To say I would like an HD camcorder with built in hard drive is an understatement*. I covet one with an intensity that puts Christian Bale’s acting to shame. But not his abs. Dude is jacked.
For those of you who do a fair amount of video editing, you know that one of the biggest problems is keeping track of, and logging tape. I have a huge pile of film just staring at me, daring me to spend several hours doing the most boring task imaginable. This is why television networks hire people whose sole job is to log footage: no one else will do it.
So, it is with holiday cheer that I tell you Sony is currently running a special on the HDR-SR5C, a 100GB Hi-Def Camcorder. For $219 off, you get the camcorder, a case, a battery, and a remote control tripod. The whole bundle will cost you $1,300, which is about how much the camera costs separately. Free stuff! Cool!
Just in the interest of journalistic integrity, the HDR-SR5C isn’t quite up to the level of most HD cameras… The image quality is a bit lower, and there are some annoying features, such as the space saving but finicky touch screen controls. Plus, you have to use a supplied dock to attach to your computer; there’s no USB or Firewire port in the camera itself.
However, you can’t underestimate the appeal of an entry level HD camera that won’t set you back $4,000. And, there is that hard drive thing.
I might just have to get myself one… (Sony Style)
*When we say “Gift Guide,” we mean “Things you guys are buying for me,” right? Right? Guys?