no complaints at all. The still pics are rubbish, but I guess that wont be an issue.
Re the HD ones, bear in mind 20GB is not that much space for video if you want to shoot full quality. I just read on the net that one hour of video takes 12GB, which sounds about right.

[Zepher]

anyone of those should do you fine for what you state you are doing.
3CCD cameras can offer better color reproduction, all depends on the quality of the CCD's.

what exactly are you going to film? In car video? Shoot from teh sidelines of cars racing.
For incar, I would recommend a camera that allows for external inputs and use a lipstick cam with a chasecam mount, www.chasecam.com

[79TAKid]

anyone of those should do you fine for what you state you are doing.
3CCD cameras can offer better color reproduction, all depends on the quality of the CCD's.

what exactly are you going to film? In car video? Shoot from teh sidelines of cars racing.
For incar, I would recommend a camera that allows for external inputs and use a lipstick cam with a chasecam mount, www.chasecam.com (http://www.chasecam.com)

Id probably shoot from the side, I can get very close to the cars at the track, and just stuff on the street. Id like to do incar stuff too, Like of me or my dad making a pass down the track in one of our cars. Ill see if any of those have external inputs. thanks for the idea

[Eagle]

My daughter has the Sony and it is pretty decent IMO. Outdoor looks better colorwise than indoor. Don't pretend you'll get decent still pics with any of them, you'll have to carry a real camera with you still.