What's the best HD video camera for 800 dollars?

Going to college soon and be majoring in film so I need a camcorder. Have a 1000 to spend but only 150-200 for video editor the rest for a camera.

I need a camera that shoots great quality film close to what professionals use.

Answer by Light
Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom is the best choice for $ 800 camcorder or if you can pay a bit more Canon VIXIA HF20 HD Dual Flash Memory w/32GB Internal Memory & 15x Optical Zoom come with better zoom
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26rs%3D110770011%26high-price%3D800%26x%3D0%26ref%255F%3Dsr%255Fnr%255Fp%255F36%255Fpr%26low-price%3D500%26bbn%3D172421%26y%3D0%26qid%3D1242865975%26rh%3Dn%253A502394%252Cn%253A172421%252Cn%253A110770011&tag=computer0bd-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Answer by B Tiger
i recommend Sony HDR-UX20 4MP DVD Hybrid Plus High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 8GB Flash Memory & 15x Optical Zoom

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Meeting the new Canon clan – 1D Mk IV


Image by Axel Bührmann
Roadshow previews: here and here

It really is much better viewed on black using Fiveprime’s Black Magic

At a round table discussion with Canon’s Roger Machin today (more in-depth detail here); met the new Canon clan – 1D Mark IV and new lenses (that 100m macro is something else – fast zoom, light and crisp).

Then there’s the EOS 7D, which I have my pecuniarily-challenged eye on.

There is also a piece on how Canon is pushing the 7D megapixel boundaries here

Here’s the EOS-1D Mark IV press release

Canon SA has announced the EOS-1D Mark IV – a high-speed, professional Digital SLR (DSLR) camera designed to empower photographers to capture split-second moments in high resolution, under the most challenging of conditions.

The EOS-1D Mark IV has been designed for shooting action, sports, news events and wildlife photography, delivering the necessary speed, power and high-resolution images required by photographers in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.

Developed incorporating feedback from professional photographers, the EOS-1D Mark IV features a new Canon 16.1MP APS-H CMOS sensor and a brand new 45-point Auto Focus (AF) system with 39 f/2.8 sensitive cross-type points, providing a wide selection of precise focus areas across the frame.

Additionally, dual "DIGIC 4" processors provide the power to shoot continuous, high-resolution images at up to 10 frames per second (fps), as well as delivering the widest ISO range ever to feature in a Canon camera.

The Canon EOS-1 Mark IV offers the following features:

•New 16.1 Megapixel APS-H CMOS sensor
•10 frames per second continuous shooting
•Up to 121 large JPEG images in a single burst
•New 45-point wide area AF with 39 cross-type sensors with f/2.8 sensitivity
•High-speed Dual "DIGIC 4" processors for superb image quality
•12,800 high ISO expandable up to 102,400
•Full HD movie recording at 30, 25 and 24 frames per second
•3.0‛ Clear View II LCD with Live View mode
•Durable dust and water resistant body with 76 rubber seals
•Compatible with all Canon EF lenses, and Speedlite EX flashes
•Also available – new EOS-1D Mark IV Wireless Transmitter WFT-E2 II (also compatible with existing Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2)

Comments Roger Machin, photo/video product manager at Canon Consumer Imaging SA: "The EOS-1D Mark IV has been developed with the specific needs of photographers in mind. We've taken the feedback of photographers to heart and as a result produced a Digital SLR tailored to their exact requirements. The EOS-1D Mark IV is packed with advanced features that enable photographers to take high-quality images quickly and accurately."

Highly sensitive, cross-type focusing – capture every detail at speed

The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV's new 45-point AF system, with 39 f/2.8 sensitive cross-type points located across the frame, provides consistent AF on static or moving subjects, no matter which AF point is being used. All 45 AF points are user selectable and now more sensitive, with the AF points towards the edge of the frame offering identical levels of performance to those in the centre.

The entire AF system is managed by a dedicated microprocessor, providing fast, accurate focusing – even when shooting continuously at 10fps. Canon's newly-evolved AI Servo II AF offers more precision when tracking moving objects, utilising the power provided by the dedicated microprocessor to improve overall tracking accuracy and increasing focus reliability in low-contrast and extremely bright conditions.

Additionally, to provide increased flexibility, a vast range of manual and automatic AF control options are available including – with lenses featuring an AF Stop button – Canon's new Spot AF feature. Spot AF offers a more precise focus area to meet the needs of photographers that require pinpoint focusing. A 63-zone metering system enables the use of multiple metering modes, with the dedicated sensor linked to the 45 AF points, providing AF point-linked and multiple spot metering options.

The EOS-1D Mark IV also features orientation-linked AF points, an orientation sensor controlled feature that enables photographers to store separate AF points for different camera positions. Covering both horizontal and vertical shooting positions (both grip up and grip down), orientation linked AF points offers the flexibility to quickly change camera orientation when shooting with the AF settings switching to suit the subject. AF point registration enables the photographer to store an alternate AF point that can be used at the touch of a button.

The power and performance of Dual "DIGIC 4" and CMOS

The combination of a custom-designed, high resolution 16.1MP APS-H CMOS sensor and Dual "DIGIC 4" processors ensures that detailed, crisp images are delivered at high speeds.

The inclusion of an APS-H sensor combines a high pixel-count with an effective field of view measuring 1.3x the focal length of the lens. This provides immediate benefits for sports, news and wildlife photojournalists, who operate on-the-move and need to get closer to their subjects and maintain fast apertures without resorting to longer focal-length lenses – which are typically heavier.

Continuous shooting is facilitated by the sensor's eight-channel data read out, which provides a rapid read sequence and makes full use of the Dual "DIGIC 4" processors to enable high-speed 10fps shooting at full 16.1MP resolution, while maintaining image colours through 14-bit analogue to digital (A/D) conversion.

The ability to shoot images at 10fps, without any drop in resolution, means the EOS-1D Mark IV features the fastest continuous shooting with Auto Focus currently available from a Canon DSLR. The increased processing capacity of Dual "DIGIC 4"processors manages the increased data created by the 60% rise in image resolution, while still enabling the EOS-1D Mark IV to deliver a continuous burst of up to 121 large JPEGS, or 28 RAW images using a UDMA 6 card – ideal for fast-moving sporting action or news events where scenes are unfolding quickly.

The EOS-1D Mark IV also includes updated Picture Styles and the first ever integration of ALO (Auto Lighting Optimizer) in a professional EOS body, automatically correcting the contrast and brightness of images as they are recorded.

These features combine to provide a faster workflow for those requiring press-ready images direct from the camera without the need for retouching, enabling photographers to concentrate solely on capturing that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

Full compatibility with the latest UDMA 6 standard Flash memory cards also ensures that image data is rapidly written to the EOS-1D Mark IV's CF memory card. In addition, the flexibility to also record to a Secure Digital/SDHC memory card allows photographers to keep shooting for longer until they get the shot they need.

Advanced performance in low-light

The EOS-1D Mark IV also delivers extreme low-light performance. Standard ISO on the EOS-1D Mark IV ranges from 100-12,800, while extended ISO ranges from a low of 50 to 102,400 – the highest ISO ever offered by a Canon SLR. This extreme low-light performance makes the EOS-1D Mark IV ideal for night shots or shooting at evening events, where the lack of light would normally make shooting impossible.

Intelligent noise reduction techniques keep chroma and luminance noise to a minimum, while maintaining colour balance, but never take control of the overall image quality away from the photographer. The architecture of the new 16.1MP APS-H CMOS sensor, featuring gapless microlenses with less surrounding circuitry and more sensitive, high-capacity photodiodes, also ensures that all available light is used as efficiently as possible to maximise ISO performance in low light conditions.

Built for extreme use – robust, weatherproof and portable

Light for its category, the EOS-1D Mark IV features a full magnesium alloy body, providing protection against knocks and bumps. The EOS-1D Mark IV has also been the subject of some subtle ergonomic redesigns, with the buttons reshaped and given a more defined 'click' when pressed, to make life easier for photographers operating in more extreme weather conditions where gloves may be necessary

The EOS-1D Mark IV is protected by a total of 76 rubber seals fitted around the controls and cover seams, making the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV dust and water resistant when used in tandem with Canon's range of weather-resistant EF lenses and Speedlite EX flash units.

The 920,000 dot, VGA resolution, Clear View II LCD makes it easy to instantly review images and video in the most challenging conditions. By filling the gap between the LCD panel and the protective cover screen with a photo-elastic material, Canon has been able to reduce light reflection, resulting in the clear display of images. The previously acrylic cover has also been replaced by reinforced glass, providing strong, scratch-resistant protection for the screen.

Also, the EOS-1D Mark IV features the EOS integrated cleaning system, which automatically eliminates dust on the sensor – ensuring reliable image quality when shooting in testing outdoor environments.

Cinematic, High Definition video

In addition to providing high-quality still image performance, the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV features EOS Movie function, providing the ability to capture 1080p High Definition (HD) video at 30, 25 and 24fps and 720p footage at 60 and 50fps. As well as complete compatibility with PAL, NTSC and native 1080/24p cinematic frame rates, the EOS-1D Mark IV offers full manual exposure, providing film makers and photographers with control over depth of field.

The EOS-1D Mark IV features a programmable button to enable quick movie shooting, allowing photographers to record HD video instantly at the touch of a single button. The EOS-1D Mark IV also features a mini HDMI output, enabling video and images to be viewed directly on compatible HD-ready TVs.

Advanced customisation

Canon's EOS-1D Mark IV is highly customisable, allowing photographers to take complete control of the camera's features. Auto Exposure (AE) and Flash Exposure (FE) micro-adjustments allow photographers to fine tune the exposure for any given purpose, enabling them to perfectly match two separate cameras for consistent results or simply adjust the settings to meet specific personal requirements and tastes.

Preferred user profiles can also be stored to memory card and subsequently transferred to other EOS-1D Mark IV bodies, so that photographers can seamlessly transfer their profile to another body if required.

Further customisable features include the ability to add copyright information directly in the camera. This enables photographers to embed their details within each shot as standard, removing the need for retrospective data insertion, and allowing news photographers to get shots to picture desks in the shortest time possible.

An integrated microphone also allows the recording of audio notes to accompany each image, which will directly benefit photographers who wish to keep a record of the content of each image as they shoot.

The EOS-1D Mark IV is compatible with all existing EOS-1D Mark III accessories, EF lenses (excluding EF-S lenses) and EX Series Speedlite flash units. Untethered shooting and image transfer are available with the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2 II. New EOS-1D Mark IV accessories will also be backwards compatible with EOS-1D Mark III bodies, subject to a firmware upgrade

I’m looking for a Very nice Video camera /camcorder for a my mothers business. Basically we will be recording, workouts and other things in a cinematic style. I will also be using it for filming skateboarding, paintball (it’ll be protected by my case) and snowboarding. I’m looking for the Best Video Camera for this objective. There is NO LIMIT on the money.
I am not looking for any professional cameras, such as the Film/ TV ones and ones that are bulky. Just simply a consumer level one that is very Top Of The Line.
So to sum up
top of the line video camera
Money is no problem
Must be HD
Must have Hard Drive built in

Also: It would be awesome if you could recommend some editing software as well. Just what ever you think is the very best

Thankyou everyone

Answer by jfs1988
I have a JVC Everio MG230 Silver Hybrid HD Digital Camcorder. I bought it at Walmart.com for about $ 240. The size is great and its easy to transfer video to pc. However there are lighting issues(they work better outside) and they work better with a tripod. Its a budget camera but with good qualities.

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Sony HVR-HD1000U MiniDV 1080i High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

• Enhanced mobility and professional aesthetic with this shoulder-mount design and black matte body
• HDV1080i recordings can be captured on DigitalMaster professional tape as well as consumer MiniDV
• Built-in down-converter creates DV material, perfect for standard DVD productions
• Easy viewing with this large, freely rotating 2.7-inch LCD screen
• Features a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonner T* lens with 10x optical zoom

The Sony HVR-HD1000U is an HDV camcorder specifically designed for videographers looking for an affordable shoulder-mounted camera. Ideal for event work and wedding videography, the camera is equipped with a ClearVid CMOS sensor, capable of recording 1080i high definition footage on a standard MiniDV tape. Additionally, the HVR-HD1000U comes fitted with a 10x Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens with Super SteadyShot image stabilization, ensuring operators get the perfect shot every time. These features

List Price: $ 1,850.00

Price: $ 1,549.95