Maybe You Guys Can Help Me...

I was going to blog about 13 the musical (do not get me started!) but that'll have to wait. There are more important issues at hand: the mess in Georgia, the storm that's attacking my friends in FL, the economy... but even more important is my search for a video camera. Yes. A video camera.

I've always been pretty cautious. I had to look three times before I crossed the street as a kid. So, naturally, I've been researching cameras to death, every day. If I studied like that in college I would've gotten better grades. Let's keep in mind that I make $8.25/hour, get payed every 2 weeks and work an average of 12 hours a week. I also usually end up giving have my check to my mom, leaving me with very little to live off of for two weeks.

That being said, I want a good camera, preferably small, inexpensive, and with a USB input b/c I don't feel like trying to figure out firewire stuff. And plus, the damn firewire port is in the back of my computer and I don't feel like pulling the desk out just to plug the cam in. If you can make any suggestions, or tell me the pros and cons of your cam, I'd pay you in virtual hugs and gratitude.

The first camera that I'm really into is the Flip Mino. It's a really nice size- a bit bigger than my mp3 player with a depth a little bigger than an iPhone. It's a thing I can just stick in my bag and pull it out whenever I want. The video quality is amazingly good, considering how cheap and small the camera actually is. (Check out this video filmed with the Mino. Even in low light this beast is awesome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh20Kmw8EXg And check out the other video tests done by this user, or anyone else) Besides the amazing quality and size, it's got a built-in USB, hence the "Flip". Also, the buttons are touch-sensitive. Like my mp3 player lol I like that.

The only thing that makes me very wary about the Mino is that you can only record 60 minutes. If I'm ever on vacation or somewhere where I don't have a computer, I don't want to be stuck with only 60 minutes. You can't use memory cards with the Mino. Also, it only has a 2X digital zoom. God forbid I need to zoom in further. I tested the zoom at the store with my sister standing at the end of the aisle. I didn't like it. But it's a good price ($149-179), qood quality and small. I really want to hate the camera but I just CAN'T.

My next choice is the JVC Everio 330. It's high-def and comes in pretty colors. And, even though it wouldn't fit in my purse, it's a nice size as well. It's got an LCD screen of course that can flip 360 degrees. That's nice because I'm likely to be filming myself. The zoom is amazing. It's got too many amazing features to name. With 30GB of internal memory you can record up to 37.5 hours (if you set the quality to ultra fine, you only get 7.5 which seems dumb). These cameras run at about $450.

So basically, it's between the Everio and the Mino. The Everio has more features, that I like but it would probably take 6 months to save for this camera. The Mino is small, high quality and I could probably buy it within 2 months. Which one do I pick? Or do I not pick at all? HELP.