I’m looking for the following options in buying a camcorder:
Good video, good battery, miniDv format, easy edit feature and transferibility to PC, good night mode and good sound capture feature.
My budget is around 300 $ – 400 $.
Can someone recommend good models ?
I have looked at Sony DCR HC37E, DCR 27E, Samsung VP 371W, VP D371, JVC GR-PA20EZ, Panasonic NVG230.
It will be helpful if someone can suggest me good models that fits into my criteria?
No consumer camcorder comes with a "good battery" in the box – so expect to get a rechargeable high capacity battery.
MiniDV provides the best available video quality, so glad to see you are already there. All miniDV cams transfer video using firewire (IEEE1394, i.Link – so your computer will need a firewire 400 port).
Sony has the built-in infrared emitters – pretty much any camcorder can see in no light with external IR emitters.
No consumer camcorder has built-in mics to provide for "good sound capture". An external mic hack – better yet, that plus manual audio control in the camcorder is strongly suggested.
If this is all we get to choose from (and I hope the Sonys have the proprietary Sony Active interface shoe), I would suggest the Sonys – plus an adapter for the active interface shoe that allow you to plug in an external mic with a 1/8" jack. I know you are not in the US, but I *think* these were originally made for the European market… http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/479976-REG/Sony_VMCK100_VMC_K100_Microphone_Adapter.html