Generally speaking, camcorders that record directly to DVD use a compression that is far greater than Mini DV. As a result, the audio and video are not as easily edited. Some techniques can prove unuseable such as green screen or blue screen.

Recording directly to DVD is meant for people who want a record of memorable events but have little intention of editing it to get professional results.

A 9 GB DVD can only hold about 40 minutes of raw DV footage but could hold about 4 hours of home video. The Mini DV is compressed somewhat but no where near as much. If you want to edit results in Vegas, go for the mini DV.

It would be impossible to tell you which kind of camera you should buy without knowing anything about what you plan to do with it and with the footage you record with it.

But since you're posting on a Vegas forum, I would presume you at least want to be able to edit the footage in Vegas and probably add text, effects, etc to it. If that's the case, you will save yourself many headaches by avoiding DVD camcorders.

Rob

Great Camera in that range is the panasonic GS120 (about $550) or the GS150 (About $700 if I remember right)

Both Mini DV 3 CCDs I have the 120 and it does great work with minimal experience/knowhow on my part.

Yes, I do plan on editing with Vegas and I really appreciate the info. It sounds like going with a DVD camcorder would have been a big mistake. I need a camcorder to make music video's for fun but on a more serious note, Mixed Martial Arts instructional videos and to record and edit fighting events.

Martial arts stuff is always indoors and poorly lit. You need something with as good low light sensitivity as you get. It's also pretty fast moving and you will be doing some hand held stuff I'm sure. The best camera by far for this would be the SonyVX2100 or the VX2100, PD150 or PD 170. They're all all basically the same camera. That's going to be a little more than you want to spend though, even off eBay.

What is the best camera for low light in this price range?

The cameras I previously mentioned have good low light capability not great but better than some of the competition. I shoot with stage lights in auditoriums which tend to be lower than normal lighting (the stage hands like to play with the color mix also which is where the automatic white balance is nice) and the result is acceptible.

These also do still pictures and I get better results with them than the older Nikon Digital I have (with or without flash).

MMA fan & practitioner here, where are you based at?

I'm a judo and grappling guy myself. I've never shot any martial arts stuff other than for fun yet, but I definately intend to do some full production stuff as well. Maybe some training videos or something.

ReneH,

I live in Dallas Tx .