Best Digital Camcorder for me £2,000-£10,000 ????

Hello all.

Just a quick (and potentially stupid) request for information:

I would like to buy a film camera, which one is best.

Ok, (to make an unanswerable/dopey question slightly less dopey, and almost answerable) ... for what purpose, and at what price point am I looking at?

Like I said I don’t know or have any knowledge base in this area. But I know what I want.

It’s being used to video stand up comedy. And at a level of recording that should be good enough to release in some form or other onto DVD. After buying this I will probably be buying Apple Final Cut Studio. Or whichever editing suite is best on the Mac.

So I would like:

1
Superb Sound. Needs to be built in. As there’s no boom operator. So a really good, broadcast quality in built mic.

2
And needless to say brilliant picture.

3
The camera will be ‘locked off’, so it will just be pointing at an area where I hope all the action will happen. Not sure if this makes a difference. There being no camera man.

4
Security. How do I stop someone walking off with the camera?

5
Hard drive. I want to record many shows. And just transfer any ‘good’ ones onto the Mac. And just record over all the ones that don’t make the grade. So I’m guessing I don’t want tape, but some kind of hard drive. Ideally enough space to record for at least 6-7 hours. As we have multiple shows on some nights.

6
Battery life? Will it always need to be plugged in. Or do camera batteries last longer than my parents’ old VHS camcorder? Battery life of 6-7 hours in record mode?

The camera will also be used to record sketches and the like.

And are there any other things I need to think of/ask?

Like lighting? Is there a better type of camera for what will be in effect recording action on a fully lit stage?

I think that’s the techno stuff out of the way.

I can’t stress how much I would love the camera to be top/best there is.

But that’s all down to price.

I would love to spend no more than £2,000.

But if that’s too low, then I could go to a max of about £10,000.

Though my girlfriend may never talk to me again.

So I would love to know, if there’s an awesome camera at around £2,000. £5,000. And £10,000.

Those are the three sorts of price ranges I’m looking at.

I really do appreciate you reading this, and anyone who chips in with advice, or even just abuse for my naivety/and balls in asking other people to do all my ‘leg work’. I have to make this clear, I don’t have any clue about cameras. So any and all help, however simple/obvious it may seem to you, will be really helpful.

Hmm, now I’ve ‘outted’ myself as being film camera challenged I bet I get a deluge of people trying to sell me an ‘Etch-a-Sketch’ for ten grand.

Thanks again,

All the best.

xxx

P.S. I’m in London (UK) so film in PAL