Any recommendarions for cheap Compact Digital cam for live music video?

[Rob-in-London]

Do you have a cheap-ish ($100-$200) compact digi that you think has exceptionally good sound quality for live music. (Think small rehearsal room with amps loud enough to compete with the drums ) Please Share!
(No, I'm not looking for Professional quality.) Thanks

The back-story - I have a nice new-ish GE 8MP camera that cost about £65 UK / $100 US. It's a great cam, except that the audio is crap when recording any video involving amplified instruments. Even in a small venue like a pub. It wasn't until I saw that my friend's even cheaper Kodak Easy-Share didn't have this problem that I realized mine might be the odd one out!

[DigMe]

I think your best bet would be a Kodak Zi8. The reason is that it's a compact camera in the Flip Video style but it has an external microphone input. So the sound will be more or less as good as the mic that you plug into it. The Zi8 records up to 1080p and has received very good reviews. You could run it with a small mic and a battery module such as those found at www.soundprofessionals.com for a good combo of compact portability and sound quality.

bc

[hover]

I agree with Dig. I currently use the Sony Webbie which also shoots up to 1080...has a zoom, but I admit the video quality, while recording in zoom is lackluster. The sound is pretty good tho.

The iFlip HD is on sale at woot.com today, those are pretty nice too.

[dug dog]

Samson Zoom Q3. $199 retail. Check out the review at Gearwire. From what I understand, it's not the greatest video, but the audio is supposed to be mighty good.

http://www.gearwire.com/zoom-q3-demo.html