Panasonic PV-GS31 Mini DV Camcorder

This is a very good basic camcorder. Yes, the low-light capability isn't all that good, but most cameras in this price range don't do it well either. My main purpose for this camera was to shoot nice video and then import it into my computer for editing. I use a Mac for this, and the camera works beautifully with my computer as I use the Firewire DV connection (the "right" way to import footage). For the advanced video editor, this camera does not have the analog "pass-through", so you cannot use this camera to convert your VHS footage for computer editing. This camera has USB output, but I only use this for downloading the still pictures. Using USB for streaming video is a poor compromise to Firewire. The one thing I like on this camera (don't know if others do the same), is the fact that I can video objects at only 3/4" away from the lens (with the lens on the widest zoom setting). I've videotaped a fly and the detail is amazing. The 26X zoom is also great, but I use a tripod as the image gets a bit shakey. The menu controls are very easy to access using a very nice joy stick on the back of the camera. The low-light capability is limited, but this is a fairly inexpensive camera. It has a small built-in video light, but it is only good at 5 ft. or less. Yes, one can buy a camera with more options, but after the Panasonic rebate, I paid a mere $300 for this camera. I had a small budget and I didn't need anything but a basic mini-DV camera with a nice picture. And, most of my videotaping is done in the "auto" mode, and this camera handles that just fine. It has dozens of additional shooting options for specific environments, but the camera needs to be placed in "Manual" mode. It's nice to know that option is there, but I'll primarily use the "Auto" mode.