Help getting my 1st camcorder

I.J.

I hope I'm in the right place to seek help as I am completely camcorder illiterate!

I'm getting my first camcorder and was hoping somebody could advise me on the best one to go for!. These are things I know I need:

- Something no more than 600euro.
- 800.000+ pixels
- Digital / picture editing (e.g. fading)
- Image stabiliser
- x18+ zoom
- Good sound zoom
- Nightshot
- white balance

I'm trying to choose between Canon, Sony, JVC or Panasonic.

I hope somebody out there can help. Plus which is store is the most reliable for help as well as value?.

Thank you very much in advance.
I.J.

daveathome_16

for best prices definatley go to pixmania.com

i bought a camcorder from them in june

paid 340 euro for sony digital 8 dcr trv 255e cam

very good camera, good quality pic and sound

they also have dv cams startin from about 400 i think, good site tho, hav a look

cam i got has all specs or near enough that u listed

davmigil

I'd go for a miniDV camera. Preferably with DV-in as well as DV-out. Make sure the zoom quoted is Optical and don't worry about the digital zoom.

Get an issue of Camcorder User et al for the buyers guide.

All the best,

David

I.J.

Thanks everybody. Its great to have somewhere to start. It is such a massive market.

AntiRip

Sony DCR-TRV255E Digital Camcorder for around the EUR300 mark