The first camcorder I bought forty years ago cost $900, shot 480x480 resolution and had to have it’s white balance adjusted every time you turned it on - then there was another $900 for the unit which actually held the VHS recorder, which you had to carry around with you on a strap thrown over your shoulder and had a 1 hour battery life - at an average of about $55 per each, your possibilities all sound good to me......
My first one was a toy that recorded black&white on a audio tape cassette!
Wow. I forget that I actually have an old Sony CCDTRV318 Hi8 Camcorder with 2.5" LCD video Hi8, 1/6-inch CCD with 320,000 gross pixels 20X optical zoom 560x digital zoom f1.6-f2.4 Focal distance: 2.5-50mm, someone gave me, with no adapter or anything, so I do not know if it even works.
I wonder how this compares with my candidates? The charger and vid cable would be about 20.00, plus Sony Hi8 HMP & Metal P Camcorder 8mm New Blank Cassette Tape 120 Min - Lot of 2 for 19.95. However, I do not even know if it works or if the battery would charge after so long. Don't want to spend money if it may not work.