Camcorders

Built-in light

Built-in light provides illumination for close-ups when the image would otherwise be too dark, but it's no substitute for a well-lit room. Many camcorders have an automatic setting for turning the light on.

Remote

A remote control is handy for operating the camcorder from a distance (say, to allow the user to be in the picture). It's also useful in playback mode since all the buttons are easily at hand.

3D models

Models that produce a 3D image by using two optical lenses, also referred to as "stereoscopic lenses."

Format

Format is based on the type of recording media that the camcorder uses. There are at least two formats: hard-disk drive and flash memory. The key difference between these formats is size of camcorder. Flash memory types can be very compact.Hard Disk Drive.Records onto a built-in non-removable hard-drive. You either play the recordings from the camcorder, or download them to a computer or video recorder Flash Memory. Records onto solid-state memory cards similar to the ones used by digital still cameras. Memory may be built-in or an add-on card or both.

Weight

Weight is measured in pounds and includes the battery and recording media.

Optical zoom

Optical zoom Allows the camcorder to fill the frame with far-away objects at the touch of a button. An optical zoom rated at 10x means the camcorder can magnify the image up to 10 times the normal size.

LCD size

This is the size of the image displayed on the LCD. Measured diagonally, it typically ranges from approximately 2 to 3 inches. With some models, the image does not fill the whole screen when recording. For these models, this number is smaller than the physical size of the screen.

Largeness

While camcorders are generally getting smaller they do range in size. Instead of recording to tape or DVD, camcorders nowadays use either a compact hard-disk drive or flash memory. The smallest models use flash memory. Models which are considered "compact" fit in a typical shirt or pants pocket.

HDMI output

Has High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output for direct digital-audio and video connection -- via a single cable -- to digital TVs with HDMI input. Can output 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and for some models, 1080p video signals. Standard-definition video is referred to 480i; progressive-scan or "enhanced definition" is 480p; high-definition consists of the 720p and 1080i signals, where 1080i also may be referred to as "full HD". 1080p is a progressive-scan HD format, found on some HD camcorders and on all Blu-ray players.

AV Input

Lets the camcorder record analog audio and video from other devices, such as a VCR or another camcorder.

Microphone input

Microphone input is a jack for an external microphone to improve sound quality and prevent picking up noise from the camcorder. It is an alternative to using the built-in mike.

Headphone out

An output for connecting a pair of headphones to the camcorder.