Camcorder Buying Guide
The moment you decide to buy a camcorder, you're inundated with a dizzying array of jargon: HDD, HD, AVCHD, HDV. You'll come
across camcorders that cost as little as $100 and those that cost thousands. And the sales staff could even confuse you more.
Use our guide will help find the right camcorder for your needs.
- Getting started
- Types
- Features
- Brands
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Features
The right camcorder features are important, whether you're considering a standard definition or high-definition model. Many camcorder features, such as LCD monitors and autofocus are available on almost all models, while other features, such as quick review or a built-in light are less common.
Flip-out LCD
This type of viewer is common on all camcorders. Some come in a wider aspect ratio (16:9), often called a wide-screen LCD, which is similar to the ratio found on many HDTVs. (You'll also find that some pricier camcorders include touch-screen LCDs.) LCDs are also useful for reviewing footage that you've shot and easier to use than the eyepiece viewfinder for certain shooting poses. Some LCD viewers are hard to use in sunlight, a drawback of models that have only a display and no eyepiece or touch-screen LCDs.
Screens vary from 2 1/2 to 4 inches measured diagonally, with a larger screen offered as a step-up feature on higher-priced models. Because an LCD viewer uses batteries faster than an eyepiece viewfinder does, you don't have as much recording time when the LCD is in use.
Image stabilizer
This camcorder feature automatically reduces most of the shaking that occurs while you hold the camcorder as you record a scene. Most stabilizers are electronic; a few are optical. Either type can be effective; though mounting the camcorder on a tripod is the surest way to get steady images. If you're not using a tripod, try holding the camcorder with both hands and bracing both elbows against your chest.Full-auto switch
This provides you with point-and-shoot simplicity. The camcorder automatically adjusts the color balance, shutter speed, focus, and aperture (also called the "iris" or "f-stop" with camcorders).Autofocus
This camcorder feature adjusts for maximum sharpness; manual-focus override might be needed for problem situations, such as low light. (With some camcorders, you might have to tap buttons repeatedly to get the focus just right.) With many models, you can control exposure, shutter speed, and white balance.Zoom
This is typically a finger control--press one way to zoom in, the other to widen the view. The rate at which the zoom changes depends on how hard you press the switch.Optical zoom
Typical optical zoom ratios range from 10:1 to 50:1--or are described in the specifications as having 10x optical zoom or 50x optical zoom. The zoom relies on optical lenses, just like a film camera (hence the term "optical zoom").Digital zoom
Many camcorders also include a digital zoom to extend the range to 400:1 or more, but at a lower picture quality than optical zoom gives. All camcorders have various recording modes that yield different levels of quality and capacity. The best quality may be called HQ or SP, depending on the recording medium. XP or LP gives you more capacity at a lower quality.
