How about $365?

http://www.cameratopia.com/products.asp?product_id=10933&engine=looksmart

Products featuring Analog Audio Video Inputs:

Camcorders: Digital 8
Sony DCR TRV 240
Sony DCR TRV 340
Sony DCR TRV 740
Sony DCR TRV 840

Camcorders: MiniDV
Canon Elura 10
Canon Elura 2
Canon Elura 20MC
Canon Elura 40MC
Canon GL1 3CCD
Canon Optura 100MC
Canon Optura Pi
Canon ZR 20
Canon ZR 25MC
Canon ZR 30MC
Canon ZR 40
Canon ZR 45MC (app. $400-450)
Canon ZR 50MC

JVC GRDV 2000
JVC GRDVL 820
JVC GRDVL 920
JVC GRDVP7

Panasonic PVDV 851

Sony DCR PC110
Sony DCR PC120BT
Sony DCR TRV18
Sony DCR TRV950
Sony DCR VX2000

Well, as an owner of the Elura 10, I can attest that while it does have a/v in, it does not allow "pass-through". You need to record to tape first.

Just FYI.

Why do you need a camcorder. Dazzle Hollywood Bridge, at $230 on sale at CompUSA, and Canapus makes a converter, ADVC-100, under $300. Check those out. No moving parts to wear out. There are several solutions that don't require a camcorder.

I have the Canon ZR45MC. I love it.

I *had* the Canopus ADVC-100 converter, but I sold it when I bought the Canon. The AV converter in the Canon works very well.

Craig

If you have absolutely no use for the camera then coxels recommendations make sense---why spend the extra money and have to deal with a complex mechanical system when you can do it with the Canopus.

Thanks for all the feedbac and great comments. To answer a couple of questions, I want to get the video camera primarily for digital/analog conversion (which the Canopus card does), but also for archiving onto mini-dv (whicht the Canopus card does not do). As another plus, it would be nice to own a Camcorder and shoot occaisional footage ( since I don't own one now) but this is not a priority. Also, I see that some of the Canon models are only $100 to $150 more expensive than the Canopus. Based on the responses, I'm probably going with Craig F.'s recommendation and get the Canon ZR-45 for $450, or the Canon ZR-40 for $370. I'm not sure what the difference is between these two models yet.

As I'm not buying for at least a few hours yet, any other thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks for checking out the price, but it looks like they are out of stock! I just saw one for $370 through PriceGrabber though.

The differences between the 40 and 45 are:

ZR45MC can do 640x480 still pictures and saves them to tape or MMC or SD card (MC=Memory card in the model).

IMO, 640x480 is crappy resolution and not worth the price difference. I wish I realized that when I bought mine.

BTW, I recommend picking up a wide-angle lense for the Canon. I bought a 37mm lens and a 30.5mm to 37mm step up ring from BHphoto.com for approx. $42 shipped.

Craig

Thanks Craig.

The ZRs get a bad rap for picking up very noticeable motor whine in quiet environments. The Sony TRVs are MUCH better in this respect. On the other hand, the ZRs have super manual white balance and the TRVs have essentially none. I compared head to head and went the the TRV-18 as a low-end camera

Also, using Digital8, you can save some $ by copying to regular 8 tape, which is arguably a more robust medium for archiving than is the smaller, and more fragile, DV format..

If your gutsy, and have the skills to make a cable (solder a couple ends). Then you can add a white point function in your Sony. Apparently Sony has some functions that are disabled on many of the TRV cams. If you search for "Sony TRV hacking" you should find some instructions on how to do this. I'll be trying this soon to my TRV-730 as I am really in need of a manual white point for consistancy in my shots.

Tim