On Fri, 12 Apr 2002 11:15:41 -0500, "Tom Simchak" wrote:

>I've been doing some preliminary research into digital camcorders. They
>appear to range price-wise from about $600 to $2500 or more. I am NOT
>looking for broadcast quality video, but I would like the image to be
>decent.

There is a comparison of Sony imaging types (ranging
from normal pixel-count 1-CCD through megapixel 1-CCD
to two grades of 3-CCD, with examples, at:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm
Read the text - some effects cannot be shown in the stills.

>Some questions that I have are:
>
>what are the media available?

DV cameras come in MPEG1 (to memory cards),
MPEG2 (tape and disk), "D25" (including D8,
Mini-DV, DVCam, etc.), and "D50" (half the
compression, in cameras FAR above your price
range mentioned).

>Pros and cons of each.

The first is very low quality; the second
is generally incompatible with most editors;
the third is FireWire compatible with
common DV-editors; the fourth is more
specialized...

>I need to drop the
>video to a computer for
>storage/replay. Some of the newer camera models use firewire +/or USB. My
>computers only use USB, and that's fine with me.

It won't be, for high-quality transfer...
FireWire transfer of the unchanged DV
data stream is FAR preferable...

>What is the typical record
>time for the media. If being dropped onto a computer in an MPEG format,
>what will be the size of the file?

I don't think you would want to, unless
320x240 low-quality images are all you
are looking for...

>Is there a source for all these questions?
>
>Looking for input, suggestions, as to brands, models, etc.

For cameras, these may be useful:
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/vid_pict_characts.htm
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder-comparison.htm
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/sony_dcr-vx2000.htm
www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/camcorder--comparison.htm
www.bealecorner.com
http://www4.big.or.jp/~a_haru/index.html
(nevermind the Japanese characters, just
click on the model names).