Lens
The broader the optical zoom range, the more shooting flexibility you'll have. Camcorder zooms start at 10X magnification, which should suffice for most users. Don't confuse optical zoom with digital zoom: the higher the digital zoom magnification, the more image quality deteriorates. Look for a lens with a maximum aperture of f1.4 or f1.6 for the best low-light performance. And we highly recommend optical image stabilization, because it keeps the picture steady without degrading image quality as much as digital stabilization does. Hobbyists should look for a camera with manual focus capability, especially one that uses a focus ring on the lens instead of a switch. A lens that's threaded to accept filters and lens converters will also benefit advanced videographers.