# I love/ hate my camcorder... its a \_\_\_ **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-hate-my-camcorder-its-a-___/22999 "2000-06-20T16:55:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-hate-my-camcorder-its-a-___/22999/1 "2000-06-20T16:55:23Z")
Good afternoon, I have been to [productopia.com](http://www.productopia.com/1c/0,1524,1-71-G,FF.html), [activebuyersguide.com](http://www1.activebuyersguide.com/start.cfm), [etown.com](http://www.etown.com) and a host of other sites / buyers guides on the net looking for a camcorder. Lots of ways to compare features, lots of information as to what features to look for. But I have not found a lot of comparisons between brands in terms of quality of image (optics), etc. I have not found a reliable site (i.e. no advertising) where a review comes out and says, this camcorder bites, this one is great, this one is so-so, and so on. Sooo…. I am turning to the TM, in hopes of getting a thought or two or a good recommendation to go on. Here is what I am looking for: I am hoping to get this as a gift for an expectant father (broofrhythmdvl - I know he hits the boards once in a while, though I’m pretty sure he doesn’t visit IMHO. If he does…um, SURPRSIE! Any requests?) What I know so far is that I’d prefer to go with 8mm, it should have a view finder and image stabilization. Other features are good, but those are the main things I’d like to focus on. I am hoping to keep this in the neighborhood of (or under) five hundred dollars. What do you say? Any horror stories out there - things I should avoid? Any one happy with their choice and want to share? Comments or additional resources? Thanks, Rhythmdvl ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-hate-my-camcorder-its-a-___/22999/2 "2000-06-20T17:29:44Z")
Years ago, when they first came out, I grabbed a Sony. I was very happy with it. They have changed so much that there isn’t really a comparison with todays cams. You should look for a cam that reproduces a nice clean picture in low light. The lower the lux number, the better. An anti-jiggle feature comes in handy too. My cam had 12x zoom, now they go up to eleventy jillion x zoom. Hope this helps. Regards, Graeme ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-hate-my-camcorder-its-a-___/22999/3 "2000-06-21T01:39:32Z")
Consumer Reports Online shows camcorders were reviewed on 10/99. To see the article online, you have to subscribe. One month costs $3.95 (be a bit careful, because it renews automatically).