What is the best camcorder $300 and under for low light lov budget film?

I an currently writing a script for a fan film based on The Crow. I cannot seem to find a low budget camcorder with good software and low light capability. Most of the film will be shot at night and I want a good clear picture in low light and it has to work with windows movie maker!


I'd appreciate any suggestions cause I can't find anything in my price range.|||Good low light video capture behavior = large lenses and large imaging chip systems.





Big glass and big chips are expensive. There are no "inexpensive" camcorder with lenses larger than 60mm lens filter diameter + 3CCD (or 3CMOS) imaging chips (1/3" or larger) which is why you can't find any.





Versions of MovieMaker before Windows 7 cannot deal with AVCHD compressed MTS files unless they are transcoded first. Only certain combinations of of Windows 7 and MovieMaker Live can deal with AVCHD/MTS files... No version of MovieMaker will deal with MOV files (unless transcoded, first). Only certain configurations of MovieMaker will deal with AVI files. So I'll say any consumer camcorder or camera that captures high definition video to flash memory or hard disc drive is not do-able because dealing directly with MovieMaker won't happen. No one should ever waste their $ on a DVD based camcorder. As for miniDV tape, MovieMaker can't deal with HDV. But, if the computer has a firewire port, it can deal with importing standard definition DV files. Certain versions of MovieMaker can deal with the MPG files from some consumer cams - no version of MovieMaker can deal with standard definition MOD files...





For $300, the Canon FS series standard def flash memory cams are OK - and they can do stndard definition widescreen - but you will need to use a transcoder like MPEG StreamClip www.squared5.com or HandBrake www.handbrake.fr to convert the files to WMV format so MovieMaker can deal with them.





Good luck!|||(1) Samsung SMX K40, the newer version to this camcorder is the ; Samsung SMX F40, and Samsung SMX 43 which has a HDD drive to save video information to it. The F40 only uses a memory card. (2) Samsung MX10, the newer version to this camcorder is the ; Samsung MX20. All of them have 3 lux. Which is the best for handy cams. The camcorders listed have at least 40x zoom or higher. There is also a great High Def camcorder with 3 lux. Which is the Sony HR 150. It works with flash drive and has HDD drive to save video information on to the camcorder. Ive been into camcorders for about 8 years. If a person is looking for a camcorder for great night footage. Always check the lux level under the "Product Features". Make sure the lux level is no higher then 3. If it is 3 or higher it won't be too great for night filming. The footage will be very grainy and dark even if lights are used.