Need new low price HD camcorder: suggestions?

[Thomasio]

My Sony DCR-HC26 camcorder touch screen stopped working. (Are any of you electronics folks able to fix this?)

I'm looking at buying a consumer HD camcorder. I like the MiniDV format, but open to other suggestions.

Hoping to spend $300 ish.

[mulsannestr8]

I have a Sony MiniDV camera very similar to yours. DCR-HC90 I believe. A little shutter broke - thought it was no big deal - It cost $350 to fix.

I only fixed it because it was a wedding gift from my brother. Otherwise, would be sitting in the dump. I considered fixing it myself, but it's impossible when you're dealing with these little things, and I am not bad with electronic repairs otherwise.

I would go with a hard drive based camcorder. Less parts to break. Same quality IMHO.

[Certified Lotus]

Don't buy a tape camera. Especially if your using it for motorsports. I use a Sony HDR-CX110 and used it extensively in my Exige S mounted on the harness bar with a custom mount. It's a bit more than you want to spent, but the picture quality is extremely good. They cost $479 direct from Sony on-line. I have four other Sony cameras, but this is the cheapest and it has amazing performance considering the price.

[Nawambo]

Originally Posted by Certified Lotus

Don't buy a tape camera. Especially if your using it for motorsports. I use a Sony HDR-CX110 and use it extensively in my Exige S mounted on the harness bar with a custom mount. It's a bit more than you want to spent, but the picture quality is extremely good. They cost $479 direct from Sony on-line.

Hmmm, a bit more expensive, but worth it, I got the Panasonic HDC-TM700 - it's a wonder. Highly recommend it, but it's also close to a grand.

Cheers and good luck,
Nawar

[Cegan09]

looking to use it as a normal camcorder or just for automotive stuff?

if just automotive why not something like the ContourHD or GoPro? Both do 1080p and are great for in or on car recording. Also about $300 each.

if you want it for general use i have no suggestions as i don't have a general one.

[Thomasio]

I'd use it for both purposes. I think I might have ruined my Sony by having it mounted in the vibrating Lotus.

[LarryB]

Picked up a Canon VIXIA HF200 HD (last years model). In part because I could use my old Canon wide angle lens adapter from my old Canon std-def camera. If you going to use it in car, the standard lens angle of the 'regular' hd video cameras, crop a fair amount of the interior off. However if you go with something like a GoPro, they have fixed wide angle lens, that are not too useful, for general use.

For in-car, at least go with a flash based unit. They are much smaller and lighter then a mini-dv and no way would a hard-drive version be usable for in car. If you can find a wide-angle adapter, you'll have the best of both worlds.

[ksm]

I hear Panasonic's coming out with an image-stabilized version of a Flip-type video cam.

[Cegan09]

I love the wide angle lens on the Contour and BoPro for in car, especially the lotus, since you get a good view of what is going on.

Example of GoPro in the Lotus

YouTube - Drifting a Supercharged Elise

YouTube - Drifting a Supercharged Elise

But as stated, they make for poor everyday cameras. Since they are all solid state i don't think the vibration will matter to them as much. Perhaps consider solid state memory and not disks for the next camera