You need to ensure that you can use the LCD screen under any lighting conditions as certain screens tend to fade out in bright sunlight. Use the view fiinder if you're unable to view the images on the screen in bright day light. Using the view finder will not only get the job done but also extend your battery life.
The lens's optical zoom ration is more important than digital zoom ration
Optical zoom actually delivers a closer view of the image as opposed to digital zoom which merely makes the image larger through the view finder. It's important to ensure that the camcorder has a minimum of 10X optical zoom.
Buying an additional high capacity battery will ensure longer recording times
The normal battery that comes with majority of camcorders usually only last an hour or so. For $50 to $100, you can purchase a longer-lasting battery, so consider that into your cost if you think you'll need it. There's nothing more frustrating than running out of power in the middle of recording an important event!
Better audio results can be achieved with front mounted microphones
For the best audio it is better to buy a front mounted camcorder. The microphone has the tendency to capture the voice of the person using the camcorder rather than the event being recorded when the microphone is mounted on the top of the camcorder.
Best sound can be achieved by buying an external microphone
For the best sound possible, factor in an extra $50 to $100 for an external microphone if the camcorder you're interested in has the ability to connect an external microphone.
Play and familiarize your self with the camcorder's controls and features before you purchase
A bigger camcorder model may work better for you if it's more comfortable to handle, particularly if you have large hands as the smallest camcorders ocassionally can be difficult to use
Exposure controls and low-light options are to be examined
All camcorders come with a completely automatic mode, but certain models have manual and semi-manual exposure modes. For eg, some models allow you to record at slower shutter speeds than others, or have aperture settings that permit more light to enter. Quite a few also offer scene modes, which you might be familiar with from digital still cameras. Low-light options also allow you to shoot in dark environments. Numerous camcorders come with an infrared light or a long shutter mode to assist in capturing images in the dark.
Know your format and look for wide-screen shooting
Recording with a wide screen model will allow you to view your recording without the black bars at the top and buttom if you have a high definition TV. You also need to know the format the camcorder records in. Mini-DVD disc or MiniDV tapes are the most common formats with majority of digital camcorders. Mini-DVD discs are often more difficult to come by than MiniDV as MiniDV is the most widely available format.
Buy A Digital Camcorder
Digital camcorders like the Canon Camcorder use a digital sensor in order to capture the video. In the old days camcorders used film to capture video. The film would move at a certain speed, 24 or 30 frames per second, and each frame on the film would capture a moment in time. With new electronic digital camcorders film is not used anymore. Instead a light sensor also known as a CCD is placed behind the lens. The CCD captures the picture on a large number of tiny light sensors also known as pixels. After a picture is successfully captured on the CCD the CCD is emptied electronically. The long series of pixel values is transferred to internal memory for further processing and the CCD is ready to take another picture.
The further processing includes compressing the picture and writing it to a file on either built in or more likely removable memory. Camcorders like the Canon Camcorder usually save the video in a compressed MPEG format. As opposed to JPEG format which compresses a single picture the MPEG format compressed motion pictures and on top of what JPEG does it also takes advantage of the similarity between frames to further save space.
Capturing color is another task camcorders need to cope with. The Canon Camcorder use what is know as a single CCD system. A single CCD is used to capture color pictures. This is done by actually having each pixel built of three pixels one for each prime color. Each such pixel uses a tiny filter to capture just its intended prime color. Other camcorders unlike the Canon Camcorder use what is known as a three CCD system. In that system there are three CCDs in the camera and each one is fed through an optical filter to see just one prime color. The 3 CCD system is more expensive and is bigger but results in more vivid color and better quality.
The fact that the Canon Camcorder uses solid memory to save the video and a CCD system to capture the video frames means that there are no mechanical moving parts in the camcorder. The only moving parts in camcorders these days are the lenses elements used for zoom and focus. The result is that modern camcorders are getting very small, are cheaper and more reliable as there are less parts that can break.
The Canon Camcorder can also be directly connected to a TV to playback video or it can be connected to a computer using such connections as the fast USB2 in order to transfer the video files to the computer hard drive. With old film based camcorders you had to spend a long time developing the film before the video could be played back. With camcorders like the Canon Camcorder you can watch the video instantly right after it was taken using a small LCD screen in the camcorder. This allows you to correct the composition, lighting and achieve much better quality videos.
Both George Kissi & Ronnie Hammond are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
George Kissi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Recreation and Sports and Family. We help consumers research, choose, and purchase new high-tech products like and also provide them with free unbiased reviews like. George Kissi's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
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