I really need to buy a camcorder to place video clips on my site and to use as a web cam. I hate the idea of spending over $500.00 but might have to. any suggestions for a good, solid but basic camcorder?

You can get a Samsung SC-MX10 for about $250 (http://www.shopping.com/xFS?KW=Samsung+SC-MX10&CLT=SCH?linkin_id=3060563). It is PERFECT for web clips due to its wide aspect ratio "standard definition" recording. Recording is done directly to an SD or SDHC card.

If you need HD, then you can spring for the SC-HMX10 (http://www.shopping.com/xFS?KW=Samsung+SC-HMX10&CLT=SCH?linkin_id=3060563), but that takes you WAY out of your price range. For web work however, the SC-MX10 is simple to use, boasts 34X zoom with a Schneider lens, and is on my Xmas Wish List :D

Another great option seems to be the Panasonic SDR-H10 (http://www.shopping.com/xFS?KW=Panasonic+SDR-H10&CLT=SCH?linkin_id=3060563) which also records to SD or SDHC and is standard definition. It only has 10X zoom compared to the Samsung.

We don't have a camcorder, but we have a Canon Powershot digital camera that takes video clips. It works great and is far less expensive than a video camera. Its actually a really great camera.

I have a 4 megapixel Minolta with video capability. It's modest video, but I got the camera free with air miles.

It has two storage formats on it.

We don't have a camcorder, but we have a Canon Powershot digital camera that takes video clips. It works great and is far less expensive than a video camera. Its actually a really great camera.

Is this the Powershot S3 IS?

I haven't looked into the price but Canon has the new TX1 that might be worth checking out!

Thanks for the tips.

I was thinking about a camcorder because I thought the picture would be better than streaming video from a digital camera used as a webcam. I have a Creative Cam, that's really old, and I can't get the closeups I need for details with it, and it requires more lighting.

Are lighting issues and poor close up capacity common with digital cams or webcams?

Try Panasonic Camcorder, its looking great.

I haven't looked into the price but Canon has the new TX1 that might be worth checking out!

The TX1 is a neat product, but suffers from an inefficient video recording CODEC that creates HUGE files and limits videos to 14 minutes. Though it records in 720p (HD), it needs to be converted before it can be edited. If the TX2 can fix these shortcomings, it might be one of the major contenders. The small size is definitely very handy. It's like a FAT ELPH. Battery life is the only other issue. It uses the NB-4L which is a tiny battery.

You can get JVC - MiniDV Digital Camcorder or Sony - MiniDV Handycam Camcorder at $250. I feel they are good deals and good quality too more over cheap.

There are many cameras that are not that expensive and will do what you need. I just bought a Kodak Easyshare Z1275, it has video capabilities you can record at 3 different resolutions:
-320x240 (80 minutes of video on a 2 gig SD card)
-640x480 (56 minutes)
-1280x720 (HD) (29 minutes)
It also has audio, it takes great pictures, and it has 12 megapixels for really good resolution! Also, it has the features of an analog camera, so you can change the exposure time, the ISO, and really make it do what YOU want in manual mode.
Best of all, the camera alone you can buy it for less than $220.
The batteries are AA rechargeable and they really last long.
I am in love with my digital camera!!
Hope it helps.

I heard that Mini DV/DVD camcord is more worth than a Mini DV. My husband had a cam thats Mini DV but it didn't work that well so shifted to DVD kind and it works really well.

I have a camera that also takes video clips. I have thought about buying a camcorder but I am one of those people that would constantly be taping and missing the actual event because my eye was to the camcorder the whole time.

There are many cameras that are not that expensive and will do what you need. I just bought a Kodak Easyshare Z1275, it has video capabilities you can record at 3 different resolutions:
-320x240 (80 minutes of video on a 2 gig SD card)
-640x480 (56 minutes)
-1280x720 (HD) (29 minutes)
It also has audio, it takes great pictures, and it has 12 megapixels for really good resolution! Also, it has the features of an analog camera, so you can change the exposure time, the ISO, and really make it do what YOU want in manual mode.
Best of all, the camera alone you can buy it for less than $220.
The batteries are AA rechargeable and they really last long.
I am in love with my digital camera!!
Hope it helps.
Now this sounds interesting. If it has all of those features it would probably do everything I need. How is it with close ups or really tight shots?

There are many cameras that are not that expensive and will do what you need. I just bought a Kodak Easyshare Z1275, it has video capabilities you can record at 3 different resolutions:
-320x240 (80 minutes of video on a 2 gig SD card)
-640x480 (56 minutes)
-1280x720 (HD) (29 minutes)
It also has audio, it takes great pictures, and it has 12 megapixels for really good resolution! Also, it has the features of an analog camera, so you can change the exposure time, the ISO, and really make it do what YOU want in manual mode.
Best of all, the camera alone you can buy it for less than $220.
The batteries are AA rechargeable and they really last long.
I am in love with my digital camera!!
Hope it helps.
That sounds good deal. I need to check it out. I just have a sony camera and it is very long time back that I brought it with less than 10 megapixels. It costed me around $250. I wanted to check out camcord but feel this camera would be good enough.

Now this sounds interesting. If it has all of those features it would probably do everything I need. How is it with close ups or really tight shots?

The camera has pretty good resolution for closeups... I'm experimenting with Macro, and you can get as close as maybe 5 inches with the autofocus and keep in focus. To take pictures of small objects to make them look larger is definitely good. I've taken close ups, panoramics, snow, night... If you wanna check out some pictures I took with it, I put them in my blog:
http://lesbianwithoutborders.blogspot.com/
Hope it helps.

I would really, really love one, I have a son who is growing so fast and I would love to capture some of his memorable moments.