To buy or not to buy Canon HV30

[Tim Bisley]

I have been tracking the price for the Canon HV 30.

On Amazon it went from $582 to $587. It is still a good deal.

I am thinking of waiting till after Christmas to see if the price goes down further.

What do you all think?

[Edwin Manrique]

yeah im tracking it too
$587 is a good deal considering it was near $700 before
but i have the same question
should i buy it now or wait after christmas
for a possible price drop?

(im afraid too after christmas price could raise again... what you think?)

[Tripp Woelfel]

Originally Posted by Tim Bisley

On Amazon it went from $582 to $587. It is still a good deal.

Are you kidding? It was about US$1,000 when it was released. The camera hasn't changed. It's just now priced at a 40% discount. If you like it and have the cash, buy it.

[Bill Mecca]

and if you do, don't look at prices ever again. ;-)

bought mine from B&H when it was $699.(and free shipping) which was a great price at the time, and I'm happy with it. All I am saying is you will drive yourself nuts if you continue to look for price drops. If it suits your needs, and is within your budget, do it and put it to work.

[Andy Olson]

I ran into this dilemma when I bought my HV20 last year. I pretty much run into this problem whenever I make a substantial purchase.

The thing with any product, especially electronics, is that they will always be going down in price because the next best thing is right around the corner. I would say you should get it if you can use it now. Saving a few bucks won't matter if you get ample use out of the camera shooting projects.

Technology advances so fast nowadays that anything you buy now will be 'old' in the next couple months so if you should take the plunge so time isn't wasted waiting.

Best,
Andy

[Chris Hurd]

You spend the money once... you use the camcorder over and over.

Any price below MSRP is a good deal.

[Robert Morane]

I paid mine 779$ and I have been using it for he 5 months and no regret.
Remember they may also go up, just look at the HV20.

[Tim Bisley]

Thanks everyone! I am actually getting very close in taking the plunge. I am also considering taking the service plan. Do you think it is worth it or should I just stick to the warranty?

http://www.amazon.com/4-Year-Service...o_sp_SVC_1_img

One more thing. Can anyone recommend any good head phones?

[Oren Arieli]

Stick to the warranty and take good care of your camera. It will be replaced within 3 or 4 years anyway. As for headphones, you might want to search through this forum, as it has been covered extensively. My preference is earbuds that block ambient sounds (Creative Labs makes a very good one called Aurvana, but there are plenty others to choose from).

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Oren Arieli

It will be replaced within 3 or 4 years anyway.

Incorrect -- Canon HV series camcorders have been replaced *every* year.

2006 -- HV10
2007 -- HV20
2008 -- HV30
2009 -- ?

[Tom Hardwick]

2009? I bet the HV30 was the last of the tape drives. I shall mourn its passing, even with the falling price of SDHC cards. Putting a MiniDV tape up there on the shelf is just so sensible a way to archive, as well as being cheap, compact, reliable and re-useable (should you want to).

[Tripp Woelfel]

It seems that tape is going the way of the Victrola and the engine choke. While I understand the benefits of a tapeless workflow, the whole archiving thing just makes me nuts. But I'm old. Old enough to have made the jump from analog to digital lo those many years ago.

If you want a good quality, cheap, high definition cam that uses tape, you cannot go far wrong buying the HV30 now.

[Michael Galvan]

Originally Posted by Tom Hardwick

2009? I bet the HV30 was the last of the tape drives.

I don't know about it being the last tape-cased camera. Seeing how they are just releasing the new XH cameras now, they are going to need an accompanying "deck". So I think we'll see at least one more HDV based consumer camera from them. Or they'll at least keep selling the HV30 as such.

[Tom Hardwick]

Originally Posted by Michael Galvan

I don't know about it being the last tape-cased camera.

I only meant in that class of camera Michael. The typical customer for a 'dinky-cam' is seized upon by the camcorder salesman and told how 'old fashioned' tape drives are. They're out to sell HDD, flash memory, Mini DVD - anything but tape.

You and I know that tape has a great deal going for it, and so do Canon and Sony. The XHA1s and the Z5 are so new most places don't stock them, yet they're without doubt tape drive camcorders with huge potential sales.

tom.

[Michael Galvan]

Hey Tom. I actually meant in this class of camera too.

With the new XH just coming out, there will be a need to have a "deck" out there for professionals as well (hence why these consumer HV cams can read the "F" modes of their pro series camcorders). No other consumer HDV cameras can read the "F" modes, only Canon.

I would bet either on one more new tape based HDV Consumer camera (HV40?) or just a continuation of selling the HV30.