Camcorder help!

Ok here's the thing, i'm a photographer and I know a shitload of stuff about cameras. But I am totally dumb when it comes to camcorders. In your opinion whats a really good one and what kind is best to get? Digital memory, tape, or DVD-R?

Post links and/or price range, thanks!

This is a very productive thread yay

digital memory...

i would say memory/mini dvd unless youre going to do a LOT of shooting. for big projects, i want to keep my tapes organised as backup.

It all depends on what you are going to be using the camera for and how much you want to spend.

If you tell me those things, I can help you out more.

Edit: Unless I forget to venture back out onto the boards because they are cluttered and overwhelming. If you don't hear back from me, feel free to message me and i'll help you out.

Spending limit: around $500 (that's a bad thing) and most likely i'll be shooting projects or small documentries

if your spending limit is $500, and you'll only be shooting projects and documentaries, i would stick to tape.
it's easy enough to use, cheap, and only slightly less conveniant than digital.

Tape is more than fine.

If I were you, I would save up another few hundred and look at getting a Sony DCR TRV900 off of ebay. It's got 3 chips (ccd) instead of one, meaning that the camera will have a much better picture quality than the 200 dollar cameras you're going to get at best buy. You also have a great deal of control as to how the picture turns out.

Personally, I say save up as much as you can and get a DVX 100 (A or B)...they're $4000 but they give you a great image, especially when shooting at 24P (don't every shoot trad 30fps video...it looks like shit)...and if you really want great, shell out like $7000 for the Panasonic P2 HVX...it's an HD camera, and the images it gives you are FUCKING GORGEOUS. The untrained eye (most of the world) cannot tell it from film (and they usualy prefer it too).

But yeah, if you don't have the money, get yrself a shitty, rinky-dink sony TRV...they're crap, but they'll get you by