Bought the Flip Ultra and...

me.

I don't like it.  I guess I really need a more powerful camera.  I didn't realize how bad the zoom is on these cameras.  I need something that I can zoom into a school play or dance recital and this just won't do it.  I don't know where to start though. I saw a small handheld camcorder, but I don't know where to start in researching this.  I know what  I want just not where to find it.  Here is what I want...if you are techie,  please guide me in the right direction.  Thanks!

•  small hand held camcorder (does not necessarily need to be so small it fits in my pocket)
• HD
• optical zoom probably about 10X
• light on camera (not a dealbreaker)
• good quality
• no tapes.  easliy transfered movies to computer
• image stabilization
• at least 60 fps(thank you fellow nestie for teaching me this:)
• at least 2 hours recording time
• rechargeable battery with good battery life

okay, so does this exist???

Thanks for reading this far! 

hollerjeepgirl

Thanks for letting me know. I was thinking of getting one for DH but thought it'd be hard to use if he was taping our DS b/c there's nothing to support your hand so it'd be all shakey

mairindubh

 

If I were you, these are the models I'd be looking at (they span a range of price points and all appear to have pretty favorable reviews on Amazon, and the basic feature set you're looking for):

• Panasonic HDC-TM55K http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HDC-TM55K-Hi-Def-Camcorder-Intelligent/dp/B0035LD08U/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_2
• Canon VIXIA HF S200 http://www.amazon.com/Canon-HF-S200-Memory-Camcorder/dp/B00322OOXM/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1
• Panasonic HDC-SD60K http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HDC-SD60K-Hi-Def-Camcorder-Intelligent/dp/B0035LCZSG/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0
• Panasonic HDC SD60S http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-HDC-SD60S-Hi-Def-Camcorder-Intelligent/dp/B0035LCZXG/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_1_0
• Sanyo VPC FH1A http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-FH1A-Video-Digital-Photos/dp/B002Q4VC9G/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_2_2
• Samsung H200 http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-H200-Camcorder-Optical-Black/dp/B0032UWTQI/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_0
  

High fps doesn't always mean the best quality, fwiw. Resolution is also a big factor - 1080p at 30 fps may have a discernably better quality than say 720p at 60 fps. Try to look at sample movies produced with the cameras you're considering. Also note in many cases image stabilization is going to eat your battery life more quickly.

The more you zoom in too, the more noticeable any shakiness in the hand holding the camera is, so for something like a school play, a tripod is totally worth it...