need help finding Camcorder for holidays

[That Guy]

Yeah but a full dSLR is guaranteed to be +400 or more than a camcorder w/ the same capabilities. It's a shame I guess.

[PP Mguire]

Well yea, but the camcorder can't take awesome pictures lol. These days people want so many things in one because laziness is a serious issue. A DSLR works in that aspect.

[Aoshi]

Pretty much. And everyone else who doesn't want to afford a DSLR just uses their phone which may work decently enough.

[foxmobouser]

Even thou I started this thread a year ago around the same time I'd probably still end up getting the same camera (Canon Vixia). It is awesome, pure crisp,clean, colorful video. I pretty much paid for itself, I was able to record my daughters First Communion since professional photo/video by a third party was very expensive.

[Pablo 54]

After a year’s worth of severe use and abuse, the Vixia is still running strong. I liked That Guy’s explanation. One thing to add and I am pretty sure I put it in another posting; I used a similar camera to copy some 16mm reel-to-reel footage (some being 1,000 plus hours). Using the 30fp/1080 setting I nullified the bar roll you see so much of.

[TehYoyo]

Pretty much. And everyone else who doesn't want to afford a DSLR just uses their phone which may work decently enough.

Yep. Although now with smartphones like the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxies, the photo quality is really nice. Although you can't match SLR or something similar like the Sony Alpha series.

Even thou I started this thread a year ago around the same time I'd probably still end up getting the same camera (Canon Vixia). It is awesome, pure crisp,clean, colorful video. I pretty much paid for itself, I was able to record my daughters First Communion since professional photo/video by a third party was very expensive.

Good to hear - if I ever need a camcorder, I'll consider Canon.

[That Guy]

After a year’s worth of severe use and abuse, the Vixia is still running strong. I liked That Guy’s explanation. One thing to add and I am pretty sure I put it in another posting; I used a similar camera to copy some 16mm reel-to-reel footage (some being 1,000 plus hours). Using the 30fp/1080 setting I nullified the bar roll you see so much of.

Thanks mate.

Did you just run an output cable into the Vixia and then transfer the Vixia footage to your computer?

What's the advantage of doing that?

[foxmobouser]

Well yea, but the camcorder can't take awesome pictures lol. These days people want so many things in one because laziness is a serious issue. A DSLR works in that aspect.

Yes and no, the camera does have build in picture taking mode like camera + you can make your own photos from the video you shoot with software and its good quality.

[Pablo 54]

I ended up doing it 2 ways:
When I first started, I used an HD MiniDV camera with a fire-wire cable connected directly to my PC. I used Corel Video Studio to record and trim the videos before outputting them to DVD’s and my server (server holds raw video ~ 11TB worth). The nice thing about that camera was if something went wrong with the feed over the fire-wire it provided a tape backup. This happened probably 10-15% of the time, which sucked but I still had the video. Two years into the project that camera died in a rainstorm. If I were to guess, I am pretty sure I did 70% of my recording in this fashion.
After my original camera died, I switched to the HF R21 and I built (thanks to Bjorn3d & Gigabyte) the computer that is in my signature. I started using the camera’s internal HDD and transferring it at a later time to my PC. This cleared up any issues with dropped feeds over the FW and allowed me to keep my PC in one spot. Prior to this I had to move it across the room to the area I had prepared with the tripod, screen etc.

[PP Mguire]

Yes and no, the camera does have build in picture taking mode like camera + you can make your own photos from the video you shoot with software and its good quality.

I know that as modern camcorders have been able to do this. Thing is, the pictures still wont be as good as a DSLR.

[TehYoyo]

Yes and no, the camera does have build in picture taking mode like camera + you can make your own photos from the video you shoot with software and its good quality.

But it's not the 16 megapixels that you're guaranteed (essentially) with a modern-dSLR. It's just over 2 MP (If I'm calculating MP right).

I know that as modern camcorders have been able to do this. Thing is, the pictures still wont be as good as a DSLR.

Yeah. Depth of field, the glass you're using (or rather, not using), low-light photography and such.