When you go shopping for a new digital camcorder, you'll be presented with myriad specifications and features. Your challenge is to sort through all the hoopla and figure out whether the camera will meet your specific needs. When reviewing the spec sheet for any new camcorder, pay special attention to these items:
- CCDs: A 3-CCD (also called 3-chip) camcorder provides much better image quality but is also a lot more expensive. A 3-CCD camera is by no means mandatory, but it is nice to have.
- Progressive scan: This is another feature that is nice but not absolutely mandatory.
- Resolution: Some spec sheets list horizontal lines of resolution (for example, 525 lines); others list the number of pixels (for example, 690,000 pixels). Either way, more is better when it comes to resolution.
- Optical zoom: Spec sheets usually list optical and digital zoom separately. Digital zoom numbers are usually high (200x, for example) and seem appealing. Ignore the big digital zoom number and focus (get it?) on the optical zoom factor (which describes how well the camera lens actually sees); the optical zoom factor should be in the 12x-25x range. Digital zoom just crops the picture captured by the CCD and then makes each remaining pixel bigger to fill the screen, resulting in greatly reduced image quality.
- Tape format: MiniDV is the most common format, but for your equipment, using other formats might make more sense.
- Batteries: How long does the included battery supposedly last, and how much do extra batteries cost? You should buy a camcorder that uses lithium ion batteries - they last longer and are easier to maintain than NiMH (nickel-metal-hydride) batteries.
- Microphone connector: For the sake of sound quality, the camcorder should have some provisions for connecting an external microphone. (You don't want your audience to think, "Gee, it'd be a great movie if it didn't have all that whirring and sneezing.") Most camcorders have a standard mini-jack connector for an external mic, and some high-end camcorders have a 3-pin XLR connector. XLR connectors - also sometimes called balanced audio connectors - are used by many high-quality microphones and PA (public address) systems.
- Manual controls: Virtually all modern camcorders offer automatic focus and exposure control, but sometimes manual control is preferable. Control rings around the lens are easier to use than tiny knobs or slider switches on the side of the camera - and you'll be familiar with them if you already know how to use 35mm film cameras.
The spec sheet may try to draw your attention to various other camcorder features as well, but not all these features are as useful as the salesman might like you to believe. Features that seem exciting but are generally less important include:
- Night vision: Some camcorders have an infrared mode that enables you to record video even in total darkness. Sony's NightShot is an example of this feature. If you want to shoot nature videos of nocturnal animals, this may be appealing to you, but for day-to-day videography, it's less useful than you might think.
- Still photos: Many new digital camcorders can also take still photos. This is handy if you want to shoot both video and stills but don't want to lug along two cameras - but even relatively cheap digital still cameras take better photos than camcorders (even the most expensive ones).
- USB port: Some camcorders offer a USB connection in addition to FireWire. USB can be handy for transferring still photos into your computer, but you should rely on FireWire for digital video capture. Many computer USB ports are not fast enough to handle full-quality digital video.
- Bluetooth: This is a new wireless networking technology that allows various types of electronic components - including camcorders and computers - to connect to each other using radio waves instead of cables. Unfortunately the maximum data rate of current Bluetooth technology is still comparatively low (less than 1 megabit per second). In practical terms, that means Bluetooth won't be suitable for capturing digital video from your camcorder for the foreseeable future. A few camcorders incorporate Bluetooth technology anyway, and that may (or may not) come in handy if you still own the same camcorder a few years from now.
And then there are some features that are essentially useless. Don't pay extra for these:
- In-camera special effects: Most digital camcorders boast some built-in effects. But why? You can add special effects much more effectively (so to speak) by using your editing software on your computer.
- Digital zoom: Digital zoom makes the image appear blocky and pixilated - again, why do it? When you test the zoom feature on a camcorder, make sure that you can disable digital zoom. Bottom line: You should be able to prevent the camera from automatically switching to digital zoom when you reach the optical zoom limit.
- Built-in light: If a camcorder's built-in light works as a flash for still photos, it at least serves a semi-useful purpose. But on-camera lights often have unfavorable lighting effects on your subjects; rely on other light sources instead when you're shooting video.
