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beginner camcorder option to record 2 hr sermons twice a week

can you suggest a a decent entry level camcorder that with possible option to transfer the media quickly to external drive or dvd?

the regular camera is not able hold long speeches... (memory issues)... we can get bigger memory,but wondering for any better transfer options.

the concept is for a new small church where people are going to ask for recordings later.. so if they can be transfered to dvd or external drive, it can be duplicated or uploaded to youtube..

thanks.

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Gregory Miller

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25112

ASKER

thanks for the idea of using reg camera..

can you suggest a link for all the items (camera, cable, dvd writer) you describe that may fit in the range of 600$ as you mentioned..

also, would it make better sense to write to an external disk first instead of a dvd.. and then make copies to dvd from exernal drive as needed?

below are some items i was looking at.. if you have better suggestion for the above purpose, kindly share links of other products that may fit better.

http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Exilim-Ex-ZR700-Digital-EX-ZR700BK/dp/B00B7D8GQO
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-External-Drive-SE-208DB-TSBS/dp/B009QBIZ60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817395008
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815024
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148834

Gregory Miller

Really, the products you use are going to boil down to what you like for the price you can afford. I would love to tell you to buy this, this and this and you would be all set but the reason why I will not is that every camera will have a different output quality as does every recorder. It is in your best interests to take this information to a place like Best Buy or some other retail type store to lay hands on the devices and see exactly what you are going to be getting. I think this will save you frustration and time lost due to quality of output factors. Do not feel compelled to buy retail and take your search for specific products back to the web to see if you can get better pricing.

As for the products list above, you have USB devices listed. When I suggest a direct input, I mean using an HDMI or RCA video out connection to the video input connection of a standard DVD recorder. The DVD recorder is the type you connect to a TV, not computer. I think this might cover the HD question as well since you were thinking of taking this to a computer via USB.

Here is what I have and it works well for me...
Camera I chose because it was small and it seems nearly indestructible with no moving parts. I am hard on equipment...
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Compact-Digital-Cameras/26412/COOLPIX-AW110.html
Cable is usually included with most cameras but I am showing it here for clarity
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Cables-AV/25822/EG-CP16-Audio-Video-Cable.html
DVD Recorder w/HDD. I have this one because I wanted the HDD buffer but not required
http://www.magnavox.com/product/feature.php?id=116
Just DVD Recorder( no HDD)
http://www.magnavox.com/product/feature.php?id=82

25112

ASKER

Technodweeb,

i have taken down the references you have suggested.

Now, if you would feed the DVD recorder or HDD directly from a camcorder, what will be different in what has been explained? let's say, for an example: sony HDR-CX220.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-hdr-cx220-hd-flash-memory-camcorder-black/7764108.p?id=1218860195575&skuId=7764108#tab=reviews

Gregory Miller

You will end up with a CD or DVD ready to mass produce. You do not have to transfer the video from the memory card to a computer to burn. I was designing for quickest to mass production and keep expense to minimum.

25112

ASKER

hi,

1)
so in essence, either with COOLPIX AW110 or HDR-CX220, the result will be the same, right? (we skip the memory card part and directly load to a DVD) ....
AW110->http://www.magnavox.com/product/feature.php?id=116
or
sony HDR-CX220 - > http://www.magnavox.com/product/feature.php?id=116

if i already had a AW110, then I all set to go.. but if I have to buy one, then would you suggest getting a camera over a camcorder will still be a added benefit?

2) you mentioned about the HDD buffer in the DVD recorder.. how does it practically help you?

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Gregory Miller

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25112

ASKER

thanks a lot! very helpful.