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My recommendation is a HDV camera. Something along the lines of the HVR-A1P. This is the bottom end of a "consumer semi professional" camera.

Having the camera is only part of the deal. You'll need all the gear that comes with it. A Manfrotto tripod will set you back about $400US, for your basic bottom of the line fluid video head.

...Not to mention spare batteries and a decent case. Wireless mics don't generally come with the camera, you have to buy those separately and they aren't cheap. They should just plug in into the HVR-A1P.

My recommendation would be to buy a used Panasonic 100-B or even 100-A.  Used will allow you to save a bunch of money and that's a great little camera.  I used to own it and I miss using it.

Plus, it's standard DV video, not HDV.  The heck with HDV.  I use HDV because I have to, but I prefer editing with DV.  It's easier.

Do you NEED HD for church videos?  Who knows?

Viewfinders on HDD camcorders are rare. Even more rare are mic inputs. So, what feature do you want the most? 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4 … _High.html

I prefer Sony or Canon camcorders, but I was playing with this one in the store once and LOVED the way if felt in hand (a plus if you do a lot of handheld filming) and it meets a lot of your criteria. 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control … o_itemInfo

I think the biggest reason I didn't buy this camera was because there was little support at the time for AVCHD formatting. 

If you're willing to give up HDD based recording, then I would strongly recommend the camera I did go with, which is this...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5 … order.html

As far as the 3ccds being better than one normal sensor, I've read, I don't remember where, that the 3ccds are not necessarily better than one larger sensor.  Something to do with the surface area of the sensor...the bigger the better, iirc.

reece_james wrote:

My recommendation is a HDV camera. Something along the lines of the HVR-A1P. This is the bottom end of a "consumer semi professional" camera.

Having the camera is only part of the deal. You'll need all the gear that comes with it. A Manfrotto tripod will set you back about $400US, for your basic bottom of the line fluid video head.

...Not to mention spare batteries and a decent case. Wireless mics don't generally come with the camera, you have to buy those separately and they aren't cheap. They should just plug in into the HVR-A1P.

Thanks for your reply. I'm concerned about this camera being a PAL. Also, I don't want to put that kind of money into it. But I did like it very much.

Thanks,
Jo

I like the tape also, I have an old Panasonic and the quality is pretty good but I need to have a camera that I can have a wireless Mike. It's just my husband wants me to get the HDD because he says someday they will quit making the tape units, that it's going out. I don't know about that though. I'm still studying them though.

Thanks for your input,
Jo

Well, I bought the Sony HDR-SR12, and now I am looking how to download it to my Intel imac. Do I have to up grade my OXS? I am running Tiger now. Any help would be appreciated.

Jo

The iMac should come with iMovie anyway. Start with iMovie and select NTSC HD. Otherwise look for a format in Final Cut Express that the camera supports. Look for AVCHD I think, else just use Apple Intermediate codec.

You use Firewire to import not USB.

Thanks, Lad for your information.  The movie is awesome. I am going to like this camera very much.

Jo