Advice: Digital Camera+Camcorder combo

[cwassman]

Friend of mine just had a baby and they are looking into buying a digital camera and camcorder.

It would be nice if they could save some cash and get a camcorder that's smallish and takes nice still photographs.

Anyone have one of these? If so what are the pros/cons?

Any advice appeciated.

[JCW3]

Are you looking for a camera and a camcorder, or are you looking for a camera/camcorder combo?

I think your talking about the combo, but not 100% on which one you mean.

[jerrymeola]

Thre are several cross product lines tiems for sale, each with its compromises.

Camcorders that shoot still images usually limit the quality to video range of about a 1/2 mp. This is ok for emails and prints to about 4x6.

Still cameras can shoot limited video usually only 10 seconds before memory runs out and again the shots are usually lowest print quality level.

Since the cost of still digital cameras are coming down fast, two separate cameras may still be the best solution. They can buy a 2mp camera with fixed lense for under $100 which will do well for emails and prints up to 5x7 and occasional 8x10s.
They will probably spend more than that on difference in price of a camcorder with still features and a camcorder with less.

Two cameras are also nice in that more than one person can be photographing at the same time and if one is not working the other is available.

I do not see where one unit will add anything to you friends photography of their children.

[cwassman]

Thanks for the input!

[JCW3]

I second that...

There are some high MP combo units out there, but the prices are high due to the fact thats the newest tech...

Two units will be handy and allow you to costomize them to your needs...

[Mitch]

I have a JVC digital video camera and it is excellent except the still photos that it takes are very small and quality isn't good.

The Sony Cybershot DSC-P32 is a good combo digital camera.
It is 3.1MP and it can take as much video as the memory card can take. A 32MB memory stick can hold 2 minutes i think.

I think your friend should buy the camera and camcorder seperately also.

:d hope this helps