The BEST media for consumer camcorders is that which stores in DV or HDV format. These formats are the least compressed digital video streams which results in highest available video quality. Nearly all professional and prosumer camcorders use miniDV tape. A few (from Panasonic) use P2 cards. Most miniDV tape based camcorders can also connect to an external Firestore hard drive. Because the tape is the archive (presuming you do not re-use tapes, there is no extra step to create a back-up or long-term storage version. Digital tape is an acceptable form of long-term storage - if you keep the tape in a cool, dry place. ALL miniDV tape based camcorders import video over firewire (also known as IEEE1394a, DV, i.LINK), so your computer needs a firewire 400 port.
Next best storage media is hard drive or flash memory. The downside is that the standard definition video is stored to very highly compressed MPEG2 files and high definition video is stored to even more highly compressed AVCHD (m2ts) files. You did not tell use what computer or editor, but suffice it to say you want the latest of both if you want to deal with AVCHD files. There are some gothas on the MPEG2 files, too, but they are easy work-arounds. The second thing you need to do after transferring the video data files is to make another copy of them - so you are either burning a bunch of data DVDs or filling a hard drive. Much of the time you *thought* you saved copying the files over USB rather than importing MiniDV tape will get eaten up in this step.
Do not waste any time with DVD based camcorders. The compress WAY more than the others and editing their video can be a challenge - and they have relatively short recording times for the discs.
What is your budget?
Entry:
Canon ZR800, ZR900, ZR930
All are standard definition only. All have a mic in jack; none have manual audio control.
Mid:
Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7, HDR-HC9
All are standard definition and high definition. All have a mic in jack; all have manual audio control.
High:
Canon XHA1, Sony HDR-FX1, HVR-V1U, Z1U, Panasonic HDX200
There are others, but this is a good place to start.
