What is a good BUDGET camcorder? canon FS100,FS10,FS11?

[Quincer5000]

What is a good budget camcorder? I am starting to make short films and I don't have the money for something expensive. Price range: $200-$500. I don't want to mess with AVCHD video footage. My G4 can't run alot of HD power. I would like it to be flash based or hard drive based. i really need a mic jack. I was looking and I saw the Canon FS series is pretty good. Anyone have any comments on the FS100,FS10,FS11 with the video quality? I want to say thanks in advance to all of you! Thanks!

 

[Courtaj]

i really need a mic jack. I was looking and I saw the Canon FS series is pretty good. Anyone have any comments on the FS100,FS10,FS11 with the video quality?

Just the one, really: slightly below mediocre. If you want a mic input and picture quality matters to you, for the kind of money you're looking at spending you'd be better served sticking with tape and getting one of Canon's miniDV numbers.

 

[Quincer5000]

budget

Price range: $200-$500

I will push that up to $600. Does anyone know about the canon hf100?
and thanks courtaj.

 

[Courtaj]

Does anyone know about the canon hf100?

Arguably the second-place holder in its category (AVCHD to flash memory for under $1000) after the HF11. The HF100 is the HF10 with a different paint job and minus the built-in flash memory (which in the case of the HF10 you pay a premium for = not good value for money). The new HF11 has a higher bit rate, but the HF100 still gives very good video for the money. Plenty of HF100 owners in this forum.

Andrew.

 

[Quincer5000]

the HF100 still gives very good video for the money.

So do you think this is a good budget camcorder?