Help a teacher find a camcorder for school

1. blackfields57
   Member

   
   Hello, I have been surfing this forum for the last hour, and am more overwhelmed than ever.
   
   I have been approved to buy a camcorder for my classroom. My budget is $1000-1200. Now I need to decide on which one, or format for that matter. Please allow me to use your mega-knowledge in aiding my purchase. the uses of the camera will be classroom presentations and projects, school events, and the biggest one, I am going to film our snowboard team this winter, and make a video in the spring. which type of camera would best suit my needs, as far as picture quality, format, zoom, and price.
   
   Thanks, this site is awesome!

   Posted 5 years ago #

2. compusolver
   Member

   
   Are you going to want to edit your video? Probably so, and if you've been reading these forums, you know that means you want miniDV tape for your media.
   
   Have you left enough in your budget for lighting, microphones, tripods, editing computers & editing software, dvd burners & burning software, filters, lenses, etc., etc.?

   Posted 5 years ago #

3. blackfields57
   Member

   
   I have thought about a micophone and tripod, but I will just use available light. We already have computers, and software from the district. I have decided on miniDV, but that is about it. besides 3CCD, optical zoom, and inputs, and firewire, is there anything else I should look for? thanks in advance.

   Posted 5 years ago #

4. On a Roll
   Member

   
   Boy, on your budget you'll be hard-pressed to find a super great camera, but if you spend every penny of that $1200, you might be okay.
   
   My advice would be more in the realms of being careful who you buy from. Thre are a lot of places out there that will sell you cameras like the Canon GL-2 (great for the stuff you mentioned) or the Sony VX-2100 (Even better than the GL-2 in lower lighting) for around your price range. In short, they're rip-offs. They sell you open-box gray-market goods that are probably illegal to sell in the US to begin with, and definitely unethical to sell or buy.
   
   Before you buy a camera, ask us about the shop, or better still, head on over to http://www.resellerratings.com and look them up yourself.
   
   I would suggest using B&H (bhphotovideo.com) or a local service if you can. If I can't physically touch a camera before I buy it, I at least buy it from someone I know that professionals trust.
   
   Other than that, you're really on the right track. Try to find a 3CCD camera that you can plug a mic and headphones into, not to mention Firewire.
   
   Have fun spending our taxes! X-D

   Posted 5 years ago #

5. tpainter
   Member

   
   It is a little more than your budget, but take a look at the ag-dvc20. It is intended for use in an educational setting.
   
   http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=446365&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
   
   Panasonic also has a number of educational programs as well - you might pursue seeing if they can get you a discount or sponsor some equipment.

   Posted 5 years ago #

6. compusolver
   Member

   
   tpainter, that looks like a good suggestion.
   
   This model appears to be a 3-ccd upgrade of the AGDVC7, which would probably be a decent classroom camera. I say "decent" instead of "great" because some of the manual controls are within the menu interface instead of having separate knobs, etc., but you have to give up some things when you're limited by budget.
   
   You may even find the C7 to be acceptable, although it has but a single CCD, and can probably find it closer to the $1000 price range.

   Posted 5 years ago #

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