What you need to know, from the kind of user you are to current technologies.
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The latest
news, reviews,
and features on
cameras and camcorders.
Delivered Mondays
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 Home and vacation moviemaker 
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I want to shoot birthday parties, baby steps, holiday gatherings, and school plays. I plan to take my camcorder on vacations, so portability is important. I don't need to do anything fancy, but I'd like the option of doing a little editing and adding some basic effects. I'm looking for simple controls and easy output.
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THE SPECS THAT MATTER |
| Design |
Horizontal, vertical, compact, ultracompact |
| Lens type |
10X or greater zoom controlled via switch or lens ring; electronic or optical image stabilization |
| Sensor |
1/6-inch or larger CCD; minimum 680,000-pixel effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution |
| Minimum illumination rating |
7 lux or lower |
| Recording format |
MiniDV; mini DVD-R/RW/+RW/RAM; Microdrive/CompactFlash; SD card; hard disk |
| Ports and connectors |
FireWire (a.k.a. i.Link or IEEE 1394); A/V; USB 2.0; S-Video; accessory shoe; microphone terminal; headphone terminal |
| Exposure controls |
Automatic; exposure shift; programmed scene modes; backlight mode; low-light mode |
| Focus controls |
Automatic; manual option via dial on camcorder body |
| Viewfinder and LCD |
Color viewfinder and 2.5-inch or larger color LCD |
| Multimedia |
Memory card slot for photo capture; MPEG-1 or MPEG-4 video for Web and e-mail |
| Price |
$400 to $1,500 |
| Cool features to look for |
Bundled video-editing software; digital effects; fader; Webcam functionality; HD recording; 2-megapixel or greater photo capture; remote control; touch-screen LCD; interval recording; analog-to-digital conversion for digitizing 8mm or Hi8 video |
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Budget buyer
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I can't afford to spend more than $600 on a camcorder, and I don't want a model that uses pricey cassettes or discs. I don't need an advanced feature set or compatibility with lots of accessories, and I don't mind a relatively bulky design either. I just want a basic camcorder that's easy to use.
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THE SPECS THAT MATTER |
| Design |
Horizontal; vertical; compact |
| Lens type |
10X or greater zoom controlled via switch; electronic image stabilization |
| Sensor |
1/6-inch CCD; 680,000-pixel or greater effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution |
| Minimum illumination rating |
7 lux or lower |
| Recording format |
MiniDV; mini DVD-R/RW/+RW/RAM |
| Ports and connectors |
FireWire (a.k.a. i.Link or IEEE 1394); A/V; S-Video; microphone terminal |
| Exposure controls |
Automatic; exposure shift |
| Focus controls |
Automatic |
| Viewfinder and LCD |
Black-and-white or color viewfinder and/or 2.5-inch color LCD |
| Price |
$350 to $600 |
| Cool features to look for |
Bundled video-editing software; digital effects; fader; remote control; analog-to-digital conversion for digitizing 8mm or Hi8 video |
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Trendsetter
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Who can put a price on coolness? Not me--I'm a technophile and want the coolest, most cutting-edge features available. I want a slick device that will make passersby look twice, and I'm willing to pay for it.
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THE SPECS THAT MATTER |
| Design |
Horizontal; vertical; compact; ultracompact; combo |
| Lens type |
10X or greater zoom controlled via switch or lens ring; electronic or optical image stabilization |
| Sensor |
1/4-inch or 1/3-inch CCD or CMOS; minimum 1-megapixel effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution; 2-megapixel or greater effective still-image resolution |
| Minimum illumination rating |
2 to 7 lux (lower is better) |
| Recording format |
MiniDV tape; mini DVD-R/RW/+RW DL/RAM; Microdrive/CompactFlash; hard disk |
| Ports and connectors |
FireWire (a.k.a. i.Link or IEEE 1394); A/V; USB 2.0; S-Video; accessory shoe; microphone terminal; headphone terminal |
| Exposure controls |
Automatic; exposure shift; programmed scene modes; spot metering; low-light infrared mode; built-in video light; pop-up flash for stills |
| Focus controls |
Automatic; manual option via dial on camcorder body or ring on lens; spot focus |
| Viewfinder and LCD |
Color viewfinder and 3-inch or larger color LCD |
| Multimedia |
Memory card slot that supports high-capacity media (SD or Memory Stick Pro) for photo capture; MPEG-1 or MPEG-4 video for Web and e-mail |
| Price |
$800 to $2,000 |
| Cool features to look for | HD video support; simultaneous video recording and photo capture; high-definition capture; Bluetooth and networking features for wireless on-camera Web and e-mail access; digital effects; fader; Webcam functionality; 16:9 aspect-ratio mode for wide-screen playback; remote control; touch-screen LCD; interval recording; analog-to-digital conversion for digitizing 8mm or Hi8 video; laser-assisted autofocus; compatibility with portable printer for photos |
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Independent filmmaker
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I'm planning a documentary or a creative video, and I want a camcorder that will give me the advanced controls I need for shooting. I want excellent image quality, and I need output in a format that is optimal for editing and applying effects. I can do without consumer-oriented bells and whistles, but I need compatibility with sound and lighting accessories--I want to shoot like a pro.
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THE SPECS THAT MATTER |
| Design |
Horizontal with side-loading cassette |
| Lens type |
Fixed lens with 10X or greater zoom or interchangeable lens system; zoom control via lens ring and switch; optical image stabilization |
| Sensor |
Three 1/6-inch or larger CCDs or CMOS chips (1/4- or 1/3-inch recommended); minimum 250,000-pixel effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution per sensor |
| Minimum illumination rating |
2 to 7 lux (lower is better) |
| Recording format |
MiniDV |
| Ports and connectors |
FireWire (a.k.a. i.Link or IEEE 1394); A/V; S-Video; LANC; accessory shoe; microphone terminal; headphone terminal with volume control; XLR ports or optional XLR adapter |
| Exposure controls |
Automatic; exposure shift; manual aperture and shutter settings; selectable gain settings; zebra stripes to aid exposure adjustment |
| Focus controls |
Automatic; manual focus ring on lens and automatic override button |
| Viewfinder and LCD |
Color or black-and-white viewfinder and 2.5-inch or larger color LCD |
| Price |
$1,500 to $5,000 |
| Cool features to look for |
Progressive scan, HD-capable sensor; selectable frame rates (24P, 30P, 60i); high-definition capture; SMPTE color bars; cam-driven zoom and focus rings; onscreen focus reference numbers; selectable gamma curves, black point, and zebra stripe pedestal; manual saturation and sharpness adjustment; interval recording; customizable settings |
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Business videographer 
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Since dinner depends on the quality of my video, I need a camcorder that won't let me (and my boss) down. I want to shoot at the office for important meetings and presentations, as well as at other locations such as real estate properties and onsite events. I want plenty of useful features at my fingertips, but since I'm not a professional videographer, I need intuitive operation too.
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THE SPECS THAT MATTER |
| Design |
Horizontal; vertical; compact; side-loading cassette preferred |
| Lens type |
10X or greater zoom controlled via lens ring and switch; electronic or optical image stabilization |
| Sensor |
Three 1/6-inch or larger CCDs; minimum 250,000-pixel effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution per sensor or one 1/4- or 1/3-inch CCD; minimum 690,000-pixel effective (a.k.a. actual) video resolution |
| Minimum illumination rating |
2 to 7 lux (lower is better) |
| Recording format |
MiniDV; mini DVD-R/RW/RAM |
| Ports and connectors |
FireWire (a.k.a. i.Link or IEEE 1394); A/V; S-Video; accessory shoe; microphone terminal; headphone terminal |
| Exposure controls |
Automatic; exposure shift; programmed scene modes; backlight mode; selectable gain settings; zebra stripes to aid exposure adjustment |
| Focus controls |
Automatic; manual focus ring on lens |
| Viewfinder and LCD |
Color viewfinder and 2.5-inch or larger color LCD |
| Multimedia |
Memory card slot for photo capture; MPEG-1 or MPEG-4 video for Web and e-mail |
| Price |
$1,000 to $3,000 |
| Cool features to look for |
High-definition capture; Bluetooth and networking features for wireless on-camera Web and e-mail access; digital effects; fader; spot metering/focusing; videoconferencing functionality; 16:9 aspect-ratio mode for wide-screen playback; remote control; touch-screen LCD |
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Senior editors Lori Grunin and Phil Ryan are CNET's resident experts in digital videography. Lori and former Senior editor Aimee Baldridge wrote and edited this guide with help from jane-of-all-trades Rebecca Viksnins. So, if you have a question about camcorders, just e-mail our experts. For more information on digital videography in general, please visit our camcorder center. |
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