CAMCORDERS - what to buy?

[bbchris]

Hello there!

I'm wanting to buy a camcorder thats

*easy to use
*not too heavy
* not too expensive!

Not sure what is on the market these days?

Are there HD tapes or DVD ones?

how do I get the video footage off the camera and onto something that I can send to relatives?

What brands are good? Sony? Canon?

Sorry for so many questions - it's been a few years since I bought one....

[discobay]

Let me help by asking you how you are with computers. If you have DVD authoring software like Nero, a DVD-rewriter and a Firewire port then you're good to go to buy a tape-based camcorder. If you're not that confident or you didn't understand the previous sentence then get a DVD-based camcorder. There are just a handful on the market. As they are all much the same in features go with what fits your budget and is pleasing to use.

[grandcider]

Have a look at asia.cnet.com for camcorder reviews

[bbchris]

Thanks so much! The cnet site is great. I think I'll be buying one of them new harddrive Sony handicams.... Wading in head first..