Getting Started
What is a camcorder?A device that records images in a manner that is similar to that of a digital camera. A series of images is captured by collecting light from a subject and focusing it on a photosensitive substance inside the device. In an old movie camera, that substance was film. With digital camcorders, it's a light-sensitive imaging sensor (or multiple sensors), which converts the light into electric signals. The camcorder then internally converts those signals into video data, which it stores in one of a variety of media formats-miniDV tape, DVD disc, hard drive, or memory card. Audio is also captured and recorded simultaneously.
Types of camcordersThere are some analog (or non-digital) models available, but most manufacturers are only producing digital camcorders, which now account for the vast majority of new-model introductions 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.
Unlike analog camcorders of the past, digital camcorders allow you to do a lot more with videos 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. Many video-editing-software suites also allow you to combine your video with digital stills, graphics, and text, expanding your creative possibilities.
Digital camcorders capable of high-definition (HD) recording are the newest arrivals, and this category is growing fast. Originally larger and heavier, digital models are becoming smaller and lighter, especially those that store video on removable flash-memory cards. But in order to reduce the "footprint" of the camcorder, some models have eliminated features such as a viewfinder. 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.New recording formats are also becoming more important. Camcorders store your video on mini tape cassettes, DVDs, internal hard drives, mini Blu-ray discs, or removable flash-memory cards similar to those you'd use in a digital camera. More models now combine two storage options, such as a hard drive and DVD or memory card, for added flexibility.
High-definition primerThe ability to capture HD-quality movies is probably within your reach. In fact, some HD models may be priced well under $1,000. Although many models we've rated have very good overall quality and produce either excellent or very good picture and audio quality, the most common weak spot was picture quality in low-light conditions. Most are also easy to use.
Most consumer HD models have either a 10x or 12x optical zoom. At maximum zoom, most camcorders display some image vibration because of hand shake or other factors. To compensate for that, all include an image stabilizer, which can do an excellent job.
HD camcorders offer the same variety of storage formats as standard-definition models: MiniDV tape, DVD, hard-drive, and flash-memory card. But you can also find models that combine formats, such as one that stores video on either a DVD or flash-memory card. So you can record longer clips on, say, a 16GB memory card and shorter ones on a DVD. Or take the video recorded on the card and burn it to a DVD.
Before diving into the world of high-definition DVD camcorders, be sure to acquaint yourself with the different disc formats. One point to keep in mind: The encoding that these HD camcorders use makes the discs compatible with only high-definition Blu-ray players or a computer drive compatible with Blu-ray discs. To complicate matters, one company, Hitachi, has recently introduced two camcorders that store HD video footage on mini Blu-ray discs. Besides player compatibility, another big difference between miniDVD and mini Blu-ray discs is storage capacity. You can record 15 to 20 minutes on the former, but up to an hour of HD video on the latter.
In HD, as with standard-definition camcorders, hard-drive models are the most expensive, although our tests showed that you don't need to pay top dollar for the best performance. MiniDV tape and DVD models, comparable in price, were less expensive than hard-drive models. Flash-memory card models were among the least expensive and tended to be lighter and more compact than other types, although none have the viewfinders found on most other models.
One additional difference you'll find with HD camcorders is that they will generally have an HDMI output, which stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. This interface is designed to be the best way to connect your camcorder to an HD television.
Types
What's AvailableA 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 a widescreen format (or 16:9 aspect ratio). HD video contains much more detail than standard video, but you'll be able to see it only on an HDTV. If you hook up an HD model to your standard def TV, you'll see video, but not the highest quality.
Some HD models can record video in 1080i, the same high resolution as much 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 disc player, to play back recordings.
You can also connect directly to an HDTV. Some HD models give you the option of recording in standard definition, which enables you to store more video. That 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 last few years, but models that record on miniature DVD discs, built-in hard drives, and memory cards are becoming more common in standard-def and high-def versions.
MiniDVMiniDV camcorders use a unique tape cassette. The typical recording time is 60 minutes at standard play 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.
DVDThe DVD 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.)
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 drivesCamcorders 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 to 120 gigabytes of capacity, providing seven to 16 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 can be a drag-and-drop affair. This format is very flexible, with an easy connection to a computer; no special computer 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.
Camcorders with flash memoryWith 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 256 MB to 2 GB 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. But there are some newer camcorders that include internal, non-removable flash memory. Some come with memory card and internal flash memory.
There are also select, inexpensive standard-definition camcorders-such as Pure Digital's Flip camcorder-that include internal, non-removable flash memory. These are relatively inexpensive, easy-to-use models with very few features. We also found in our tests that although these types of camcorders were convenient for sharing videos over the Internet, their video picture quality was far below that of even the lowest rated standard-definition camcorders.
Combo modelsSeveral manufacturers offer "hybrid" camcorders-a relatively new category-that combine 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 DVD or memory card storage is best for archiving or sharing videos. Another type combo model-one that offers internal and removable flash memory-is mentioned in our flash memory section.
Features
The right camcorder features are important, whether you're considering a standard definition or high-definition model. Many camcorder features, such as LCD monitors and autofocus are available on almost all models, while other features, such as quick review or a built-in light are less common.
Flip-out LCDThis type of viewer is common on all camcorders. Some come in a wider aspect ratio (16:9), often called a wide-screen LCD, which is similar to the ratio found on many HDTVs. (You'll also find that some pricier camcorders include touch-screen LCDs.) LCDs are also useful for reviewing footage that 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 or touch-screen LCDs.
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. Because 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.
Image stabilizerThis camcorder feature automatically reduces most of the shaking that occurs while you hold 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 switchThis provides you with point-and-shoot simplicity. The camcorder automatically adjusts the color balance, shutter speed, focus, and aperture (also called the "iris" or "f-stop" with camcorders).
AutofocusThis camcorder feature 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.
ZoomThis 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.
Optical zoomTypical optical zoom ratios range from 10:1 to 50:1--or are described in the specifications as having 10x optical zoom or 50x optical zoom. The zoom relies on optical lenses, just like a film camera (hence the term "optical zoom").
Digital zoomMany 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.
Camcorder Brands
