Camera New

I want to buy a new camcorder that uses mini dv tape.Suggestions?

These are my basic needs: -Decent to high quality, or HD recording abilities. -Having a firewire port (editing w/ Final Cut Pro). -Mini Dv compatible And Lastly!!! WITHIN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!!! Choosing what to ask for for bday. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. Have thought about getting a camcorder that has a built -in hard drive? It can transfer videos to a computer or record to regular DVD.
2. A "few hundred"? ALL miniDV tape based camcorders have a DV port to connect a firewire cable... and to your Mac's firewire port. (Well, all but one old JVC I found out about a while back.) Canon ZR900, ZR930, ZR960. All have a mic jack (though none have manual audio control); all use MiniDV tape... These are standard definition only. The least expensive camcorders with a mic jack AND manual audio control are the Canon HV20/HV30/HV40 and the Sony HDR-HC9... and these can capture standard definition DV and high definition HDV formats. None of the camcorders in this post will have a firewire cable in the box, so you will need to buy one.
3. I have to second the recommendation of Canon's HV series. Really nice little machines, I love my HV30. Panasonic's PV-GS series is also quite good if you're not looking for HD. Lots of manual features that you can play around with, and that 3-CCD image!