I would save a little more money to get the smaller/cheaper Sony HDV. I love my FX1.

If you absolutely have to stick with sub-$1000, then I personally like the looks of the 3-ccd Panasonic footage. My opinion, though.

Others on the forum may recommend looking for a used pro-level camera.

Agree with the above post. Wait until you can afford HDV--Sony's HC3 is currently between $1100 and $1200. The difference in PQ between HDV and DV is like night and day--especially, if you display it on a large HDTV. After using my HC1, I'd never to back to SD. Just my opinion.

wwaag

Bob, don't SD HDD recorders record in DV .avi?

I agree though, if you're spending in the $1000 range, go for HD (that's High Definition, not Hard Disk). Even though HD is MPEG-2, it will look better than SD DV.

A lot of the sub-$1000 Hard Disk recorders record on flash media, I think, in MPEG-4, so you will have the same problems with DVD recorders. You will need to convert for editing, then compress again.

Thanks for the feedback. So the High-Def is mpeg-2 also?
I don't have an HDTV so I'm not sure it would be worth the extra $$.

In most cases the stuff I have done is burned to DVD and played back on analog TV's. Of course that will eventually change.

I believe it's mpeg-2 which is kind of sad. But makes sense with only a 40GB HDD and no way to swap the drive. And lets face it, a lot of their target market likes to shoot EVERYTHING that moves.

Bob.

Yes indeed HDV also uses mpeg-2 but at a much, much higher bitrate than the HDD camcorders.
Even for SD delivery shooting HDV does produce amazing images. Also if shooting HDV really makes you nervous then I think all HDV camcorders can record SD in either 4:3 or 16:9. Also you have the option of downconverter in camera / VCR or in post.
So don't be afraid of buying into HDV, if nothing else your investment is a bit more futureproof.
Of course there are some very good SD DV camcorders going at bargain basement prices too at the moment, I know it's a hard call which way to jump.
The recently anounced Canon HDV palmcorder looks very promising at around USD1300 (I'm certain that'll come down a lot) but for serious work the Sony A1 is a damn fine camera, most of the pro features including XLR audio inputs but it's a ways out of your price range.

Bob.

Bob, you are right about the SD DV prices. I saw a Sony selling for $312 and a Panasonic for about $370 at Best Buy. It is amazing how far they have come down. I paid $820 for mine about 4 years ago.

I am really intrigued by the HD but the budget right now for toys is a little smaller. Still paying for the new laptop :)

Well in that case have a look at the Panasonic 400 if you can still find one or else the replacement (read dumbed down, nice of Panny to learn a trick from Sony) 500.
Even if you don't want to go down (or can't afford) the HDV route then at least get a native 16:9 camera. Hopefully later on it'll upscale to HD and not look too bad. Upscaling 4:3 SD to HD, not a good look.

Bob.

I think I may hold off a bit and go the HD route. Maybe the HC-3 will
come down a bit. I should've gotten my act together last weekend.
They had a tax-free weekend in Mass.

So now that I have decided to go the HD route would I be better off with he hard drive or mini-DV?

I don't know of any HDD HDV cam's out there that are anywhere close to your price range. I have 2 A1u's and 1 HC1 and all 3 use tapes and I don't have one gripe :)

j razz

So mini-DV is the way to go then. I just did some checking and have seen the HC3 for a bit less than $1,000. It only has a 10X zoom though. I'll have to check some other manufacturers as I would like to have a 20X.

Editing HD content with Vegas works well? No downside to the higher bitrate mpeg-2 vs. SD avi?

Paul, do a search on here (not the search in the gray bar up top- why is that there anyways?), between Forums and Forum Settings for HDV workflow. You will run across one from the username johnmeyer. It will walk you through the process of editing HDV footage. Be it is more work at this current time. Now, on the other hand, you can do a simple downconvert in camera and forego those steps, but you will have standard def footage coming into the PC.

Editing HD content with Vegas works well?
Yes. With Vegas 6 and one can only assume it will work even better once 7 comes out.

No downside to the higher bitrate mpeg-2 vs. SD avi?
It is more complex to work with currently due to the footage being mpg, but intermediaries make it easier as do proxies- which are two viable options of working with HDV.

With that being said, the quality if fabulous and I can definitely tell the difference in color from standard def footage compared to HDV footage downconverted to SD.

j razz