I do a lot of youtube type videos and never really plan on using a high def. camera for this type of work. If I ever had to use HD I would simply rent a camera for a few days.

Anyways I am looking into Pro Grade cameras and was wondering what the best media type is at this time. I do loads of work on computer based NLEs such as Adobe Premiere CS3 and Avid. I am mostly looking between MiniDV tapes and hard drive based cameras.

How are the hard drive based cameras in the $3,000 range?
Is this a good storage type for those to use computer based NLEs?
It sounds great to be able to cut out that capturing step but I don't want to have my video be compressed or worse, run out of storage space on a production day...

Don't get a Hard Drive based camera. If you want to ditch tapes go solid state. Hard drive is the intermediate between tape and solid state media. Unless you're working with a really high end hard drive based camera (in which case it would be external and more like a mag) then I'd stay stick to tape. Hard drives if they move too much can get screwed up.

In the tape realm, based on what you're using it for, I'd say go for a DVX100b or a GL2. Tape is cheap. Soon enough solid state will be in a place where its not a billion dollars (exaggeration) for an 8GB card, that's when I'd say buy. Solid State is quickly gaining ground in the realm of digital video acquisition, but it hasn't reached into the 3000 range just yet.

Right now HDD based camcorders are a bit dodgy... encoding problems.. etc. etc. Stick to mini-dv or HDV until the hard disks are out of "BETA".

You dont get full HD on mini-dv though..

what are some examples of solid state cameras?
Ive never heard of them before...

I will stay away from hard drive cameras for now then, thanks for that info.

Yea the DVX100B looks like a very good camera and a lot of people have suggested it as my first so I may go for that.

The HVX200 is the HD solid state version of the DVX. It records to proprietary P2 cards (which are really expensive) and use the DVCPRO HD codec.

The Sony EX1 is newer than the HVX and records to proprietary SxS cards and uses the XDCAM EX codec.

Both of those are well outside the 3000 dollar ballpark. But are really well made tools than can make some very pretty images.

If you need the camera now, get the DVX. If you want to save a little or if you're looking to rent, then I'd suggest going with the EX1 because the cards are cheaper, it has bigger chips and is full HD.

That is, until Scarlet comes out.