Best Mini DV Camcorder
 

Lets say I have a budget of $2200. What is the best Mini DV Camcorder I can get? Must have Firewire out.

canon gl1 baby!!!

should I wait for the Cannon GL-2?

Yea, Canon GL-1 all the way! It's my first camera and it's easy to use and takes great video... it's so good you don't even need extra light. I heard the GL-1 is discontinued... How much is the GL-2?

get a canon GL1, its $1,950 on normancamera.com and it has a $250 mail in rebate on canon's dv website. make sure you buy it from an authorized retailer if you dont buy it from norman camera.

I dunno about the canon but i just bought a pc120 (sony)
Great, small cam, perfect quality but most important...at least for me...you can take high res screengrabs...
Most cams take screengrabs at 640x480, this Sony takes them at 1400x200 something i believe..anyway if you resize them 1024x786 you get some really nifty pics...ofcourse it cant beat a digi photocam but still its a very nice and imo an important extra.
Around 2k by the way.

How does that sony interface between your pc? IEE1394 or what?

It's over $3000 now, but like all brand-new electronics it should fall in a few months. My concerns are if there is an improvement worth waiting for over the GL-1 that would justify the wait and extra cost.

Firewire ya, plus also USB but i didnt use it. And you can upload pics through your printer slot (i hope im correct here)
So that makes 3 different connections.

I've got a DCR VX-1000 about 5k when I got it but I thinkn they disco'd the line and u can get one for abotu 2k if u can find a store with old stock

we use 2 xl1's and a gl1 for video shoots. xl1's are the best money no object minidv cameras, but the gl1 is a very nice camera too.

however, sony also builds very good cameras.

We started out with the Sony PC110. (120 now) Great cam for a 1 chip. But when it comes to video you want 3 ccd's. The GL1 is good, but not so good you don't need extra light. You always need good lighting when shooting indoors. Lighting is everything. You could even get away with a 1 chip camera if it's for the web only, and the lighting is good. I would invest a little more $$ and buy a Sony PD150, or DX2000. But the Best one to buy is the Canon XL1s. I also heard Panasonic just released the AG-DVX100. check it out.

http://www.supervideo.com/2002g.htm

Sony VX2000 is the camera of choice, better lux rating.

the xl1 is designed better if you require switching lenses frequently. bulky, but great if you are using camera men that are well-versed in using shoulder mounted cameras. we prefer the xl1 (money no object, and as long as you aren't shooting 1stppov, i think most will agree) - but the sony is a great camera too, no doubt.

Canon GL-1.. Love it!!!

http://bwayphoto.com/product.asp?item=Sndcrvx2000


There ya go thats all you need save the extra $ and get some batterys and a light :)

Im looking for a Mini DV also.
I always fuck up when buying new stuff, end up paying way tooooo much for the newest best thing only to see it drop in price and become second rate 8 months later.

Last summer's purchases were a new PC (the best and newest), a laptop (the best $$ could buy) and a monitor that cost me about $2000.00 being the largest flatscreen I could get my hands on.

For my car I got Alpine's latest sound system for about 2700.00

If I were to buy all this stuff today I would get it all half off.
Not to mention these items are no longer "The Best $$ can Buy" today.


Someone save me the trouble and buy me a Mini DV for my Birthday in 4 weeks.

It will be greatly appreciated.

dont buy from that place. i heard they are notorious for shitty customer service, selling refurb, etc. i just checked their website and the place i got mine didnt have a gl1 since they discontinued it. heres the link for authorized online retailer. i wouldnt recommend buying from anyone that isnt authorized.

http://consumer.usa.canon.com/cgi-bin/online_dv.pl

Maybe we should buy each other a camcorder and both be happy.