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Looking for a new camcorder? This buying guide will help you find the right camera and sort through the technical terms to understand what you really need. |
Index
Introduction to Buying a Camcorder
Digital vs. Analog
Martin Scorcese or Proud Parent?
Size and Weight
Picture Quality
LCD Viewscreens and Viewfinders
Zoom
Image Stabilization
Illumination
Microphones and Audio
Still Photography
Controls
Connections
Recording Format
Additional Options and Features
Batteries
Camcorder Accessories
Camcorder Brands
Top Camcorder Searches
Useful Sites
Introduction to Buying a Camcorder
Remember the days when video cameras were too expensive to buy so you never had to put a thought into it? And don't forget how heavy they were either. But, thank goodness this is no longer the case.
Digital technology has brought about radical changes in the camcorder industry, with the most significant improvement being in size. An old video-camera would rest on your shoulder and cramp up your arm, while the new ones weigh only about as much as a stills camera.
As in buying a digital stills camera, the first step in finding a camcorder is to sit down and think very carefully about what you want it for. Are you just looking to shoot the odd family vacation and your child's first steps, or do you intend to shoot professional footage for an independent film? Perhaps you need to film some real estate properties and business meetings? Understanding what you need and how much money you can spend will help you determine which options you need and which can be compromised.
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Digital vs. Analog
Even though digital camcorders have been around for quite a while, there are still some analog camcorders out there today. Analog recording is done on tapes, offers lower-quality video and audio recording, requires a bigger machine and also deteriorates over time. In addition, a digital recording can be uploaded directly to a computer, while analog needs to be transferred using some special computer software.
So, unless you're heart is set on staying with analog, definitely go for digital.
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Martin Scorcese or Proud Parent?
Deciding what kind of a filmmaker you wish to be is most important. Filming your child's third birthday party can be done with a simple machine, while recording a night safari would require some special features. Camcorder prices range from $150 to over $5000, but buying the most expensive model you can afford doesn't mean it will be the best machine for you.
Read through the list of features explained below and decide what you really need, what would be nice to have, and what will more trouble than it's worth.
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Size and Weight
Let's start off with the hardware. The size and weight of a camcorder are very important, especially if you plan to use it outside of your home. A lighter camera will help you feel more comfortable shooting film, as well as making your travel bag light. A smaller size will also improve its mobility, but sometimes at the price of available features. A smaller camera may not have a wide lens and could have smaller buttons and controls, which are harder to use.
Smaller camcorders will usually cost more than the heavier models, but the lighter weight could be the difference-maker for packing it for that vacation you were planning.
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Picture Quality
The Charge Coupler Devices (CCDs) in the camera determine the picture quality. Just like those old red, green and blue (RGB) projectors, the CCDs record the image using these colors. Some models have one CCD, which produces all three colors, while others have three (one for each color) which improves the overall picture quality.
CCDs come in different sizes in different cameras. Each CCD produces a certain number of effective pixels to record the picture, and the more pixels the better the quality. A bigger CCD will also produce a better picture than a smaller one.
One CCD with 680,000 effective pixels should be fine for shooting home videos, while a professional user should look for three CCDs with at least 250,000 effective pixels per CCD for more complex scenarios.
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LCD Viewscreens and Viewfinders
Most camcorders today have LCD viewscreens, which offer a good view of what the camera is shooting. They eliminate the need to hold the camera up to your eye, therefore giving you much greater shot flexibility and comfort. A popular feature is a touch-screen LCD, which lets you spot-focus the picture and navigate the menus right from the screen. These screens come in different sizes, so keep in mind that the bigger the screen the more battery power it will use up.
Viewfinders are still quite useful, though, especially as it is hard to see an LCD in direct sunlight. Most viewfinders are in color, but black-and-white offers better contrast. Many manufacturers have done away with the traditional viewfinder in favour of the LCD, which helps reduce camcorder size.
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Zoom
Different camcorders offer different zoom options. Optical zoom is the actual zoom of the lens, while digital zoom is enlargement of the pixel size of the picture, which can lead to distortion. Pay attention to the zoom information for the camera, as it is not always made clear which type of zoom is being referred to.
The minimum optical zoom you should look for is probably 10x. Higher digital zoom is not really important, so don't make this a priority.
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Image Stabilization
Another important factor in determining image quality is the camcorder's stabilization features. All models have one of two stabilizing options- optical or electronic. Optical stabilization is achieved by the movement of the optical lens mechanism to compensate for external movements. Electronic stabilization means that the image captured on the CCD(s) is interpreted by the camera's internal circuitry and corrected for movements.
Generally speaking, optical stabilization provides better image quality, although it is also more expensive. But this is definitely a feature worth investing in, as we've all seen some pretty jumpy home videos that are just impossible to watch.
Another thing to consider is using a tripod. This will greatly enhance your camera's stability, so use one anytime you can.
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Illumination
Camcorders need a certain minimal amount of light to produce an image. This minimal amount is determined by their lux rating (lumens per square meter). The lower the lux rating, the less light the camera needs to produce a quality picture, so videos shot in dim lighting will look better.
A lux rating of 7 is good, and anything below that is even better. One should also expect better results in low-light settings with three CCDs instead of one.
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Microphones and Audio
Most cameras today can record sound in 12 or 16 bit formats. If you like to edit your videos and add music or narration later- go for the 12 bit, to which another stereo track can be added.
Built-in microphones are mounted either on top of the camcorder or on its front. The top placement is ideal for the user to narrate the video, while the front is better for capturing what a subject is saying.
Don't forget that background sounds like whispered voices, rustling leaves or the hum of the refrigerator significantly degrade recorded sound. Therefore, if you really want to record high-quality sound- an external microphone is necessary, so first check to make sure the camcorder you're interested in has an external microphone jack.
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Still Photography
Some camcorders offer the option of shooting still photographs. If you're planning on having yours double as a stills camera, it should have at least a 2.5 mega-pixel sensor and a built-in flash. Not all camcorders can take simultaneous video and still shots, so check this if it's important for you (this is more common on the higher-end models).
All things considered, a camcorder is not the ideal digital stills camera but rather a mediocre alternative, so if you want good quality stills photos you should get a dedicated stills camera.
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Controls
Unless you are a professional video photographer, automatic exposure and focus controls will be the best choice for you. Having to constantly adjust these is a real pain. Most cameras have pre-programmed scene modes for adjusting exposure, such as 'low-light' or 'bright-sunlight', and they are quite useful. There is often a ring for manual focus adjustment, although one should seldom have to use it (if at all).
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Connections
The following are different types of connections found on camcorders today:
- A/V- a pair of cables (Audio and Video) that connect your camcorder directly to a TV or VCR for playback.
- S-Video- a single cable for connection to a VCR or TV, which provides better picture quality than the standard A/V.
- USB 2.0- a small, very simple cable connection to use with computers; usually found on DVD camcorders.
- IEEE 1394 (FireWire)- similar to USB (for connecting to computers), but is more capable and usually provides a faster connection. FireWire connection ports are also found on cable boxes today, as service providers are required to install a FireWire-capable box at the customer's request.
- Accessory Shoe- a connection spot usually located on the top of the camera for connecting lights or other accessories.
- Headphones Port- for connecting headphones to listen to playback.
- Microphone Port- to connect an external microphone.
- XLR Ports- these are meant for professional work, so one can use XLR cables to better control sound recording and lighting equipment. Only found on professional models.
- Bluetooth and Wireless- to access an Internet network for transferring photos and video without using any cables.
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Recording Format
One of the most important things to consider when buying a camcorder is its recording method. With the advances in digital technology there are many different ways to record video, so let's take a look at the popular formats:
- Digital8- really the first digital tape designed by Sony for amateur use, and has been on the market since 1999. Uses the same tape design as analog Hi8 but provides good quality video like other digital formats. As these tapes are getting old and are bulkier than newer formats there are only a couple of new camcorders that use them.
- MiniDV- the most popular recording format today. This method records digital video on small tapes that measure 2.5 by 1.5 by 0.5 inches, which make them an eighth of the size of old VHS tapes. This method provides better quality than most other formats and is relatively inexpensive. However, editing video requires use of a FireWire cable and a video editing program, which makes this a time-consuming process.
- DVD (miniDVD)- this format uses miniDVD discs, which are just like regular DVDs, only smaller in size. They can be played on DVD players and drives just like their bigger brothers. The advantages of the DVD format are that video quality won't degrade over time (as might happen with tapes), and that playback is easier off a DVD disc. Use rewritable discs (DVD-RW) if you want to edit video after recording.
- MicroDrive/CompactFlash Cards- there are many different types of media cards on the market today, and the bigger ones (over 2 gigabytes) are ideal for storing video. Camcorders that use these cards are more compact than MiniDV or miniDVD models. Media cards can fit almost any computer or PDA, making their content easy to copy, after which the card can be erased and reused.
- Hard Disk- a newer feature seen on camcorders is an internal hard drive. These are generally big enough to record six hours of video and allow the camera to be relatively small in size. Video recorded on the hard disk is easy to edit and playback on the camcorder, but also limits you to whatever capacity it has.
- Memory Card (Stills)- some camcorders have memory card slots specifically for storing still photographs and short video clips, just like on digital stills cameras. This feature is especially important if your camcorder will be used as a regular camera too.
Note that for any format other than DVD you will need a burner to create discs.
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Additional Options and Features
Some other options to consider are remote-control camera operation, analog-to-digital conversion capability for your old tapes, and High-Definition recording. Remember that for the latter you will need special HD editing software for your computer. Also look for available digital effects and 16:9 aspect-ratio mode for wide-screen playback.
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Batteries
Significant advances have been made in battery technology over the last few years. A new lithium battery is more compact and lasts longer than its predecessors which allows you more time to shoot video without recharging. But if you plan on shooting for more than an hour at a time you should get a second battery.
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Camcorder Accessories
Digital camcorders come with a wide range of accessories, from tripods, camera cases, battery chargers, lens filters and connection cables to external flashes, specialized microphones and video editing software. As you get better at shooting video and want to try more complicated shots you can expand your camcorder kit. Just make sure the protective case you buy is suitable for your activities and your camera model, as it would be a real shame to have a new camcorder damaged because it wasn't protected properly.
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Camcorder Brands
Canon,
Sony,
Panasonic,
JVC,
Sharp,
Samsung,
Hitachi
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Top Camcorder Searches
Digital Camcorders,
HD Digital Camcorders,
Professional Camcorders,
LCD Camcorders,
,
DVD Camcorders,
Digital8 Camcorders,
Camcorder Accessories,
Camcorder Batteries,
Camcorder Carrying Case,
Tripods,
Analog Camcorders
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Useful Sites
reviews.cnet.com
www.pcmag.com
www.sony.com
www.canon.com
www.panasonic.com
camcorder.jvc.com
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