Can't decide on which HDV/HD camcorder format to buy...
 

I'm looking at a few different models. The top one I'm looking at is the Sony HC3. The thing I don't like about it is that it can't record in 720p. Only 1080i. I wanted progressive abilities! If I buy the HC3, what am I sacrificing in terms of quality and editing?

Get Sony HDR FX-1. It cost more but the quality is great

How great?

I'd also suggest reading carefully about the resolution differences between HDV and true HD. I haven't kept up, but 6 months ago, the Panasonic HVX-200 was the only camera capable of actually recording true HD resolution. (HDV is a lower resolution that will fit on DV tape; true HD is a higher resolution image that is too large to stream onto DV tape and is instead stored directly on an on-camera flash card (VERY expensive and only about 10 minutes capacity per card) or firewire hard drive. (much more affordable and much more storage, but less robust.)

HD vs HDV isn't an issue right now since there's no practical way to manufacture HD-DVD or Blu-Ray yet, and no one will be able to tell the difference in a Windows Media file even at 1.5 MBit/sec encoding, but it may be an issue in a year or two, and you'd be wise to shoot as much content as you can in the highest resolution format you can afford.

HDR FX-1 is awesome. The best camera for that price by far.. imho

HDR-FX1---- best camera for the price. $1600 USD

thats a lot of money...

huh? where's that?

it starts at $3099 at cnet
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_HDR_FX1...-31085889.html

and costs $3,149.95 at bhphotovideo.

i'd say the only way to get it for that price is used.

depends who's buying :winkwink:

actually $1600 is NOT a lot of money for a good camcorder. in fact, it's not enough to even buy a good camcorder.

check out the canon XL-H1

fucking great! :thumbsup