Tips & Advice needed for choosing a camcorder plz?

Just want an easy to use, film the pets, children etc etc, one that can download the photos onto my computer. One that does not have many complicating buttons. Any experience you have using one appreciated too. Thanks!!Tips %26amp; Advice needed for choosing a camcorder plz?
Hi there,





A budget would help, there are different formats such as hard drive, media card and Mini-dv, there are even ones that record onto mini-dvd (don't bother with those) media card and Hard drive camcorders work basically the same way, depending on the size of the hard drive or media card, you can get many hours of video onto them. Mini-dv (tape) Give the best results, but putting the video onto your computer takes more time.





media card and mini-dv start at the lowest price then HDD but all have models that fits most budgets, so the format is your choice. next you have what definition High definition, or standard, today with many people having HD televisions then it may be better to go for HD. as the prices are dropping all the time for them, you may get a real bargain.





all cameras work very well on auto all you have to do is press the record button and go. it will sort out the colour and focus for you.





Techniques, some simple ones when videoing your children, normally the are all little show offs. when it comes to video cameras which is loads of fun, but another way is to just let them get used to youfilming them very soon they will forget all about you and get down to the very serious businees of being themselves and playing, thats where the fun starts. try to film at their level, shock horror get on the floor with them become part of their world, your video will be 100% better. take shots from different angles, and positions. Try getting below them maybe rest the camera on the ground facing up, especially if a child is deep in cancentration, it makes great video. if you film from above don't do too much of it, it makes the children seem small, insignificant, somtimes its needed for the effect but, so many people film all their children that way.





keep the camera steady, dont move around pointing at this and that, it just makes you and the others watching it feel sea sick.





I can go on for ages have alook at





www.mediacollege.com they have loads of tips for videoing.





Have fun





RRTips %26amp; Advice needed for choosing a camcorder plz?
All consumer camcorders have ';automatic'; modes. That leaves the the record start/stop, transfering to computer and editing bits.





If your computer has a firewire/IEEE1394 port, then miniDV.


If your computer has no firewire/IEEE1349 port, then flash memory.





What is your budget?





Standard definition:


Canon FS100, ZR900, ZR930, ZR960.





High definition:


Canon HV30, HF series, Sony HDR-HC9, HDR-CX series.