Hey all.
I'm in the market for a new Camcorder. It's been a while since I looked for a new unit (I'm currently using a Sony DCR-DVD403) ... I'm hoping you all can help steer my search in the riht direction.
Here's some considerations:
1. I currently use Vegas 7.0 for editing my home movie projects. Won't upgrade until at least the next version, unless there is some ridiculously overwhelming reason.
2. I shoot home movies - mostly with the kids and family and stuff. The biggest "reason" for upgrading is (a) we're doing a big family Disney Trip in June and (b) I've got a 2 year old, and the more "HD" footage I capture, the better the memories will look 30 years down the road.
3. I'm currently using a DVD based Camcorder. I hate it. I thought I'd love it (because I could "watch" the DVDs instantly) ... but the compromises are too much: the compression artifacting sucks, the DVDs I've burned are easily scratched and ruined and working with the RAW video in Vegas is horrible (no scene recognition, etc). Working with tape was infinately easier.
I really like what I've seen on the Canon models so far, but my understanding is that Vegas may not work with their HD recording format. Is that true ?
Also, what do you prefer - tape or Hard Drive ? The Hard Drive scares me a little - how am I going to "archive" that raw footage ? Burning HD video to standard DVD seems like it would be a pain. How hard is it ? Are there editing advantages of HDD units that make it preferable to you over a tape format ?
I'm hoping to keep the price under $1100US for the unit. Bonus points to a model that has good low-light performance, as I'd like to take some video inside some relatively dark locations during our trip (restaurants, rides and the like). Also, Sony's 5.1 Surround recording on my DVD403 is pretty cool ... I'd like a similar mike (even if it isn't "true" surround) if possible.
Any thoughts or recent "reviews" you can point me to are much appreciated.
I'm in the market for a new Camcorder. It's been a while since I looked for a new unit (I'm currently using a Sony DCR-DVD403) ... I'm hoping you all can help steer my search in the riht direction.
Here's some considerations:
1. I currently use Vegas 7.0 for editing my home movie projects. Won't upgrade until at least the next version, unless there is some ridiculously overwhelming reason.
2. I shoot home movies - mostly with the kids and family and stuff. The biggest "reason" for upgrading is (a) we're doing a big family Disney Trip in June and (b) I've got a 2 year old, and the more "HD" footage I capture, the better the memories will look 30 years down the road.
3. I'm currently using a DVD based Camcorder. I hate it. I thought I'd love it (because I could "watch" the DVDs instantly) ... but the compromises are too much: the compression artifacting sucks, the DVDs I've burned are easily scratched and ruined and working with the RAW video in Vegas is horrible (no scene recognition, etc). Working with tape was infinately easier.
I really like what I've seen on the Canon models so far, but my understanding is that Vegas may not work with their HD recording format. Is that true ?
Also, what do you prefer - tape or Hard Drive ? The Hard Drive scares me a little - how am I going to "archive" that raw footage ? Burning HD video to standard DVD seems like it would be a pain. How hard is it ? Are there editing advantages of HDD units that make it preferable to you over a tape format ?
I'm hoping to keep the price under $1100US for the unit. Bonus points to a model that has good low-light performance, as I'd like to take some video inside some relatively dark locations during our trip (restaurants, rides and the like). Also, Sony's 5.1 Surround recording on my DVD403 is pretty cool ... I'd like a similar mike (even if it isn't "true" surround) if possible.
Any thoughts or recent "reviews" you can point me to are much appreciated.