Selecting a Video Camera can be a daunting task. This guide is here to help you select the camera that is best for you.
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Canon Optura Series (10,20,30,etc)
  
This is a nice entry level consumer camera. It has a perfect mix of manual and automatic contrlols. Whether your an aspiring film maker or just a parent trying to capture your kids first steps this is a great little camera.

Pros: Easy to use. User Friendly

Cons: Not the best camera you can get.
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Panasonic DVX series (100, 100a, 100b, etc)

This is the current favorite camera of Independant film makers and Wedding filmers alike. This camera is amazing. Great day and night shooting capabilities and decent audio recording. This camera even has options to give it a film look. Pretty lightweight and comes with handle. Has support for auxillary audio.

Pros: Professional camera. Great night and day shooting. Can achieve film look.

Cons: Expensive
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Sony Vx series (Vx700,Vx1, Vx1k, Vx2k, Vx2100)

If you are into filming action sports this is your camera of choice. The Vx1 is the lower model of the series. Each Vx has its own pros and cons. The Vx1 and the Vx700 are both 1 ccd cameras. This puts them on par with the Canon Optura series. The only difference being more manual controls and a handle. The Vx1k has beautiful night shots but average day time shots. The Vx2k is the exact opposite. And the Vx2100 is the best of both worlds. Not doing in either night or day compared to the Vx1k and Vx2k.

Pros: Great for action sports. Lots of options to choose from.

Cons: Expensive series of cameras.
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Canon Gl and Xl series ( Gl 1, Gl 2, Xl 1, Xl 2)

The Canon Gl and Xl series are amazing cameras. The Gl series once again is most used in the world of action sports filming. With many lenses to choose from it is a great choice. The footage while still excellent is below that of the Vx series 1k - 2100. The XL series is the other contender to the Dvx Series. It is used mainly in Broadcasting and Wedding situations. The Xl is known for its shoulder mount handle. This camera has the look of a professional camera.

Pros: Xl has the look of a professional camera. So if your out to impress this is the way to go. The Gl is also a professional camera but has the look of a consumer camera.

Cons: Gl series don't do quite as well as the Vx series. Still great buy. Xl series is huge and bulky.
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Jvc (Anything)

In general JVC cameras are horrible. They cause more headaches than necessary. Only the most expensive JVC cameras are worth buying and Sony, Panasonic, and Canon offer cheaper cameras that do better overall. In general AVOID.

Pros: They have really cheap cameras. Only good to capture footage to computer never to film with.

Cons: Horrible film cameras. Which is probably why you bought the camera.

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There are many other cameras and companies out there. But these are the most popular cameras to choose from. Hopefully I have helped you in choosing the best camera for your needs.