Digital camcorders provide perfect digital quality. They record with 500 lines of resolution. That's the same clarity that you get with DVD. Or think of it this way: VHS movies are only about 270 lines of resolution, about half of the clarity you get with a digital camcorder. The sound is digital so everything you hear will be CD quality. Buyers guides providing up-to-date information on the latest products and technologies. Each buyers guide contains comprehensive impartial advice for consumers. This is a very small and light format. The MiniDV tapes are so small that they allow the camcorder to be practically pocket sized. They also provide for exceptional storage capacity because most models have a tiny slot for little removable media discs. These little digital storage discs are about the size of a piece of gum but they allow the user to store up to 64 mb of high quality video and still images.

New generation of digital camcorders provide at least 500 lines of resolution video quality, rich and accurate color with a wide color spectrum, and 16-bit CD-quality audio. Most digital camcorders also let you record 12-bit audio in two channels for layered soundtracks. In addition, digital camcorders allow you to take digital still shots as well, essentially giving you a digital camera as a bbonus. With installation of a separate video capture card on computer, you can plug your digital camcorder into your computer and download and edit your digital videos. IEEE 1394 port, also known as FireWire and i.Link, has become the standard for digital video loss-free high-speed transfer. All Apple Macintosh computers come with this port built in as of February 2001, and many other PC manufacturers are also provided this feature now.

Key features:

•It does not matter how many features your camcorder has, unless you are comfortable with its size, weight and shape, and you can see and operate all the main controls on the unit, you will be wasting your money.

•Digital camcorders have huge advantages in these areas over analogue camcorders but if your choice is not easy to hold and operate it will not matter how small and light is, you will find it really difficult to get the pictures you want.

•The ability to get closer to your subjects can make a huge difference. The optical zoom ranges are the most important. These move the image closer by internal lens movement.

Some digital camcorders can be used to take digital stills. These are stored on a memory card and can be transferred to a PC for further use. Most digital cameras will provide better quality pictures but it may be a useful additional feature on your camcorder if you don't have one. Digital camcorders are extremely compatible with your computer as well as your TV. You can hook up to your computer either via USB cable or Fire wire (IEEE 1394). Then you can edit your still photos and your movies right on your computer, using editing software.