Alright guys...need some help here.
We are expecting our first baby in Oct. and the admiral and I would like to invest in a camcorder.
I have heard that HD is overrated unless you have a blueray burner/player to actuall burn the HD movies to and watch on.
Also I hear that the software to edit the HD filming is very difficult to use and not fun at all.
Looking to spend no ore than 1000 but prefer to be around 600-700.
I have looked at the Cannon Vixia and SOny as well.
Give some some feedback please!

I'm a bit dated on what's out there now, so don't feel comfortable with any recommendation, but you might try here as a start:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

I'd bet the choices are fairly similar, first deciding on recording format (MiniDVD, MiniDV(tape), Hard Disk based, or Flash media??)

I wouldn't rule out High Def. I would assume most High Def capable camers might allow you to record in Standard Def, or provide tool/apps to allow the material to be downconverted/recoded, but again I have fallen a year or two behind current happenings.

Always look at low light (best described as basic room light) performance, that traditionally separated the men from the boys, looking at color accuracy and most importantly noise.

Canon, Panasonic, and Sony always had good offerings, with JVC also usually mentionable.

I would stay among these, even without knowing exatly what's out there now.

Good Luck.

If I had to buy one over the next month or two, personally I'd stick with a high quality standard def MiniDV cam. I only say this because I think HD cams and all the peripherals that will need to go with them will mature over the next year or two - but aren't there yet.

I bought a new Canon less than a year ago that I'm pretty happy with, but I expect to need to buy another one in less than 4 years.

We bought a Mini DV one earlier this year. Actually one that had been discontinued because it was better than the currently produced crop of Mini DV cameras. So far so good though we haven't used it much.

We got our off ebay form Best Buy Outlet. Couldn't be happier.

Thanks guys.....Can you guys elaborate on the process of editing these mini dv's? Software, etc?

I don't plan on upgrading every couple of years as some do with PC's so I want to make sure I get the best bang for my buck.
I think I could really start to enjoy making some clips of boating experience, family time, etc.

SB, there is a BB outlet on ebay? Should I just search for it under Best Buy in electronics?

Some Quick Pro's and Cons on media.

MiniDV (Tape)
Pro's
Recording Time
Less Compression
Media (Tape) Availability
SD and some HD Cameras
Storability (Stack 'em in a shoebox...)
Con's
Format is easing out
1:1 Transfer time to computer
Liner playback from tape/ cannot jump to a section
Computer needs a firewire port (preferred) to transfer. (Some camcorders support transfer over USB, but less efficient)

Mini DVD
Pro's
Plug and Play
Portability
Media Availability
SD and some HD Cameras
Storability
Can jump to chapters/scenes
Con's
Recording Time (~20min for SD material, less for HD)
More Compressed
Must finalize disk to keep from making a coaster

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or Flash Media (SD/SDHC Cards)
Pro's
Portability
Media Availability (Flash Media)
SD and some HD Cameras
Storability (Flash)
Can jump to chapters/scenes
Drag and Drop to Computer
Con's
Limited Recording Time (Media Size Dependent)
More Compressed
HDD must be downloaded to keep from filling up
Stuck or must delete if filled up while on location
Small parts to keep up with (Flash/ SD Cards)

Some benefits to each one, depending on YOUR needs. As for apps, I'm sure most Camcorders and or compuer DVD RW drives will at least come with some 'Limited Edition' (LE) app that will allow you to do some basic editing/movie making functions, I guess.

Ok forgive my ignorance here but what is the difference between mini dv and mini dvd?

miniDV is Tape based. It records digital video on a cassette about 2/3 the size of an audio cassette.

For me i went with HD full 1080i being that is where things are heading..

For much more info if you want try this forum i use it for editing

http://www.videoforums.co.uk/

As for "editing"-- Just an old man's perspective here, but:

I just plain do not have the many many spare hours necessary to learn how even the most basic editing program works, nor the free hours and hours needed to do any actual editing. And even when I've finally accomplished an editing "feat", I always find I'm saying to myself "geez, was that worth all the time it took to do it?"

SO-- just as I've done since 1991 when I got my first camcorder, I find the simplest, easiest thing to do is to just copy everything verbatim, as it was recorded, onto the storage media of my choice, and be DONE with it!

I do sympathize with you FR, however "many many spare hours necessary to learn" is just not the case with the simpler consumer grade editors. If you can manage to burn a DVD, you can run one of those editors.

Kelly

My use of editors is limited to whatever microsoft put on the computer I'm using. And I have not failed yet to have (not responding) show up in the middle of a session. Kind of like the old days of having 2 hours worth of typing in this box here disappear because my thumb accidentally hit a wrong button---very aggravating...

Fair point. For a very llloooonnnngggg production LOTS of editing will be needed. With greater chance of a crash. The usual consumer editors aren't really set up for very long productions.

FWIW the only MS software I use is IE. For everything thing else I've found something better (IMHO).

Most cameras come with a CD with some sort of consumer level editor. They usually do work. Of course if you're buying cameras used, then the CD may be missing.

Kelly