I'm looking for a new digital video camera, there are lots of choices so I need some help. Is the DVD digital worth looking at? I've been looking at the sony trv38, It has a large swivel screen and is priced under a thousand. Any thoughts? help!

The only advantage of the DVD camcorders is that you can pop the DVD into most DVD players and watch it. I record video to edit it and make a video so that feature doesn't appeal to me. You could still capture video from the DVD to your computer but the quality will be poor compared to a miniDV tape. <BR> <BR>The TRV38 is a nice camera and would work well for shooting wakeboarding and general use. <BR>

Bill, thanks for the info. Is the sony the best or should I look at other brands as well. I've noticed more features for less money with some of the others like the jvc.

From my experience the top brands offer similar quality and since it's a standard, video quality is almost exactly the same. That changes as you get into the 3ccd cameras. <BR> <BR>So other brands to look at: Canon, JVC, Panasonic <BR> <BR>If you're a Costco member they have some pretty good deals. Otherwise there are reputable shops online such as B&amp;H Photo and others. Otherwise just wait for a sale at someplace like Best Buy or Circuit City. At least you have plenty of options since your budget is $1000. It's a lot more limited when people can only afford $300 or $400. <BR> <BR>Remember to include a camera case, spare high capacity battery, blank tapes and maybe a tripod. For shooting inside a wide angle lens is a good idea, the telephoto ones are generally useless. <BR>

great info, thanks

i would second the wide-angle lens. i got one for my sony when i was shooting a short film and it made a world of difference. i specifically got it because i was shooting with a steadicam jr and needed to be able to maneuver in tight spaces, but its good for shooting wakesurfing too. <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":-)" BORDER=0>

One camera to look at if you can increase your budget slightly is the new Panasonic PV-DV953. It was the first 3CCD video camera under $2,000. I've seen it listed for less than $1,200 already. There's a full review online: <a href="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/panasonic-pv-dv953-camcorder-review.htm" target="_blank">http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/panasonic-pv-dv953-camcorder-review.htm</a> <BR> <BR>That site is a good one for product information and reviews. You might want to spend some time checking it out before making a decision. <BR> <BR>

Bill, that camera is nice, how much better will the 3 chip make the final edited video look? <BR>Sorry for the stupidity, the last camera I owned was an 8mm, Hi 8 was just becoming affordable.

HI tom, the chip kicks assss BUt if u are shooting strictly for personal use, than i would stick to a cheaper camera, unless u want the best! a 3chip makes a world of difference!

tom, the 3chips definitely have much better resolution, but it depends what your final format is going to be - if you're only shooting stuff that's going to be put up on the web for fun, i wouldn't spend the extra for the 3c. but if you're looking to master to dvd...