Greetings and salutations Benheckers. I'm looking into getting my first video camera, but I can't seem to find any real information on them (lots of "Buy this, it rocks!" without explanations on why). Here's what I'm looking for :
The ability to put videos on the computer for editing
Good video quality (doesn't need to be perfect)
Image stablizer
Decent results in light and dark.
Has to be able to record for more than 5 minuets
And now for the trickey part .... It has to be around or less than $500.
Does anyone know a video camera with all the above, or know a site where I can learn more about this? Help is much appreciated.
Laugh and the world laughs with you; It's inhabitants are an entirely different story.
I suggest getting a Chinese "Digigr8" camera.
Theyre small and very sleek. Cheap ($50 USD), they can record for aslong as you want, and they run off 2 double A batteries. Battery life is excellent, and for memory the camera accepts SD cards. A 512MB card can go a long way. The camcorder features as exposure setting. So you can make the picture or video lighter or darker before filming. (Good for places that are dark, as the exposure setting can make it look like day.)
Cons: No optical viewfinder, only digital. So you have to look at the screen to see what your aiming at.
Heres a few links to some sites where you can buy it.
No. No no no no NO. Please, if you get that camera, I might kill someone.
First, it's digital. And it's 50 bucks. You are going to get HORRIBLE quality.
Get a camera with MiniDV tapes if you want good quality. Also look for 3CCD. Don't go for those, "Digital is better because you don't need tapes! And look how small it is! And look how cheap! And check it out, it can be used as a clock, a radio, an mp3 player, and even a flashlight!!" Please. Don't.
I have a Panasonic PV-GS300. They don't sell then anymore, but that means they'll be cheaper on eBay! Also, look for the Panasonic PV-GS150, if you don't have enough money, if you have enough for a good one, PV-GS500, or even better, yet older and bigger, but who cares, PV-GS400.
That's all I need to say. When someone buys a digital 50 dollar video camera, I die a little inside.
SCM
EDIT: PV-GS150, and 300 should be under 500 on eBay. GS150 is under 500 NEW. They all have 3CCD chips which means way better color. Normal camera have 1 CCD and digital have... guess. ZERO. They have CMOS. Which is like a cheap webcam.
EDIT 2: I just actually looked at the camera Hotdog-cart was talking about. I am begging ON MY KNEES do not get that camera!!
If you're looking at this post and it was made before 2008, just ignore it.
he is taqlking an actual real video camera tho, not some crap chinese 5 in one webcam crap thing. a decent handicam with nightshot and steadyshot can be had for around 300$
My video camera is a vintage 1989 RCA that takes full size VHS tapes, and its output looks better than most cheap Chinese "SuperHyperMegaHappyCam!!" cameras'. You need real optics and a real sensor to get videos that look good anywhere besides YouTube.
I suggest you get an inexpensive MiniDV camera. The tapes are readily available, MiniDV is a standard, and the video bitrate is much higher than you'll get on solid state storage. (Flash memory) Remember, you can always compress video more, but if your source video is heavily compressed you're stuck with it.
It's huge and uses a lead-acid battery but its recordings are really sharp, especially outside. There's alwo a shoulder strap (it clips onto the two metal loops) but apparently it's not included in this auction. The only unfortunate thing is that after 18 years the foam microphone wind shield has become crumbly and brittle.
Show us a picture of that 
