Znews.com --
Digital video technology prices are better than ever. Right now you can get a pretty good entry-level handheld digital video cameras for $400-$1,000. Keep in mind, you get what you pay for. But check out some of the cameras below. Some sell for less than $400 (after rebate), and though they're lacking in some features and qualities, you can't beat the price. The following should get you started.
Sharp VL-WD255U Price:$349.99 (after rebate).
Pros: Great price. Good Canon lense. 26x zoom. 700x digital zoom. "Cat's eye" Takes still photos.
Cons:Lower resolution and bigger than other camcorders. No built in light source. No flash memory card included. Complaints about ease-of-use. Low resolution stills. Some users report functionality problems.
[More info from Amazon]
Sharp VL-WD450U Price:$499.99 (after rebate).
Pros: Good price. Good Canon lense. 26x zoom. 700x digital zoom. "Cat's eye" night video. Detachable microphone. Takes still photos. Includes more peripherals than above model (e.g., 8mb smartmedia card, software, more cables, RCA, S-video, serial and firewire outputs).
Cons:Lower resolution than other camcorders. Unintuitive menu controls. Low resolution stills.
[More info from Amazon]
Canon ZR10 Digital Camcorder Price:$499.99 (after rebate).
Pros: Simple to use. Small and light-weight. Good battery life. Analog to digital recording capability (you can put your VCR tapes onto video tapes).
Cons:Lower resolution than other camcorders (460,000 pixels instead of 680,000). Some customer complaints about low-light capabilities. Poor still photos. Casette loads from bottom.
[More info from Amazon]
