A good budget mini-dv wil many manual setting, but can not take digital photo. But what you need is just a DV, the photo solution of many DV is so low and the price defference is enough to buy a high sulotion digital camera. And do not forget to buy a IEEE1394 card ( about 64 cnd + tax ) or a creative audigy sound card with a 1394 port( about 96 cnd + tax ) . Sorry, I do not know these price in china.