Hello all,

I'm wanting to learn video editing and I've just got hold of Adobe Premier, a book teaching me how to use it and a borrowed JVC camcorder. Only problem is, once I turned on the camcorder I find its broken.

I really am a novice at this so don't even know what recording media (tape, dvd, memory card???) I should aim towards. Can anyone point me towards a decent camcorder? I've got £350 to play with and would ideally like something with decent optical zoom too.

thanks everyone

Take a look at the mini dv camcorders (they use tape) on Jessops, Currys or Dixons websites, I'm sure you will find something suitable in that price range with a reasonable amount of features. The mini dv models give the highest picture quality over mini dvd and hard disk camcorders and are much easier to get video off and onto your computer for editing.

In fact if you have a computer with either Windows XP or Vista then you already have Windows Movie Maker 2, which is fine enough for starting with. The only other item you will need is a Firewire cable to connect the mini dv camcorder up to the computer. Look for Canon, JVC and Panasonic models, you really can't go wrong with any of those well known brands.

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