Best Camcorder under $300 ??

[Brooke]

I'm looking at getting a camcorder to take to Hawaii....or a new camera.

Does anyone have recommendations for either a good camcorder or a nice film camera for under $300??


Thanks-
Brooke

[Minnreefer]

Brooke did not tell the whole story We would like either a good camcorder, a VERY good camara like a SLR or a very good digital camara. I understand that a very good digital camara cost at least $500. I am a firm believer that one gets what they pay for so I am open to ideas for camcorders that are below $800. I am still not decided that Iwant a camcorder instead of a digi camera.

Thanks

Jon

[ShirleyM]

Hi Brooke and Jon,

You can get an excellent digital still camera for under $500 if you purchase via the Internet. I'm currently interested in the Olympus C-4000Z, and it's 4 megapixel and 3X Optical Zoom. Don't pay any attention to digital zoom...it just stretches out the pixels. Optical zoom is what you have with SLR film cameras, and that's what counts with a digital. 3 or 4 megapixels is excellent.

Digital Camera Product Reviews

Olympus C-4000Z product review

There are dozens of other review sites, but this is one I bookmarked quite some time ago and it was handy.

Where to buy? I've purchased from e-cost.com and B&H Photovideo online. There's a site that had this Olympus for $389 recently, with an excellent rating, so you don't have to pay the sug. price of $500.

Cameratopia has it for $334.00 Scroll down and you'll find it.

Video: Go to B&H PhotoVideo

and click on consumer camcorders....then check all models MiniDV. An excellent choice is the Canon Optura or the Canon Elura, but they cost a little more. There are other excellent choices. Note that if you get a decent miniDV video camera, it will double as a digital still camera as well.

This may help you as well:

Digital Photography Glossary

Hope this gives you a start

Shirley

[Xwild]

Just a quick note. Since I've been looking at the C-4000, I figured I'd check your links. Yup, Cameratopia has great prices. Would never think of ordering from them though. Always be sure to check bizrate.com out for merchant reviews. Here's the link to the one for cameratopia.com

Ted

[ShirleyM]

FWIW, I've never ordered from them [Cameratopia] either, and while I wasn't recommending anyone choose to order from them, I did find them as an example of price range during a "very quick" search for Brooke some time ago. I purchase, as mentioned, most regularly for B&H Photo, and have purchased a couple of items, scanner for example, from ecost.com...got it 2 days later for reg. shpg price.

HOWEVER...I'm glad you pointed this out to those who may have misinterpreted my price comparisons as a shop recommendation. I personally check all the angles out ahead of ordering, and insist on speaking with a real human before any first-time online ordering...in other words, for pricey items, I use the 800 number and bug them to death with questions that are service-related. I guess I just assume everyone is careful who they buy from.

Thanks for the input,
Shirley