Camcorder: MiniDV or DVD?

[Klander Brigade]

I'm looking to get a camcorder, but I'm not sure whether I'd be better off with a MiniDV or a DVD camcorder. Most of the stuff I'll use it for is home movies and fun, and stuff like that, maybe some light editing, only like stuff in Windows Movie Maker. Which would be better suited for me? (Also, what about the DVD-RAM camcorders? I hear you can go back over the DVD with the camcorder and record over stuff, but they're more expensive.) Thanks.

[Lionheart1827]

I would say mini dv because they are cheaper and there is more selection.:thumb:

I have a minidv and it works fine for the kind of stuff you want to do.

Check out the Panasonic miniDV, they make some of the best ones. Sony's low-mid end have been going downhill for a few years.

For still cameras however, Canon makes the best.

[POINTLESS5448]

minidv for sure. my brother has a dvd camera and its gay. you can only hold like 30 min of footy and apparently you cant tape over stuff which would mean youre going to need to but alot of dvds. and theyre ugly.

[AA-12]

I have one of the mini dvd ones. Love it.

[PutsTheFunInFuneral]

MiniDV is the way to go. Most high end camera's use them, they are more flexible (in adding chapter marks, digital editing, etc.), are cheaper, and are reusable. The cameras themselves are cheaper. You can also transfer your edited stuff back to the camcorder to be put on tape. :thumb:

The dvd camcorders are marketed toward people who are too lazy to use a computer.

[Who's the Boss?]

If you want the opinion of someone who has spent around 8000$ in video equipment, miniDV is a better option.

[Half Way To 0]

MiniDV is the obvious way to go simply because when you record on dvd it's being compressed while miniDV is completely uncompressed. Therefor miniDV is going to have better picture quality than dvd will ever have.

Plus I wouldn't totally trust a dvd camcorder to not skip.