I'm not a professional video maker .. but am involved with my local cable
access TV station. While I can use thier equipment, I prefer using my own.

Currently I use a Sony Digital 8 and a Sony Mini-DV as a second / backup
camera. The Mini-DV is the newer of the two and like most consumer
camcorders these days does NOT have a jack for an external microphone (like
my Digital 8 has).

I've just spent $600 for a wireless mic system, but I can only use it with
one of my camcorders. So, I am looking for another camcorder with a jack for
mic-in that won't break my pocketbook. My price range is $1000 to $1200 and
in that range all I can find (so far) is the Panasonic DVC7 and DVC20.
Which fit my requirements nicely. They have manual override on focus and
mic-in jack and earphone jack and such. I know the quality of the video
isn't 'top end' but it is good enough for my uses. I only wish the optical
zoom was bigger .. I've been spoiled with my 20x optical .. and it HAS come
in very handy on occasions.

Are there any other camcorders that I could consider purchasing?

--
Richard Amirault, Boston, MA, USA
http://n1jdu.org
http://n1jdu.org/Fandom/science.htm

On 27 Feb, 23:27, "Richard Amirault" <ramira...@verizon.net> wrote:
I just got a GS120 EB Panasonic. Its just a family type camera, but I
was pleased as it has many features I didnt expect. It has the MIC
socket (plug in power), it has the earphone / AV out socket. It has a
bigger brother too called GS180 (from memory) which has additional
features, such as AV IN. Both come witha good wired mic, which can be
used to zoom and to dub etc, onto a second soundtrack, useful for
adding voicover, after the event. I am completely new to this, so
please forgive if I have insulted your intelligence. Maybe I'm away of
on another tangent. Anyway, that all I have to say for now. Night
night everybody

On Feb 27, 6:27 pm, "Richard Amirault" <ramira...@verizon.net> wrote:
If I were you, I'd look to leap ahead into Hi Def. Prices are now
down into your price range. I'm not familiar with all brands and
models, but for example, the Sony HC1 has great video quality and does
what you want for audio. The HC3 is great video, but no mic jack.
Stay away from HDD and DVD models, as I'm sure you know. I'm sure
there's other models from Panasonic and Canon that will work for you.
Either that, or save your $$ and buy another Digital 8 for about $300
used. The TRV740 or 840 are great 1 meg per frame models (with 20X
zoom). The code onto tape is exactly the same with Digital 8 as with
miniDV. Of course both types have their own quality range, like most
record 295,000 pixels/frame, but the 740 and 840 record 695K, which
gives great resolution. A Sony A1U HD (what I use) camcorder is a bit
higher $$, but is similar to the HC1 with a XLR audio system for
plugging in high quality microphones, and still has a mic miniplug
jack. I'd look ahead 3-5 years because that's how long your next
camcorder should expect to be used, and buy the best video quality
possible. I know the 740 can be set for 16:9 shooting, so you can
combine the two clips. I have a 740 and A1U and while mostly use the
HD now, the 740 is a great camera.

Jim McG
Washington State