Could any of you recommend a decent (but not too expensive) digicamcorder. Image Stabilisation would be a bonus as I know through bitter experience just how shakey your film looks at extreme focal lengths but I'm not fussed about any other bits. I'm thinking Canon as I'm happy with the Canon cameras I've had but could be pursuaded to try something new Sub £200 would also be a bonus as it would keep the good lady off my back and reduce to need to tell porkies!!
I don't actually know anything about camcorders, so I'm not recommending, but just to get you rolling....
The Canon Outlet shop on eBay has a couple of these coming up for auction in the next two days. It is a Canon and has IS and Pixmania sells it new for £197 so it fits your parameters. If you make a lucky bid you could have enough left over to buy the memsahib a present! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-Vide ... dZViewItem
Canon Outlet is the official Canon outlet for factory reconditioned items. I have bought two cameras and have been delighted. They are packed and boxed as new and have a full one year manufacturer's warranty. I know you don't trust PayPal but you can pay direct by credit card.
I've since thought of a cunning ploy for the camera's use (for the good memsahib). She takes the 13-year-old all over the place to race meetings (track and field that is) and is all but useless with a camera.. having the ability to take out of focus shots with autofocus cameras with consumate ease :shock: Zoom is also something that manages to pass her by so.. if I impress on her how useful it would be to take the camcorder instead, this may be enough to swing the purchase in my direction!!
I was looking at both the 800 and 890 so I'm sure the 900 will be similar.. only moreso
If I were looking for a new Digi Camcorder now, I would be looking to get one that records to DVD disc rather than tapes. A quick look on Comet's website I see a Panasonic for @£255 but I'd keep any eye out in the national press for the 'weekend' sales at the major outlets as there seem to be a few offers regularly. You could also pop into your nearest Argos Superstore and check if any camcorders from the old catalogue have not been carried on to the new one - it's case of asking to look at the last catalogue and punch in the numbers to check prices. Sometimes they are heavily discounted without advertising. I've picked up some bargains this way over the years.
There's always seemed something 'unclean' about recording direct to DVD.. don't ask me why as its no different from recording to any other media :think:
Looking at the other recommended camcorders, none seem to have USB or PC connectivity (their term.. not mine) although I find this hard to believe :shock: The MV900 on sale does not appear in the Canon UK lineup so that also worries me :roll: I'll keep looking though as anything is better than VHS(c)
DaveB wrote:The MV900 on sale does not appear in the Canon UK lineup so that also worries me :roll:
Hi Dave, funny that. I did a google on 'Canon MV900' and found this introduction to it from Canon in January this year: http://www.canon.co.uk/about_us/news/co ... _mv890.asp but it's not listed officially now. Perhaps it's been superseded already :shock:
Isn't it annoying when you finally get the money together to buy a new toy and the initial excitement fades as the choice gets bigger and the features you really want are just outside your price range and eventually you get so disillusioned that you just want to forget the whole damn thing . I've just been through it myself but I was saved by the fact that my car a/c broke down and the money went away taking the problem with it
I've recently bought an Hitachi DVD camcorder, that records straight onto an 8cm DVD. I got mine from Argos for £280, it's a very handy piece of kit, it had a USB port, and also an AVI out port. Another great feature is that it has an SD memory card slot in for taking photos, so it two things rather than one!
Sub £200 would also be a bonus as it would keep the good lady off my back and reduce to need to tell porkies!! 
