Starter/Web Camcorder Recommendation

[Dave Webster]

Hello,

I apologize for my first post asking advice, but I'm too technically incompetent to give any advice, so:

I live in Thailand (where PAL is what's available) and I'm looking for a camcorder primarily for making videos for the web. Not Youtube, but my own website. I'll be loading the finished files to my server. My video editing skills will need much improvement, but I have access to good software. Although I prefer as little image manipulation as possible. Fortunately, I am computer literate .. but may need to learn a bit more about Flash as well. I code my own websites.

I've done a bit of research .. and it gets very confusing. I'm not sure I need high definition. I plan on using a tripod whenever possible, as well as a car (window ?) mount sometimes. I do want good optical image stablization.

I'll be doing most of my shots outdoors, but some would be indoor without any lighting. I don't like the idea of having to set everything for every shot, but can do a certain amount.

I think that I prefer either tape or solid state memory rather than HDD or DVD

One issue I face is my location in terms of purchasing. I am somewhat constrained by what is available here .. and prices tend to be "high side of USA prices". I don't believe second-hand is a viable option either.

A great many of the units available here are either HDD or DVD.

Examples of some units in my price range (taken from a local English language web site) are:

Panasonic NV-GS85GC-S MiniDV
Panasonic VDR-D230
Canon Camcorder MVX 460
Sony DCR-SR62E
All the JVC are within my budget, but all are HDD

There may well be better camcorders available, but listed on the Thai language sites.

Any help and guidance you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Regards from Thailand.

Edit: I probably should have stated that I'm an older fellow at 67, but technically oriented.

[Kenneth Johnson]

try looking at the sony pd170 or the vx2100

SD is 4 times what you need for the web



ken