I just want it for kicking around but the playback must look good on a normal, large consumer tv and the recording must be smooth.
I'm not really sure of an exact budget, ideally I'd like to get out of this for under $3K AUD but if I have to spend more, I will.
Is Australia video PAL or NTSC(U.S.) The Ikelite combo only comes with an NTSC camera.
Any thoughts?
I think you should seriously consider an HDV system. It will exceed your playback requirements and the new Sony camcorders can both film and playback in SD also if needed.
As well as output SD if you're doing any editing since the computer hardware requirements for HD editing are pretty severe. Nice thing is that when there is the eventual hardware pricedrop, you already have an HD tape library to edit from. And HDV cameras use standard MiniDV tapes. I shoot all my footage on the blue packaged Sony DVC tapes.
Current camcorders include the Sony HDR-HC3, HC5 and HC7. Any of which can be purchased (here) for around $1000-1400 U.S. The HC5(S1099US) and HC7($1399US) were just released about a month ago There are also some good options from Canon(HV10/20), JVC(Everio) and others. Including the new Hard Drive (HDD) models, which I'm personally not so fond of since they use a lossier compression scheme - AVCHD - to squeeze data onto the camcorder's hard drive.
Anothe consideration is that most people are buying HDTV"s now. So If you have any intentions of selling video to your customers, it's something to consider. I have an HDTV and the picture from the camera is phonemonal.
If you like Ikelite, they either have or soon will have a housing for any of the HC cameras. And there are housings from other manufacturers either currently available or soon to be.
The Ikelite housing is $1300 for the HC3 so you might be just over $3000 AUD with that combo.
Lower cost options are the Light & Motion Stingray, TopDawg or the Ocean Images Dolphin, all will house the HC3/5/7 models and each is about $900US. TopDawgs are actually made by L&M for Backscatter.
Note that L&M also makes the Bluefin for the HC series cameras but they're around $3000 US. You get a much better feature set with the Bluefin than with the Stingray - and the camera fits better. If you did want to spend in that range other options to consider would be the Amphibico EVO SE or the Gates HD Traveler.
Since the HC5/HC7 are shorter than their predecessors, you can have a wide angle lens and extended battery in the TopDawg/Stingray if desired. But it you add the lcd monitor back you'll likely have to make a trade-off.
Of course otoh, there are lots of really good quality MiniDV camcorders available for well under $1000. Any of the housings mentioned above are also available for them too. In fact the three under $900 were made for MiniDV.
There's a couple of current threads in Videography over on SB discussing the HC3 and HC7. You can also PM me here or there with questions...
