For about 5 years, we've had a full-VHS sized video camera. This thing was a RCA model and the last of the breed, as far as I can tell. It was one of the beauties that would rest on your shoulder as you used it, which was good, since it was enormous and hard to balance any other way.
In addition, it's recommended to not lift the thing while under the influence of medicines or alcohol. You must be over 110 lbs and *this* tall to use it. While it was very convenient to be able to pop the tape directly into the VCR, it's analog quality was less than acceptable for today's media (DVD) and televisions.
Therefore, we purchased a new miniDV camera - the Canon Z100. Is it the newest, smallest, best, fastest, coolest model out there? No. But it's a nice balance of price, functionality, quality and simplicity. While the DVD-based video cameras aren't quite ready for most home users yet, we realize we may be going there in a couple of years. With that in mind, I didn't want to spend a fortune to go smaller, lighter, and digital.
So, what's the result? We're very happy. For less than $500, we got a very small, very light, capable camera that produces good quality digital video. It connects to my PC via firewire (a MUST) and is instantly recognized by WindowsXP as a digital camera. The video softwares we use recognize it and can control (play, pause, ff/rew, stop) from the software itself. It supplies the chapters automatically based on when the camera scenes change (ie, when you press the record button and then stop during filming). While that's VERY cool and handy, it's not perfect if you're someone who will start and stop recording multiple times in a given event/session. I tend to be a record and let it be, kind of guy. In either case, the auto-chapters are nice enough that minimal “re-chaptering” is required post production.
On the down side, I didn't feel the need for an external microphone jack when I was purchasing. While the onboard mic is fine thus far, I think I would have liked the ability to run a mic in also. Secondly, the digital zoom is, like most devices, next to worthless. Finally, I think I'm so used to my old heavy camera, I have a hard time controlling the small-ness of the new one. I tend to shake a lot anyway, but perhaps the heft of the old camera off-set the vibrations I have. The new lighter camera shakes like a leaf if I'm holding the camera unsupported. I HAVE to use something to balance on, personally.
All in all, I think this will be a great camera for us, if only for a short while. We'll eventually go to the direct-to-DVD cameras, but not for a while. In the mean time, we've had lots of fun with this new little addition, and expect to use it more in the future.
Later.