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[The Barge Captain]

I need to get a new camcorder.  Really just for filmimg my kids.  Had a look through the laminated book of dreams (Argos) and there are too many to choose from.  Thinking of mini DVD of preferably HDD.
Any recomendations for something with a good optical zoom, easy to use, and a decent battery life.

[Martin_1962]

Do you want to edit?

Rememeber that DVD and HDD cameras are not as good as DV

[Marks DTM Calib]

Do you want to edit?

Rememeber that DVD and HDD cameras are not as good as DV

Not entirely true.....depends on the model of DV, DVD  or HDD ......

DVD is very convenient,  easy to edit on camera for simple stuff, doen't have to go through a computer or the player to simply play the stuff you have recorded etc...HDD or memory stick based is going to be similar..

I would make a choice based on what you intend to use it for and convenience......I personaly find DV a right pain on the arse, particularly downloading it to a PC then re-formating in order to blow it to a disk....but thats my perference...

As for quality, for what 99% of the population use them for....you wont notice a dam thing!

[The Barge Captain]

Just looking for something to point at the kids when they are being cute, then delete thie bit where one of them sticks their nose onto the lens  
Long term storage onto DVD is the plan, so whatever will be easiest.  We already have a DVD recorder so uploading isn't an issue, although with DV it does have to be done in real time which is APITA

[Martin_1962]

Just looking for something to point at the kids when they are being cute, then delete thie bit where one of them sticks their nose onto the lens  
Long term storage onto DVD is the plan, so whatever will be easiest.  We already have a DVD recorder so uploading isn't an issue, although with DV it does have to be done in real time which is APITA

If you want to copy to the DVD recorder I expect you will need to go real time regardless of camera.

If you want to burn on DVD on a PC you can copy a lot quicker.

[Martin_1962]

Oh go for a big HDD as DVD is not a good real time recording solution at all.

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

[Martin_1962]

FInally the real time download to PC of DV doesn't bother me but then I am a perfectionist and tend to go for best results over quickest results

[TheBoy]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

[Taxi_Driver]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

I have probs trying to burn dvd's in one of my dvd recorders....it consisently fails if i select 16x speed (max for it)....change it to 4x and it usually works....bung the disk in another dvd recorder and select 32x it works everytime.....i would suggest as in my case the laser is getting 'tired'

[TheBoy]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

I have probs trying to burn dvd's in one of my dvd recorders....it consisently fails if i select 16x speed (max for it)....change it to 4x and it usually works....bung the disk in another dvd recorder and select 32x it works everytime.....i would suggest as in my case the laser is getting 'tired'

Or simply not very well matched media/drive - some drives have inappropriate strategy to write fast to certain media.

Either way, have you ever seen discs come out damaged like Martin Imber?

[Chopsdad]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

I have probs trying to burn dvd's in one of my dvd recorders....it consisently fails if i select 16x speed (max for it)....change it to 4x and it usually works....bung the disk in another dvd recorder and select 32x it works everytime.....i would suggest as in my case the laser is getting 'tired'

Or simply not very well matched media/drive - some drives have inappropriate strategy to write fast to certain media.

Either way, have you ever seen discs come out damaged like Martin Imber?

That's not very nice now is it  

[TheBoy]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

I have probs trying to burn dvd's in one of my dvd recorders....it consisently fails if i select 16x speed (max for it)....change it to 4x and it usually works....bung the disk in another dvd recorder and select 32x it works everytime.....i would suggest as in my case the laser is getting 'tired'

Or simply not very well matched media/drive - some drives have inappropriate strategy to write fast to certain media.

Either way, have you ever seen discs come out damaged like Martin Imber?

That's not very nice now is it  

LOL...

[Martin_1962]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

Occasionally while burning it will error and take the disc out and it looks like there has been an explosion between the layers.

Could be something trapped or dust - I do not know and at 15 or so pence each I don't really care - just shove another in and start again.

But I would not trust DVD media with vital data on a first burn. I want copies and the data safe before burning

[Martin_1962]

At least a HDD doesn't "explode" while burning (about 1 in 30 DVDs does this - quite often dust caused or a duff printing).

Really?  I have burned serveral thousand DVDs, and even more CDs, never seen one fail in that way...

I have probs trying to burn dvd's in one of my dvd recorders....it consisently fails if i select 16x speed (max for it)....change it to 4x and it usually works....bung the disk in another dvd recorder and select 32x it works everytime.....i would suggest as in my case the laser is getting 'tired'

Or simply not very well matched media/drive - some drives have inappropriate strategy to write fast to certain media.

Either way, have you ever seen discs come out damaged like Martin Imber?

Oi!!!

[Martin_1962]

Oh the damage is usually around 1 or 2mm diameter not big but it is like a mini explosion