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I'm looking 2 buy an inexpensive digital camcorder. Does high definition or AVCHD really make a difference?

What I want to buy is a camcorder with at least x60 optical zoom, it doesn't matter whether its flash memory or HDD. I want something that is best for filming at night especially at concerts where it is dark. Something that can zoom in really well and clearly to the performer. And I also want to know whether it really makes a difference if ur just shooting amateur stuff like recordings from concerts to have a full high definition or AVCHD (sony & panasonic) camcorder? And btw what is the difference between optical and digital zoom? Like on the sony site it says this particular camera has an Optical / Digital Zoom of 60x / 2000x. What the heck does that mean? Thanks for your help!

Public Comments

1. Always something on the cheap. Sorry sophie, ya get what ya pay for love. Find a good shop have a talk with the people there they should know what they are on about. Don’t go on your own ( women on their own not good when buying things like this) take ya dad, not ya mum (that’s two women on their own). Write down all the questions and more before hand, don’t let them waff you off (skirting around your questions) GET ANSWERS. Its your money (credit card fine) go away from that shop happy. If ya blonde (and I don't mean ya Avatar) have a dark rinse the day before. {{:-)
2. For a start Sony woudl be the best there super night shot works well, you want a camera that will record in very low light such as 0-1 LUX (lower the LUX the darker it will record in) you have a probelm recording a concerts, there is a huge contrast between the audience and the stage with all the lighting, so you are going to need something with manuel controls for exposure frame rate. The Quality of HD is better than standard, but if you plan on getting a HD tv some time then go for HD. ZOOM!!!!!!!! optical zoom is the best one to have. all the digital zoom does is increase the size of the pixels giving you the impression that you are getting closer, this reduces the Quality. A little word of warning, most professionals have trouble holding a camera steady at more than 10X zoom. think of it this way with a 60X zoom for every inch you move at 0 zoom you will move 60 times more at full zoom. that includes your hand shaking. Hope that helps RR
3. Simply speaking, the priciple of the optical zoom is to adjust the figure distance with the camera lens while the digital zoom just magnify the photos, acted as the magnifier to some extent. If you want a buy a camcorder best for filming at night, the 12.0 Mega pixel Sensor Enhanced Digital Camcorder+ Night Shot Mode(http://www.chinazrh.com/wholesale-120-mega-pixel-sensor-enhanced-digital-camcorder-night-shot-mode-p-1885.html) can be your candidate.