You will find camcorders easier to use than digital cameras. Everything is
automatic (well so can be a digital camera if you want to) and very smooth.
Great zoom is available and image stabilization is important when zooming
(forget about the numbers for digital zoom, the important number to look at
it optical zoom and that the camcorder has good image stabilization).
I am more familiar with Sony than Canon since I used them but I have friends
who have Canon MiniDV in the same price range and I would go with Canon
also.
For Sony I prefer their DCR-TRV series MiniDV camcorders. You can check them
here:
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...iniDVHandycamCamcorders&PageNumber=1&Dept=dcc
I prefer these to the smaller models because I can hold the camera in a more
steady fashion. I like a big LCD screen, the bigger the better to see what
you are filming and then review your work on this screen. Look for 2.5 to 3
in. screen. I tried smaller camcorder models, but had difficulty holding
everything steady when zooming and their much smaller LCD screens are not
very useful. The reason for this is that you shoot very differently with a
camcorder than with a still camera. With a still camera you frame. With a
camcorder you follow the action and you don't want to use the viewfinder
because this restricts your vision as to were the action is going. You want
to use the LCD screen, looking into it for shooting and at the same time
being capable of raising your eyes to the scene and anticipate where the
action is going so you can smoothly move the camera in the right direction.
So a good, large LCD is very important, and one you can see in full sun.
I have worked with Sony DCR-TRV-10, DCR-TRV-20 and DCR-TRV-50. All of them
very good and now all replaced by newer models. This is a very competitive
market and new models are coming.
A drawback of camcorders is that they are not that great in low light. They
like the sun! So check their low light capabilities.
Another feature I would look for is nighshot. Available on both Sony and
Canon (probably others also). I this mode, you can record at night or very
low light. The picture will be in black and white but very clear. I have
videos of dears coming to eat corn at night in my yard. Great shots.
Next thing to look for is battery. Nothing beats a Sony battery. On the
above models, I attached a larger battery than the original, using the
original as a back up. Never had a problem. The thing I like about Sony,
there is no battery charger, you charge the battery using the AC adapter
while the battery is on the camera and you use the AC adapter to play the
tape to your TV or your computer.
Finally, these models can also take still pictures (same with MiniDV Canon).
Convenient when you are filming, you can also snap a still pictures on the
memory card inserted in the camcorder. However, you have no control for the
still pictures like you do with a digital camera. In good light you will get
good pictures, but in low light and moving subjects, there is too much
blurring. You have this option with both Sony and Canon. Sony uses a
proprietary Memory Stick to do this, instead of a flash card. This is
annoying. But you can get a 128 MB memory stick from SanDisk for about
$60.00 if you shop around.
You can also look for accessories like a flash for still pictures or
continuous light for video when using in low light conditions. Frankly not
the greatest thing (particularly with people, they resent having a light
shining on them) but it helps in low light, short distance situations.
Finally, Sony has a variety of tripods, some of them will let you operate
the camera and tripod position with a wireless remote. In your application
this may be something to thinks about. Next thing we know, you become a
movie director!
