what's the best (and best value) digital video camera on the market at the moment ?

I recommend the Canon Ixus range but then that's just because it's the only type I've used (since an old Asus brick-type thing five years ago).

yeah, video. but really audio too. we need a good audio recorder for our family jams, but i'm thinking why not just kill 2 birds and buy something that can do video/audio and that is easy to use and that is easy to put into the computer for editing/mixing and that doesn't cost a zillion dollars. i mean we can videotape the family jams. and just use the audio from the video for all the musique concrete record albums we want to make. 2011 is totally gonna be the year of the day of the dumb. (um, our band is called Day Of The Dumb.)

advice? suggestions?

maybe those flip video cameras? i'm thinking of getting that, you don't have to deal with tapes or removable storage media.

yeah that's the kind of thing i'm thinking of. i guess they probably all have comparable sound quality? anyone know of any good ones to look at/get?

Value for money-wise, the Flip is pretty great so long as you have enough light. The sound isn't amazing though. I don't think you're going to get any really good sound quality from any "consumer" video camera - they're all pretty crappy and have auto gain, etc. But for 300-400 bucks you could get a Fliup and a Zoom or Edirol audio recorder and just sync em up, if you can be bothered.

I kind of love my Flip tbh

has anyone made an entire film on a flip yet (I'm sure people have but I'm wondering if there is anything that has gotten actual distribution)?

I think some of Godard's "Film Socialisme" was shot on a Flip (or maybe a cellphone). The codecs are a bit tricky when you start trying to do more "pro" things with the file-simple cutting is fine. I know a few people who are making short experimental films with them. A friend of mine put one inside his bike wheel and rode around the neighborhood for half an hour - awesome distortion and colors!

But if you kind of want something *close* to a "normal" look with a flip - get a tripod

what about getting a flip video camera and then buying a good microphone for it. like one of these:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/664440-REG/Audio_Technica_ATR6550_ATR6550_Condenser_Shotgun_Microphone.html

150 bucks!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/673230-REG/Alesis_VIDEOTRACK_VideoTrack_Handheld_Audio_and.html

i just got bought a sanyo xacti for xmas, i dont usually make videos or anything, it was just a gift - but it's great - shoots full HD and takes really high res pictures, 16mp or something... i find with most digital cameras that when the flash is off, the photos look like shit, but this acts just fine w/o flash.

Flip doesn't have an external mic jack, scott.

But this does:
http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-Zi8-Pocket-Camera-Raspberry/dp/B002HOQ08S