Recommendation for Home Video Camera

AfricanTech

AfricanTech

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It appears that I need to replace my venerable old Sony DCR HC96.

Any recommendations from the resident experts.

Current choice is between Canon LEGRIA HF R406 and the Sony HDR-CX220E (both around 2.5K)

Would prefer to pay less than that actually but not sure what else is out there that is good.

One of the most important criteria is to be able to get the content off the camera and onto the PC EASILY (i.e. as little proprietary s/w as possible)
 
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What do the reviews say?

After years of Panasonic I bought a Canon last year - Legria HF M41. More than your budget, but really impressed with it. I copy HD files via Windows Explorer, not the included prop software. I imagine all the Canons would allow this.
 
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Reviews for both label them as good enough for home use, however, there do seem to be more moans about the Sony (battery life and PITA getting the video from camera to PC - apparently).

At this point, I'm leaning towards the Canon 'cos it's R200 cheaper (at Orms).

Just wondered if anyone else here had personal experience with either of the two.
 
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I use my cell now. Find the quality is perfectly fine for me.
Started on the S3 and found myself using the stand alone video camera less and less. Only things I really missed was the stabilisation technology and optical zoom. The S4 has now has stabilisation technology so that is sorted. Zoom not such an issue for everyday stuff so okay without it. For kids school plays, I just make sure I am right up front.
Quality of the vids are seriously good.
 
AfricanTech said:
Phew - 74 views - no comments!

:wtf:
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Sorry, even with two dslrs that are apparently capable of high quality video I never use it. On the rare occasion that a photo doesn't convey the message I want to get across I stick with iPhone video.
 
Good points, mike and bwana. I use a camcorder only for very specific events e.g. overseas travel or childrens birthday party. For the rest I use my iPhone...and quality is more than sufficient for my needs. In fact, it is pretty damn good in HD.
 
undesign said:
Good points, mike and bwana. I use a camcorder only for very specific events e.g. overseas travel or childrens birthday party. For the rest I use my iPhone...and quality is more than sufficient for my needs. In fact, it is pretty damn good in HD.
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The quality is indeed pretty damn good but what appeals to me most is I can edit it on my phone and tablet and send it out to any number of destinations. The result is it usually remains brief enough that the people who watch it arent bored to tears.

Same of course goes for photography. I don't know about you but when I was a kid I dreaded having to sit through relatives' slide shows. These days all you need to do is make regular, but limited quantity, updates to facebook and everyone seems to be happy.
 
Thanks for input.

Kids are still at school and I want to be able to do plays, soccer games etc - phone doesn't cut it for that 'cos I can't mount a phone on a tripod and, I definitely need the zoom function.

Have decided to go for the Canon - managed to get my hands on last years model and it works quite nicely, so I reckon I'll be happy with this one.
 
bwana said:
The quality is indeed pretty damn good but what appeals to me most is I can edit it on my phone and tablet and send it out to any number of destinations. The result is it usually remains brief enough that the people who watch it arent bored to tears.

Same of course goes for photography. I don't know about you but when I was a kid I dreaded having to sit through relatives' slide shows. These days all you need to do is make regular, but limited quantity, updates to facebook and everyone seems to be happy.
Click to expand...

LOL - reality is that these vids are for myself and wife when we're into our dotage and the kids are far away.

Also to be used for showing grandkids what their parents were like when they were young :twisted:
 
AfricanTech said:
LOL - reality is that these vids are for myself and wife when we're into our dotage and the kids are far away.

Also to be used for showing grandkids what their parents were like when they were young :twisted:
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By then you would have lost the data or you would have to go to the computer museum to get a device to play it back :p
 
ponder said:
By then you would have lost the data or you would have to go to the computer museum to get a device to play it back :p
Click to expand...

Ha ha - lol - redundant hard drives all over the place + cloud.

Oh, changed mind on Canon and went for the Sony - on special for the same price and feels like better quality in the hand.
 
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