A buyer's guide to digital video camcorders

When you are shopping for a camcorder, there will be a lot of options in a pretty wide price range.In order to narrow down your options, there are a couple of questions that you should ask yourself. Once you know exactly what you are looking for, it will be much easier to find the right camera for the right price.

How much are you willing to spend?Camcorders come in a wide variety of prices.Before you even start shopping, you should think about how much camera you want to buy.You will find "cheap" camcorders for less than $200.00 bucks.These cameras do not have a lot of features and do not take the highest quality pictures.However, this might be exactly the camera you are looking for.One of the cheaper models, the Point and Shoot by Pure Digital (for around $100) has been described as "almost disposable".Just like you occasionally need a disposable still camera, you might also need a disposable video recorder.

Most of the camcorders are in the price range of $500-$600 dollars.These cameras have enough features to keep any amateur videographer happy and the product, while not "broadcast quality", is good enough for most purposes.The very expensive (like over $1000) camcorders are really for professional use and will be too much camera for the average Jane of Joe.

Where do you want your video recorded?The format of the recording is the main difference in camcorders.The standard camcorder is the MiniDV style, which records onto tape.The tapes look just like the old cassette tapes only they are a little smaller.Although, in this age of technology, using tape seems a little archaic this option has many benefits.Tape will give you the best sound and picture because the information does not go through compression.Tape also offers the most editing options.

Another option is to record directly onto DVDs.The benefit of recording onto DVDs is that you can watch the video with your DVD player immediately.This convenience comes at the price of some recording quality.

An option that is gaining popularity is to record to memory sticks.The benefit of this is easy file sharing options and the cameras are smaller and more stylish.However, this option provides the worst video quality of the three options.For some people the trade off is worth it.

Where (and how) do you want to use your camcorder?The ways that you plan to use your camcorder will determine which features you need.If there is any chance that you will want to be doing underwater videos, make sure that an accessory option is a waterproof housing.Similarly, if you plan to do wildlife videos you will want extra optical zoom (the digital zoom is not as important as the optical zoom as digital zoom can be accomplished by your editing software).If you know nothing about the techniques involved in videography, you should look for a camera with automatic options.Each camcorder will have a list of options.Look carefully at the options and determine which are right for you.

Once you have narrowed down you options to a few camcorders in your price range, try using the things.You will spend a lot of time holding the camcorder and looking at the monitor.Try out each recorder and see how they feel when you are using them.Is the grip convenient?Is it going to be too bulky?How does the picture look on the screen?Move around to different lighting angle.There is nothing more frustrating than trying to shoot video if you can't see what you are shooting because the monitor is too small or washes out in light.