Best Solid State Camcorder for under us$300, JVC Emerio or Sanyo VPC?

[TriniXaeno]

Looking to upgrade my solid state video recording capability. (currently handled by the powerful multifunction Canon S2IS digicam)

Not wanting to mess about with tapes and conversion....straight to SD is the plan.

I present, for your consideration: The JVC Everio GZ MS100

35x Optical Zoom
Image stabilization
Up to 4hrs with a 16gb SD card
US$254.95

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Everio-GZ-MS100-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B0019BH53Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1252887473&sr=1-3

and in the right corner:

Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9 9MP Flash Memory Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Black)

5x optical zoom
image stabilisation
Up to 4hrs with a 16gb SD card
US$177.00

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-CG9-Memory-Camcorder-Optical/dp/B0016GRFYG/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1252887473&sr=1-12

Both seem to get pretty decent reviews.

Tell me....which would get your $$? Any other contenders?

[woodyear99]

I'd say go with the JVC a bit pricier but 35x optical zoom vs. 5x optical zoom. Would make a huge difference when doing covert ops lol. Nah but it would be good for capturing scenery etc. when on vacation.

Also I like the fact that the JVC has an integrated lens cap that closes automatically when you shut off the camera. The laser touch thing is kinda gimmicky but could make the camera feel more "premium"

One thing though is MPEG4 AVC/H.264 compression available on the JVC as it is on the Sanyo?

[SPK]

If I had to choose from those two, the JVC gets my vote, if for nothing other than the 35x optical zoom...good for all required stalker shots... *hugs my 40x zoom Sony HDD cam* .The Sanyo feels closer in specifications to a digital camera than a digital camcorder.

You might think that 3x/5x optical zoom is all you need, since most cameras would typically have that zoom, but once you get to experience ultra zoom, it's really hard to go back. Just keep that in mind

[rb]

Look for sample videos online on Vimeo and Youtube that should give you a more accurate answer than basing it off of supposed features.

[SPK]

An example as to the recording quality of both:

JVC: Testing my JVC Everio GZ-MS100 camera

Sanyo: SANYO VPC-CG9 實測影片


My personal feelings, having seen both of their performance...for a first digital video camera, they both can fit the bill. For me though, they both are lacking a fair bit in terms of higher quality recording...I'd suggest holding off a little longer and investing in a higher-quality unit later on. If you DO need one very soon, then I'll still go for the JVC.

[woodyear99]

I don't think the samples do these cameras justice due to the high compression youtube uses.

[Spazosaurus]

I agree. How about this one one noob?

[SPK]

I don't think the samples do these cameras justice due to the high compression youtube uses.

I know the compression doesn't give a completely accurate comparison, but it somewhat compares to what I've read about some other reviews for these units, after having seen certain faults...and I know the faults from experience with my own HDD camcorder.

Hence why I put it as how I did:

For amateur/first-time usage, both should work, I'll faster lean towards the JVC.

For more experienced users, save for the better units. Trust me on this one.

[woodyear99]

True I guess it depends on what NGW needs it for. As you said better units will of course cost more hehe.

[TriniXaeno]

thanks for the input, good point on the zoom.

I've got two digicams at the moment. The canon as mentioned before which sports 10x zoom and a waterproof olympus that carries 3x optical zoom. Best they didn't put any zoom at all on that one. lol.

Pales so much in comparison to what the canon zoom can achieve.

lol @ stalker shots.

Looking through the reviews, that zoom needs optical image stabilization. Without it, the video is going to be a hot shakey mess. Unless you use a tripod of course, which I don't plan to carry around with me.

Can't seem to find a decent camera under US$300 with that feature.

El capitan, the one you posted looks good but gets slammed for poor image quality and roaming focus. Too many 1 star ratings there.

His bigger brother ups the ante considerably but comes at a hefty price tag of US$400.00

http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-FH1-Memory-Camcorder-advance/dp/B001Q3M9PY/ref=pd_cp_p_1

Sanyo VPC-FH1 HD 1080p Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 16x advance zoom

(not liking the term "advanced zoom" in there, lol....but reading the specs it optical zoom. Thankfully. Still has digital stabilization though and not optical

Might have to wash some cars and increase the budget to US$400.00, maybe even more for the elusive optical stabilizer to mitigate  the amateurish shakey hand cam effect.

woodyear, use will be typical vacation recordings, events, training sessions, sweatage/tournament coverage and business seminars. That type of thing.

If I can't increase the budget, based on the feedback in this thread so far, JVC Emerio gets the money

[Spazosaurus]

Rememberm its poor iq...for a HD camera. You'll still get better quality than a normal vga camcorder and u get the widescreen, which I feel is of utmost importance in this day and age where almost all living/computer rooms has a widescreen display. As for the focus, well. As you said, that can be a real dealbreaker.

[TriniXaeno]

Well thanks to a heated conversation with el capitan over cameras, came across this beauty.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD

Can you say best of all worlds?

With a camera doing HD vid this goood....who needs a camcorder?? lol Throw in a 16gb memory card and you're set.

Amazing device with incredible quality (if the reviewers can be trusted, and these can be).

Priced at US$300.00 it fits the budget too.

I'm sold. Guess you'll be seeing my Canon S2IS hitting the trading grounds soon for small $$.

[Spazosaurus]

Im inclined to believe all the good reviews. The only 'drawback' with the ZS3 is the avchd format it records in. Its a bit out of the way both in its physical location in the memory and uncommon avchd file format for videos. I currently have a canon sd780is but am definitely willing to sacrifice the portability for this superzoom beauty.

[TriniXaeno]

Yeah, apparently AVCHD, while offering great compression....is a bxtch to deal with in video editing apps.

Luckily the ZS3 supports both AVCHD and MPEG.

So one can always use the mpeg option if you plan to go all Steven Spielberg with the video footage after recording.

Another con, is the battery charger. I heard one person say it is pretty impossible to get a replacement if you lose the bundled charger.

That was a big factor in me choosing the S2IS since it worked with regular double AA. If you forgot to charge the battery, just stop by any store and grab some duracel.

No such luck with this puppy.

Say what, that's the price you have to pay for such a small compact "do it all" camera.

[Spazosaurus]

Mpeg is an option though the file size limit for it is 2gb which equals to about 8 mins of video. AVCHD video recording is limited only by the memory card size. Good thing the AVCHD can be converted back to a more standard format, if u want to edit. I hear vlc plays back that format effortlessly if all u wanna do is watch.

Impossible to get battery charger? Hmmmm I thinks not. Might be a good idea to get one as a backup. Maybe keep it in the car/van/truck/boat/blimp too.

[TriniXaeno]

VLC plays everything! lol

The real issue is in editing the bloody files. Having to convert from AVCHD to another format to edit = time and storage. Lots of time and storage.

Fortunately, I've got zero adobe premiere talent. Haven't edited a video clip in a decade. Raw footage no jutsu.

rofl @ ebay for charger. The same person said they did find one online, in some less than reputable place and sure enough, the adapter did not work.

Your mileage may vary.

I'll try not to lose mine.