UPDATE: Sold out online, but may be available for purchase at most stores
Bestbuy [bestbuy.com] has Panasonic PV-GS80 miniDV camcorder on clearance for $130 with free shipping or in-store pickup. Thanks persian_mafia
Specs:

• Standard definition (4:3 or 16:9)
• 32x Optical Zoom
• Image Stabilization
• 2.7" LCD
• Firewire Connection
• Weight: 1lb

wow, they still make miniDVs ?

Good deal for $130.

if your looking for a great deal on a Digital camera, MiniDVcam or HDD digital cam???? Just goto a Target store and check out the clearance. Last time I was there I seen a Mini DV cam for 65.00 NEW IN BOX... So dont invest alot of money in outdated technology.

I could have bought a JVC 30gb HDD cam for 125.00 but I scored my SONY so I left... LOL

Quote from neoison : if your looking for a great deal on a Digital camera, MiniDVcam or HDD digital cam???? Just goto a Target store and check out the clearance. Last time I was there I seen a Mini DV cam for 65.00 NEW IN BOX... So dont invest alot of money in outdated technology. I could have bought a JVC 30gb HDD cam for 125.00 but I scored my SONY so I left... LOL

Thanks for that advice??? "LOL".

How I found my deals at target is I was on Slickdeals forums and they had a list of models to look for. At target the guy has a gun that he entered the model #s to see what Target stores had what I was looking for instock. Then I just rushed out and bought the Items I wanted.

Springfield OH is the store I seen a cheap MiniDV... Last week. Good luck !

Apparently, someone doesn't know a whole lot about video recorders. THe Sony SR42 is not a very good unit. In fact, DVD camcorders are not necessarily better than Mini_DV camcorders. In fact, I prefer mini-dv, as that allows you to record in an uncompressed format, which is much better for editing.
The following quote is from CNET "Though most digital cameras produced today have sufficient resolution to make the spec itself almost a nonissue, the same can't be said about camcorders. That goes double for camcorders which record directly to hard disk or DVD, since they need sufficient pixels to compress into a decent image. The resolution of the hard-disk-based Sony Handycam DCR-SR42--680,000 pixels--falls into the insufficient range, especially since its effective video and still resolution is a mere 340,000 pixels. In fact, it seems as if the only reason for the SR42 to exist is so that retailers can upsell you to the DCR-SR62; trading a higher-resolution 1-megapixel sensor for a more modest zoom lens--25x versus the SR42's 40x--makes sense to me given the $50 price difference between the two models.

The SR42 comes in two flavors, one with a 30GB hard disk that can hold up to 7 hours of best-quality video, and a version with a 60GB hard disk (the DCR-SR42A) that holds up to 14 hours. Unless you really think you'll need to shoot more than 7 consecutive hours of video with no way to copy it off the hard disk, I can't imagine spending the extra $100 for the bigger hard drive; an extra $25, maybe. Like all the SR models, the SR42 bundles the Handycam Station, which charges the battery and connects to a TV or PC. It also supports one-touch DVD burning via software or when connected to the Sony DVDirect. "

So, before you decide on buying a camcorder, please check some ligitimate review sites. I do agree that checking around for deals is a good idea, and that Target can at times, have some bargains.

whatever format of anything you buy, it will be obsolete in about 2 weeks. So look for bargains, don't make huge investments, use and enjoy until it's time to replace. Which won't be that long.

Quote from harley2ride : Apparently, someone doesn't know a whole lot about video recorders. THe Sony SR42 is not a very good unit. In fact, DVD camcorders are not necessarily better than Mini_DV camcorders. In fact, I prefer mini-dv, as that allows you to record in an uncompressed format, which is much better for editing. The following quote is from CNET "Though most digital cameras produced today have sufficient resolution to make the spec itself almost a nonissue, the same can't be said about camcorders. That goes double for camcorders which record directly to hard disk or DVD, since they need sufficient pixels to compress into a decent image. The resolution of the hard-disk-based Sony Handycam DCR-SR42--680,000 pixels--falls into the insufficient range, especially since its effective video and still resolution is a mere 340,000 pixels. In fact, it seems as if the only reason for the SR42 to exist is so that retailers can upsell you to the DCR-SR62; trading a higher-resolution 1-megapixel sensor for a more modest zoom lens--25x versus the SR42's 40x--makes sense to me given the $50 price difference between the two models. The SR42 comes in two flavors, one with a 30GB hard disk that can hold up to 7 hours of best-quality video, and a version with a 60GB hard disk (the DCR-SR42A) that holds up to 14 hours. Unless you really think you'll need to shoot more than 7 consecutive hours of video with no way to copy it off the hard disk, I can't imagine spending the extra $100 for the bigger hard drive; an extra $25, maybe. Like all the SR models, the SR42 bundles the Handycam Station, which charges the battery and connects to a TV or PC. It also supports one-touch DVD burning via software or when connected to the Sony DVDirect. " So, before you decide on buying a camcorder, please check some ligitimate review sites. I do agree that checking around for deals is a good idea, and that Target can at times, have some bargains.

Yup. While mini-DV is very slow to get into your computer, it is uncompressed and gives the best picture quality, especially if you do any editing. AND they cost a lot less than the other types. I've got a Panasonic mini-DV camcorder that's like 6 years old and still works great.

Anyone have a promotion code to get a discount off for this?

miniDV also gives you timecode etc...preferred when using Final Cut and other such editors.

Quote from neoison : I could have bought a JVC 30gb HDD cam for 125.00...

JVC is garbage and I will never buy from them again. I got the dreaded "Condensation Error" with a JVC camera I bought a while ago (those who know what I'm talking about know it's a bitch) that JVC refused to recognize as a factory defect, regardless of the fact that it happened to tons of people and on many different models.

/rant