Suggestions for camera/camcorder for teachers to use in the classroom

[sundowngirl]

My school is about to buy camera for all the teachers to document children's work and learning (btw, we are a preschool ages 3-5). The teachers asked for Flip cameras but after doing some research I don't think they are right for us.

I am having trouble finding a camera that meets the needs for use in the classroom. Can anyone on this forum help by suggesting cameras that you like?

Requested features
Take video recording AND still shots (hopefully can take still shots during recording)
There is too much action in the classroom to be fiddling with two devices.

Very simple to use (many of our teachers are not tech savvy and don't want to be). That means simple to connect to a computer and get pictures off device.

Great sound quality (often we will transcribe children's speech for use in other documents)

Image stabilization to correct hand-held shaking

Can be propped up on a table somewhere so the teacher can be working with the children (or maybe comes with or works with a compact tripod)

Hopefully will have battery and memory life to take a couple hours of footage (It would be hard to recharge during the school day and impossible to transfer all contents from memory card during the day).

And get this -- our budget is $150 per camera! Even the Flips just barely make that budget, especially if you want to get extra memory or battery life.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[eyalg]

...does not exist.
You must set your expectations right, in order not to be disappointed.
Compact digital cameras don't always record good sound quality,
especially in a loud classroom. single voices will not be differentiated well.
As for image stabilizers - most of the current cameras include one,
but that still doesn't mean that it will produce high quality photos indoors.
Now that we have settled what not to expect, you can go ahead and take
a look at One of these two cameras - Fuji's JZ300 and Canon SD1300.
The Fuji is now going for $145 and I think will match your needs slightly
better than the Canon, which costs $130 and has only low resolution video.
However, remember that you will also need a high capacity memory card
in order to take long videos during the day without downloading to a computer.
Good luck!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by sundowngirl

Requested features
1 - Take video recording AND still shots (hopefully can take still shots during recording)
There is too much action in the classroom to be fiddling with two devices.

2 - Very simple to use (many of our teachers are not tech savvy and don't want to be). That means simple to connect to a computer and get pictures off device.

3 - Great sound quality (often we will transcribe children's speech for use in other documents)

4 - Image stabilization to correct hand-held shaking

5 - Can be propped up on a table somewhere so the teacher can be working with the children (or maybe comes with or works with a compact tripod)

6 - Hopefully will have battery and memory life to take a couple hours of footage (It would be hard to recharge during the school day and impossible to transfer all contents from memory card during the day).

7 - And get this -- our budget is $150 per camera! Even the Flips just barely make that budget, especially if you want to get extra memory or battery life.

Does not exist. You can get 1 through 4, but nothing I know of has 5, and 6 will depend entirely on useage regardless of the camera you get. 7 is going to be impossible based on what you're looking for.