Sony DCR-TRV280 Digital 8 Handycam, SEPRS Pick of the Litter.
Video cameras are great tools to have for investigations. A good still camera is an investigator's number one tool, but still cameras can only capture one instant in time, while a video camera allows you to see how something that might be paranormal moves and possibly reacts to the environment.
There's really not much to discuss as far as video cameras go. The only cameras that SEPRS uses and the only cameras that we have found that are perfect for paranormal investigation and would recommend are Sony Handycams with Nightshot. The Nightshot function captures an IR image in low to zero lighting conditions, which totally sums up most investigations. One of these is going to run you anywhere from $200 to $500 and will record to Hi-8, Digital 8, and directly to DVD, and have optical zoom capabilities ranging from 10x to 40x. Kind of the middle of the field is the DCR-TRV280 Digital 8 version with 20x zoom. It's going to run you about $250. This is on the lower end of the price range, but the Digital 8 allows you to transfer directly to a computer via an included Firewire cable. You can get these cameras from Amazon, electronics stores, and some department stores. Be careful when choosing a Sony Handycam, however. Make sure you choose one that says it has Nightshot or Super Nightshot capability, because a few models don't.
Sony DCR-TRV280 Digital 8 Handycam, SEPRS Pick of the Litter.