What is a good camcorder?

I'm looking for a small camcorder that I can carry with me (like a digital camera except for video) sometimes they're called toy cams or baby cams i believe. I'm looking for one under 200 definitely but preferably in a 100 to 150 price range. Definitely want it to be digital would like some optical zoom. If you can recommend a battery to go with it (if it uses like AA or whatever) Thanks for all your help

Yeah I was afraid that price range would be too low. ok so here's what I've doun on my own
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/1724...
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/1717...

The first one is 200 the second is 150 the first has 3x optical zoom and usb 2.0 output
The second has no optical, no usb 2.0 but has a built in light and a remote(not a big deal but nice to have) is 3x optical worth 50 extra? I know I want optical more than digital but 50 bucks?

Sorry, that animal don't exist.

For OPTICAL zoom you will need a mid-level still camera. Like a Kodak V570 $200. It does 640x480 video and the OPTICAL ZOOM works while filiming.

I THINK (check this out to be sure) the Sony W-30 and W-50 and W-55 also zoom while doing video.

The PROBLEM with all of these is they ALL deliver the video in files that are incompatible with Windows Movie MAker and require some type of coverting software.

Most still cams use MOV (Apple Quick Time)

The little $150 camcorder toys use MPEG4 which is supported by almost NO software and TV playback shows your menu and other info on the screen!

The little $150 also don't have OPTICAL zoom, just digital.

The $150 still cameras will take 320 or 640 videos, but WON'T LET YOU USE THE OPTICAL ZOOM while filming.

FOr THAT you must go to $200 or higher.

And NOT all of them do it!

The Canons won't

The Kodak Z712 won't but I think the Z670 will.

So go to a store, check out the video. Make sure it's adjustable from 320x200 to 640x400 and does 15 or 30 FPS and THEN see if the ZOOM works while shooting.

You are going to have to spend $200+

I'd look on ebay, a few of the handicams might do you well.

For that price range anything relatively small will be hard to find unless you seriously sacrifice quality. The best in my opinion is the Sony HandyCam, its small portable and records everything digitally on DVD media., but its not in your price range.

to get a good and reliable cam corder, i suggest you get either sony or jvc. this brand had a good record in cam corder