Video Camera

[DogTag]

As a video editor and producer here is what I carry with me when I travel lite:

1) Canon Elura ($1200)
2) Helmet Camera ($200-helmetcamera.com)
3) Pelican waterproof case ($30-www.pelican.com)
4) MiniTripod ($6-search eBay)

The whole system can easily fit in a backpack. The tapes are tiny, but images shot outdoors rival proffesional 3-chip cameras. While working on a documentary last year I actually used my Elura on many occasions to capture people and places that a camera crew would have been too obtrusive to film naturally. The flip out LCD screen is excellent for quick viewing and a MUST for aligning the helmet camera.

I would highly reccommend any MiniDV camera over a Hi-8 or Digital8 alternative because of MiniDV's robustness, growing standardization, and superior image quality. Additionally, I would choose Canon over other manufactures because of the company's attention to image quality rather than electronic gimmicks such as IR and digital zooms.

Good luck with whatever you choose... and put some clips on the web for those of us not lucky enough to be on the road