My grandma and parents want to buy us a digital video camera so that when we move to Virginia we can keep them updated with videos of the kids and such. Being an Axiom owner, I'm in the bang-for-the-buck category of gadget shoppers, but I'm not sure where to start looking.
I know that I want about a good optical zoom, image stabilization, recording to tape (not CD/DVD), FireWire output, better than decent still image capability (captured to flash or SD card), and that I don't need any in-camera effects/titling/faders since I can do all that on a computer. I also know that the 3 CCD cameras take better looking video, but are likely out of the target price range.
That being said, are there any brands I should gravitate towards or avoid?
