I just got my new camera and so far so good.
A friend has been talking about the tiny (JVC?) camcorder she got and how great it works...

Wondering how many take camcorders on vacation. Is it worth the expense?

I don't carry one, because the overwhelming majority of what I photograph is static.

If I want to capture an occasional kinetic sculpture or street performer, I use the "movie" option of my still camera to record a short clip.

<OPINION>Most camcorder movies are stupid and self-indulgent.</OPINION>

Well, it's Friday afternoon, so I will tell this true story. On our first group tour, one member never went anywhere without his camcorder. He was always late for every event since he was constantly trying to catch everything on video, but he was most famous for making videos of his meals, describing everything on his plate and how he felt about it. At meal times, everyone hung back at the restaurant door to see where he sat, then rushed to sit anywhere else! So bring the camcorder but don't be a nerd.

i love taking photos more than recording video...but i did realize that to bring home the experience and to share the experience nothing beats video. so for me next trip i wll take a tiny camcorder along with me for the folks back home...

I have to agree with Robspierre and Ackislander here - if you've got to use a camcorder just consider little clips.

I was waiting at a bus stop with a fannypack camcorder fellow and he never stopped filming - birds, clouds, garbage wrapper. He even chased a car down the street. We all got to be in his film too....I wish he would have asked. I was not a willing participant - what are you filming exactly? Do I have something on my face or what?!! Who are you going to torture with the video?

Bring one and enjoy, but as Ackislander said "don't be a nerd" - lol!

Cheers,

Murphy

Thank you all for taking my mind off wanting one!
I thought I might be missing out on something.

I think it would be nice for a few things but will use the video on the regular camera.

Speaking of filming food. The one picture we have from our last trip that gets the most oohs & ahhs is one from Dinkelsbuhl where we got picture perfect ice cream sundaes.

We took both a camcorder and digital camera on our recent Benelux trip. Both are so small that they fit into my pants pockets. The camcorder was very nice on canal cruises--especially the ones in Brugge and Delft where the boat operators had almost constant commentary on the sights we were passing as well as local history, customs, myths, etc.

Never took a camcorder along before, but because it is so small it was really no big deal to take it.

I take both a camcorder and a camera on my trips, but I find that I often use the camcorder to take videos of my family in action, and then break out the camera for specific shots.

Sometimes, I tire of the camcorder and leave it in the hotel. Those times, I find using my camera and taking multiple shots serves the same purpose, and is sometimes cooler than taking a video. I now have a "flip book" of the Tower Bridge opening its drawbridge.