video camera guidance please

[jojo25]

Hi,

I am looking at buying a video camera. It would primarily be for my son (16 yr. old). Intended usage...videos of an old time string band for uploading to You Tube and link to same on band's web site (which is still in development)...whatever videos my son wants to make. He (nor I) have any experience using a video camera. I trying to find something for him to do besides playing video games on our PC.

I have looked around and am close to buying a Sony DCR-SR300. I am steering away from high definition because it would (I as far as I can tell) require me to buy a new DVD player, a new TV and a new PC (or at least a new Blue Ray DVD player/burner for the PC).

I like this Sony because

1. it has Optical Image Stabilization (which is supposed to be much better than digital, right?) and

2. because I can use a wireless microphone. Audio quality is important for recording that string band. I understand that the wireless mic is propriatary to Sony, but I have not found any other wireless mic for any other video camera.

3. it is hard drive based and, supposedly, much easier to upload the video to my PC and edit

your suggestions, guidance and comments are most welcome and appreciated

[Skyman]

I suggest you have a read of the mini dv vs dvd thread as this will answer a lot of your questions.

Optical image stabilization is a great feature to look for

Almost all digital video cameras will let you plug in a microphone (through a 3.5mm stereo headphone plug) and there are a lot of wireless microphones that can be adapted to fit this connection, the only downside is that almost all of the receivers need mains power so aren't all that practical for portable filming. If you intend to use a tripod this doesn't become an issue though.

Hard drive cameras are easier to transfer to the pc although for editing mini dv tapes will as explained in the mini dv thread edit with higher quality.