I'm looking to buy a video camera and have just started my research. My approximate budget is $700 but might be temped to go higher if I find something worth doing so. I don't really care about stills, but that'd be nice. I would rather have high quality video than have both video and still.

Any suggestions on what to look at?

My advice; The Panasonic PV-GS120. It's the cheapest 3CCD camera you'll find, PLUS it has a Leica lens.

Price is a very reasonable $699 (retail) though stores like Bestbuy usually have specials on them.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...Model=PV-GS120

Any MiniDV camera available today is going to take great video and be easy to use, it isn't like there is a big difference in picture quality until you start spending some really big bucks on a 3-chip and/or interchangeable lens model.

You're best off if you figure out exactly what you want the camera for, figure out what features and specs that requires, and make a decision that way.

I have both a very compact camera and a high-end 3-chip model, each of which serves a different need. The compact one is a Sony V20 and I have recommended this to other people who have purchased it as well.

I just saw it at Fry's for $499 last week. It's very small, has a terrific touchscreen UI, nightvision, and great battery life. You can buy the step up model with USB streaming (pretty worthless), better still capability (you won't use it) and a color viewfinder for about $100 more but I really don't think it's worth it.

The touchscreen UI is, for me, the best feature on this camera. Fiddling with tiny buttons while you're trying to shoot something is a nightmare and this completely solves that problem with big buttons and very easy to use menus. That alone is enough to put this camera in front of all the others in my book.

So go spend $500 on the Sony if it will meet your needs. Figure another $70 for the extended 5-hour battery and $40 or so for a case.

This sounds like a good camera. I googled and went directly to Sony's website and found no v20 however. Got a link?

I too can't find the Sony V20. I suspect AlanW is confused with another model number.

Personally I find Sony's to be overrated, overpriced and lacking in the more important features. Plenty of gimmicks like USB streaming and video effects but poor manual controls, also their quality is questionable.

It appears that the V20 has been replaced by the H20, at the same price. It is two clicks from the Sony homepage.

I suspect that ScottC is acting petty and jealous because I gave better and more useful advice than he did.

I agree, your advice of a non existent model number was much better than mine.

As for the "new" advice, Sony has NO mention of an "H20" model. Care to point us to it. I can only assume that you mean the DCR-HC20?

Perhaps you should have advised to purchaae the new Mogotech QuadCCD camcorder?

A google search for "Sony V20" turns up thousands of links to online stores, pricegrabber sites, and epinion ratings of the camcorder I originally recommended, which is still being sold by a number of merchants, likely at a discount.

A person with a functioning brain can likely figure out which camera I am talking about on the Sony site.

Further, my advice was to choose a camera based on the OP's specific needs and not just search for a random model number for a camera with features they may not need. A-hem. I suggested the Sony as a good basic model.

The Mogotech is only available in Argentina, so I doubt it would work for the OP.

But thanks anyway for your contributions to the thread. We all have to appreciate your Dutch efficiency in finding information.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...%22sony+V20%22

Not a SINGLE link to a Sony "V20" camcorder.

Are you using www.google.es?

I did however find a Sony DCR-TRV20, did you mean that one?

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content...der_review.htm

At $1699 it might be a little above the $700 budget of the OP.

Even Froogle has never heard of a Sony V20 camcorder:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...Search+Froogle

Thanks for at least "trying". This finally explains why Iberia is such a poor airline.

DUPE......

When do we get to the part where you two are so exasperated with each other that you just break down and kiss?

There can be only ONE king of the gadgets.

And something tells me he doesn't speak Spanish.

What the hell happened here? My brain is functioning at a full 55% and I couldn't find it on google, at least not on the first page. I'll just crawl back into my...what's that thing called where you go beddy bye...anyway, my head hurts now b/c I have used it too much today. I'm just talking jibberish. I may be functioning only at 49% now.

Is this it?

Sony camera

Help me with the media folks. It looks like some of these use tapes and other use memory chips. Which is the more stable and most cost effective? If I want to get four hours of video, how many of each media types would I need to buy/use assuming I can't download the files?