Analog models have lost out to digital's quality and ease of use.

You can do a lot more with videos shot on camcorders than simply play them back on your TV. You can edit and embellish them with music using your computer, then play your productions on your DVD player or PC. You can also e-mail recordings to friends or family.

Digital camcorders now dominate the market, accounting for the vast majority of new models and purchases. They generally offer fine picture quality and decent sound, and most are quite compact--many weigh about 1 pound, and the smallest are closer to half a pound. You can duplicate recordings without degrading picture or sound quality, and even take still photos with most new models. Digital camcorders capable of high-definition recording are the newest arrivals. If you'll be watching your video on an HDTV, it's worth considering an HD camcorder, but be prepared to pay hundreds more for one.

As prices on digital camcorders have dropped, analog camcorders have been relegated to a very small part of the market. While they are the lowest-priced option, picture and sound quality are a step below what you can get with digital models. Some analog units are as easy to handle as digital models but tend to be a bit bigger and bulkier.

New recording formats are also becoming more important. Most digital camcorders store your video on miniature tape cassettes or DVDs, but others record onto an internal hard drive, mini Blu-ray discs, or removable flash-memory cards similar to those you'd use in a digital camera. A few models combine two storage options, such as a hard drive and DVD or memory card, for added flexibility.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Sony dominates the camcorder market, offering multiple models in a number of formats. Other top brands include Canon, JVC, Panasonic, and Samsung, with Hitachi and Sanyo accounting for sales as well.

In years past, the major distinction in the camcorder category was analog vs. digital, but analog models have dwindled, with only a few remaining. Most analog camcorders use the Hi8 format; VHS-C and Super VHS-C are fading from the market. Blank tapes range from $3.50 to $6.50. Analog camcorders usually weigh around 2 pounds. Picture quality is generally good, though a notch below digital. Price: $200 to $300.

A major distinction among digital camcorders is the resolution they capture. Most models on the market are standard definition, but many high-def camcorders are arriving. These look just like conventional standard-definition models but use a higher-resolution image sensor and more-advanced recording technology, and they record in wide-screen format. HD video contains much more detail than standard video, but you'll be able to see it only on an HDTV. Some HD models can record video in 1080i, the same high resolution as a lot of HDTV programming. Other models record in 720p, an alternative HD broadcast format. Note that HD recordings take up much more space than standard-def video, so you'll fit less footage in a given amount of storage; 720p files are not quite as large as 1080i, though. With some formats used to record HD, such as AVCHD, you might need HD-capable hardware, such as a Blu-ray DVD player, to play back recordings. You can also connect directly to an HDTV. Some HD models give you the option of recording in standard-def, which enables you to store more video. This also provides for broader playback compatibility if you want to share recordings with others. You can also downconvert HD video either within the camera or after you've transferred it to a computer.

Another consideration is the recording medium a camcorder uses. Those using MiniDV tapes have been the most popular for the past few years, but models that record on miniature discs, built-in hard drives, and memory cards are becoming more common in both standard-def and high-def versions.

MiniDV. MiniDV camcorders use a unique tape cassette. The typical recording time is 60 minutes at standard play (SP) speed, which gives you the best quality, or 90 minutes at lower quality. Expect to pay about $4 for a 60-minute tape (in SP). While the cassettes are cheap and readily available, the tape can tangle and jam in the camcorder transport, so it should be handled carefully to avoid damage. You must use the camcorder for playback; it converts the recording to an analog signal that can be played directly into a TV or VCR. If the TV or VCR has an S-video input jack, use it to get a high-quality picture. You can fast-forward or rewind sequentially through a recording, but you can't randomly jump to specific points on the tape. You can also transfer video to a computer for editing. That takes place in real time, so it's a slow process. It's the only recording format that allows frame-by-frame editing. Price: $200 to $450 for standard-def; $800 to $1,200 for HD.

Disc-based. The disc format offers benefits that tape can't match: durability, compactness, and random access to scenes as with a DVD. That makes for more carefree recording, though you should avoid bumping the camcorder during use, and keep dirt out of the mechanism. The 8-centimeter discs (approximately 3 1/4-inch) record standard MPEG-2 video, the same format used in commercial DVD videos. The amount of recording time varies according to the quality level you select, from 20 minutes per side at the highest-quality setting for DVD-RAM discs to about 60 minutes per side at the lowest setting. DVD-RAM discs are not compatible with many DVD players, but the discs can be reused. DVD-R is supposed to be compatible with most newer DVD players and computer DVD drives, but they are not rewriteable. DVD-RW and DVD+RW are reusable, rewriteable disc formats that promise similar wide compatibility. Camcorders using discs often require more time to power up and shut down. (Disc prices are $4 to $20.) Price: $350 to $900; $900 to $1,500 for HD.

With HD models, you might need different playback hardware than with standard-definition camcorders. For example, HD video recorded onto DVDs or mini Blu-ray discs with the new AVCHD format can be played only on a Blu-ray disc player.

Models with hard drives. Camcorders that record onto tiny, built-in hard drives are even easier to use. Because the drive is internal, it's protected. There's no recording media to buy or carry along. Like DVDs, hard drives are random access, but they're even faster. Many models have 30 gigabytes of capacity, providing seven to nine hours of recording at the highest-quality mode and 25 or more hours at lower quality. Some models can use removable memory cards to provide even more storage. This type of camcorder attaches via FireWire or USB to a computer and appears as a mass-storage device, so transferring files is a drag-and-drop affair. This format is very flexible, with an easy connection to a computer; no special drivers are necessary. Video and photos are already in computer-compatible file formats that transfer quickly, so no conversion is necessary. With this type of camcorder, you should be comfortable using a computer to transfer or archive your video. Price: $500 to $1,300; $1,000 to $1,800 for HD.

Camcorders with flash memory. With digital formats using Secure Digital (SD) or Memory Stick memory cards, the amount of standard-definition video you can record at the highest quality level can vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour on 256MB to 2GB cards. Even larger cards with greater capacity are available. (To get a precise estimate, check a camera's specifications.) As with an HD model, you must be comfortable with using a computer to transfer or archive your video. Price: $300 to $800; $600 to $1,500 for HD.

Combo models. Several manufacturers offer "hybrid" camcorders--a relatively new category--that combine both a DVD or Blu-ray drive and a hard drive or memory card in one unit. The hard drive is fast and convenient for recording, while disc or memory card storage is best for archiving or sharing videos.

A flip-out liquid-crystal-display (LCD) viewer is common on all camcorders. A wide-screen LCD viewer is becoming more common. You'll find it useful for reviewing footage you've shot and easier to use than the eyepiece viewfinder for certain shooting poses. Some LCD viewers are hard to use in sunlight, a drawback of models that have only a display and no eyepiece.

Screens vary from 2 1/2 to 4 inches measured diagonally, with a larger screen offered as a step-up feature on higher-priced models. Since an LCD viewer uses batteries faster than an eyepiece viewfinder does, you don't have as much recording time when the LCD is in use.

An image stabilizer automatically reduces most of the shaking that occurs from holding the camcorder as you record a scene. Most stabilizers are electronic; a few are optical. Either type can be effective, though mounting the camcorder on a tripod is the surest way to get steady images. If you're not using a tripod, try holding the camcorder with both hands and bracing both elbows against your chest.

Full-auto switch essentially lets you point and shoot. The camcorder automatically adjusts the color balance, shutter speed, focus, and aperture (also called the "iris"Δω or "f-stop"Δω with camcorders).

Autofocus adjusts for maximum sharpness; manual-focus override might be needed for problem situations, such as low light. (With some camcorders, you might have to tap buttons repeatedly to get the focus just right.) With many models, you can control exposure, shutter speed, and white balance.

The zoom is typically a finger control--press one way to zoom in, the other to widen the view. The rate at which the zoom changes depends on how hard you press the switch. Typical optical zoom ratios range from 10:1 to 40:1. The zoom relies on optical lenses, just like a film camera (hence the term "optical zoom"Δω). Many camcorders also include a digital zoom to extend the range to 400:1 or more, but at a lower picture quality than optical zoom gives.

All camcorders have various recording modes that yield different levels of quality and capacity. The best quality may be called HQ or SP, depending on the recording medium. XP or LP gives you more capacity at a lower quality.

All VHS-C and S-VHS-C camcorders have a slow EP (extended play) speed that triples the recording time. With analog camcorders, slower speeds reduce picture quality. Slow speed usually doesn't reduce picture quality on Digital 8 and MiniDV digital camcorders. It might restrict playback on other camcorders.

Quick review lets you view the last few seconds of a scene without having to press a lot of buttons.

For special lighting situations, preset auto-exposure settings can be helpful. A "snow and sand"Δω setting, for example, adjusts shutter speed or aperture to accommodate high reflectivity.

A light provides some illumination for close shots when the image would otherwise be too dark. Backlight compensation increases the exposure slightly when your subject is lighted from behind and silhouetted. An infrared-sensitive recording mode (also known as night vision, zero lux, or MagicVu) allows shooting in very dim or dark situations, using infrared emitters. You can use it for nighttime shots, although colors won't register accurately in this mode.

Audio/video inputs let you record material from another camcorder or from a VCR, useful for copying part of another video onto your own. (A digital camcorder must have a 3 1/2-mm jack if you want to connect an analog device.) Unlike a built-in microphone, an external microphone that is plugged into a microphone jack won't pick up noises from the camcorder itself, and it typically improves audio performance.

A camcorder with digital still capability lets you take snapshots, which can be downloaded to your computer. The photo quality is generally inferior to that of a good still camera, although higher-cost camcorders typically offer better photo quality than cheaper ones.

Features that might help editing include a built-in title generator, a time-and-date stamp, and a time code, which is a frame reference of exactly where you are on the recording media--the hour, minute, second, and frame.

A remote control helps when you're using the camcorder as a playback device or when you're using a tripod. Programmed recording (a self-timer) starts the camcorder recording at a preset time.

Buy a digital model unless you have old tapes to play back. It won't cost you much more, and you'll get better-quality recordings, usually longer recording times, plus more features and a wider choice of models. If you're replacing an older camcorder, think about what you'll do with the tapes you've accumulated. One option is to transfer them to an easily viewed (and more durable) medium, such as a DVD.

Consider an HD camcorder if you have (or will be buying) an HDTV. An HDTV can make the most of the higher-resolution video quality from a high-def camcorder. But keep in mind that it will probably cost you several hundred dollars more than a comparable standard-def camcorder. If you want the best possible video and it's worth the money to you, HD is the way to go.

Decide which recording format suits you best. The recording format you choose determines not only how much you'll be spending for memory media, but also how much recording time you'll get.

Check the size, weight, and controls. In the store, try different camcorders to make sure they fit your hand and are comfortable to use. Most camcorders are designed so that the most frequently used controls--the switch to zoom in and out, the record button, and the button for still photos--are readily at hand. Make sure that the controls are convenient and that you can change recording media and remove the battery without any trouble.

Check the flip-out LCD viewer. Most measure 2 1/2 inches on the diagonal but some are larger,which can add $100 to the price. Some viewers suffer from too much glare, making them difficult to use outdoors in bright sun. Check the display in the store to make sure you're satisfied with the usability on any model you're considering.

Think about the lighting. A camcorder isn't always used outdoors or in a brightly lighted room. You can shoot video in dim light, but don't expect miracles. In our tests using the default mode, most camcorders produced only fair or poor images in very low light. Many camcorders have settings that can improve performance but can be a challenge to use. There are models that do decently in dim light--say, in a darkened auditorium or at a child's birthday party with only candles for illumination. Check our Ratings for the best low-light performers if you expect to shoot in that type of setting.

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