The best inexpensive digital video camera evar?

March 31, 2011 9:44 AM

Can you please recommend your favourite Digital Video Camera? Key features: inexpensive, compatible to quickly upload the data to a mac, internal microphone. A friend is planning to record interviews and possibly some classroom activities, not record a feature film. it doesn't need a whole lot of bells and whistles; bonus points if it's small-ish. thank you!
posted by andreapandrea to Technology (8 answers total)

Have you looked at the Flip series of cameras? They're not-bad quality for the price, and you can't beat them on convenience. The mic works better if you're very close to your subject, but given those constraints, it's not bad.
posted by Alterscape at 10:08 AM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/q3/ - in case it's within your budget :)

If not consider using a P&S digital camera?
posted by TrinsicWS at 10:14 AM on March 31, 2011

Try Kodak PlaySport (Zx3)
posted by WizKid at 10:48 AM on March 31, 2011

I have a Canon VIXIA HV40 HD Camcorder which has a lot to offer for the price. You don't define what "inexpensive" is, but I consider $650 to be very affordable for gear like this.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:52 AM on March 31, 2011

seconding the Flip!
posted by progosk at 12:27 PM on March 31, 2011

Absolutely go with the Flip. We use these at the university I work at for all of our classroom projects now. They are super easy to use, and believe it of not, Flip's customer service folks are actually quite responsive when we have problems (which has been about 3 cameras out of 200 or so in 3 years.)
posted by pixiecrinkle at 1:24 PM on March 31, 2011

I second the Kodak Playsport. I videotaped a wedding on it and it actually came out very nice.
posted by WeekendJen at 1:29 PM on March 31, 2011

Another vote for the Flip. I'm working on a project that involves giving cameras to people and having them shoot short interviews. My media training session time went down to about 2 minutes when we gave them Flip cameras instead of even the next simplest digital video camera.
posted by OLechat at 1:45 PM on March 31, 2011