Travel Technology - Need instant help! Camcorder shopping

I'm leaving for S. Africa for a 2 weeks safari this sunday 9/12. I have a digital camera already and friends told me to bring a camcorder as well. I'm not familiar with camcorder. My criterias:

* Small not too heavy
* Easy to use. Easy to transfer to dvd, VCR, etc.
* $500 price range
* good shake-reduction feature... (my hands aren't always steady when shooting pictures)

I will have 1 day in Singapore before reaching Johannesburg. Should I buy the camcorder in the US or in Singapore. Please give the price & technical info, etc.. What's the pros and cons from buying in Singapore (i.e. would it use 220Volts instead of 110V?, etc) Also if anyone knows a good place to go in Singapore to get this electronic stuff and how much to bargain, etc... :rolleyes:

Thank you for any helps you can give me.

Both camcorders and buying electronics in SIN have been discussed at length here in the last couple weeks. Scott and I still aren't speaking to each other over the camcorder thread.

It'll be cheaper in the US. Go buy the cheap Sony and be done with it. It has everything you want and won't break.

Neither electrical plug will work in za but you can easily buy a replacement power cord (not charger) there that will fit and work fine. Every camcorder charger I have ever seen will work between 100 and 220v.

I will have 1 day in Singapore before reaching Johannesburg. Should I buy the camcorder in the US or in Singapore.

If you decide to buy a camcorder in Singapore, you should be aware that the video system used there is PAL rather than the NTSC used in the US.

This may or may not be a problem for you, but you should certainly understand the implications of it before buying.