# How good are DVD camcorders? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-are-dvd-camcorders/317020 "2005-08-15T00:07:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-are-dvd-camcorders/317020/1 "2005-08-15T00:07:13Z")
I just started looking at them two weeks ago as I’ve never heard of them before then. They look okay but I’m not sure. Anyone have experience with them? ---
**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-are-dvd-camcorders/317020/2 "2005-08-15T00:23:11Z")
I bought a Sony DVD Handycam, and regretted it. There was no computer compatibilty on it, sound recording is sub-par, and the zoom tends to blur more then with my old VHS camcorder. I heard they came out with a newer model that does improve upon the model I purchased but I would make sure firewire/USB 2.0 are supported otherwise its nothing more then a glorified VHS camcorder. I heard they have some good one’s out there now, but I cannot endorse this particular waste of money model. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2005, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-are-dvd-camcorders/317020/3 "2005-08-15T00:49:09Z")
Consumer Reports likes the Hitachi: > [@](#): > > Best value in a DVD camcorder: > Hitachi DZ-MV580A, $590 > > This is the least expensive DVD camcorder we tested; its straightforward controls also made it one of the easiest to use. We don’t have enough data to judge the reliability of DVD camcorders. I bought one of these for my daughter last Christmas - she seems to like it a lot.