A
camcorder is a great way to document the important and fun events in
your life. Besides wedding and party videos, you can create your own
quirky films, make documentaries of family, friends, and places, and
share your videos with others. Today's camcorders are a thousand times
removed from the big, clunky VHS machines of a decade ago. Modern
camcorders are slim, compact machines with powerful zoom, image
stabilisation, special effects and bright view screens. You'll find most
camcorders to be extraordinarily portable and easy to use.
Choosing a camcorder can be confusing, especially with the
proliferation of multiple recording formats. The days of the VHS
monopoly are long gone: now you can choose between VHS-C, 8 mm, Hi8, and
even digital formats. Camcorders also come with a wide array of options
and features.
Five Quick Shopping Tips
1) Questions to ask yourself: what are you going to be doing with
your camcorder? Your answer to this question will dictate how much money
you can spend and what level of quality you will need. Some important
questions to consider before you run through the details of our buying
guide:
- Who is your primary audience? Family and friends, or will you also
use your video for professional purposes?
- What are your video and audio quality needs? Do you need pro-level
output or just base-line quality?
- Are you interested in video editing?
- Do you need to take digital stills?
- Are you going to make a lot of copies?
2) Format affects quality: the format your camcorder uses
dictates image quality and the kind of tape you'll need. Unlike digital
formats, all non-digital will lose quality as each generational copy is
made. Also, the quality of video and audio varies according to format. 8
mm, VHS and VHS-C offer the lowest video resolution. Hi8 and SVHS-C give
you improved resolution and sound, while the digital video (DV,
Digital8, or Mini DV) formats offer the highest level of video and audio
quality.
3) Zoom: zoom can be a little misleading in camcorder
statistics. Most camcorders have an optical zoom that ranges from
10x-20x and digital zooms in that same range, resulting in total zooms
of 300x-400x. You probably won't find yourself using digital zooms too
much--they can have dramatic negative effects on picture quality--so the
optical zoom rating is the one you should consider most important.
4) Image stabilisation: if image stabilisation is important to
you, then look for a camera with optical image stabilisation--digital
stabilisation can decrease image quality.
5) Digital still capability: many camcorders now offer the
ability to capture digital stills. Manufacturers' claims here can be
confusing. Some allow you only to store the images on the tape itself,
which means you have to use a special program to capture the image.
Camcorders with better digital still features use a flash memory card
slot like a digital camera, making it much easier to store, find and
download pictures. Keep in mind that most camcorders offer only
low-resolution 640 x 480 stills--good enough to e-mail or post on the
Web, but not suitable for quality prints.
How Camcorders Work
Like digital cameras, all camcorders use a CCD, or charged-coupled
device. The CCD is an image sensor that converts the light coming
through the lens into a digital signal. The signal is then converted to
the format the camcorder uses, and then the image and sound data are
recorded onto the tape in the machine. Image and sound quality depend on
the format you use, which is explored next.
Formats
When you're choosing a camcorder, the most important decision will be
which format you want. Camcorders don't all use the same recording
media, and which format you choose will affect everything you do with
your footage--from playback to copies, and even whether you can employ
sophisticated video-editing techniques. To better understand how
camcorders work, it's helpful to think of the recording format and the
actual recording medium (type of tape) as distinct items.
VHS & VHS-C
The VHS format: VHS is the same format your home VCR uses. While
VHS is a supercompatible format--who doesn't have a VCR these days?--it
has some disadvantages when it comes to quality. Video resolution is
measured in lines, and the VHS format features a maximum of 270. For
comparison, DVD offers 480 lines of resolution. VHS should be avoided if
you're interested in doing semiprofessional work or any video editing.
VHS & VHS-C tapes: VHS and VHS-C are cheap and easy to
find--and, most importantly, you can play back both types of tapes in
any modern VCR (VHS-C uses a VHS-tape-size adapter that's included with
most VHS-C camcorders). This is an important consideration if you want
to make first-generation tapes for others or you want to take your tapes
to other people's houses without lugging the camcorder with you. VHS-C
does have one drawback that VHS avoids: the smaller tape size means you
can fit only about 30 minutes of footage per tape.
SVHS
Super VHS, or SVHS, is a higher-quality version of VHS that offers
400-line resolution and better audio. SVHS tapes are the same size as
normal VHS tapes, and you can use normal VHS tapes in SVHS camcorders
(but without the quality advantages). SVHS camcorders are mainly
targeted towards professionals; they tend to be pricey and large.
8 mm
The 8 mm format offers about the same quality as VHS--240 to 270
lines--but the tape itself is noticeably smaller and has a longer
recording time. 8 mm tapes won't play in your VCR, and there aren't any
adapters that allow it, so you'll have to hook your camcorder directly
to your television.
Hi8
Hi8 is a higher-quality version of 8mm (much like SVHS is a better
version of VHS) and offers 400 lines of resolution. The Hi8 format
offers some of the best quality you can get without going digital, and
it's small and lightweight. It is more expensive than VHS or normal 8mm
in terms of camcorders and tapes, but you'll see and hear the
difference.
Digital Video
The digital revolution has finally reached the camcorder market, and
consumers can benefit from the wide selection of digital camcorders that
are now available. The digital video, or DV, format has a host of
advantages. For starters, video quality is very high, at 500 lines of
resolution. Colour richness and accuracy are much improved because
digital records across a wide colour spectrum. DV also records in 16-bit
CD-quality audio, and most digital camcorders let you record 12-bit
audio in two channels for layered soundtracks.
One of the biggest advantages to DV is that it lets you make digital
copies without loss of quality, unlike any of the other formats. While
you will experience a loss of quality if you copy to a VHS or 8 mm tape,
it will be comparatively small because the original image is so high in
quality. Most digital camcorders also allow you to take digital still
shots as well, essentially giving you a digital camera as a bonus.
The big promise of digital video is the ease of transferring footage
to a computer for editing. While the transfer is not as pain-free as
transferring stills from a digital camera, it can still be accomplished
with relative ease. To accomplish the task, you need a couple things
besides your camcorder and computer. First, you'll need to make sure you
have an IEEE 1394 port on your computer. IEEE 1394, also known as
FireWire and i.Link, has become the de facto standard in the realm of
digital video. All Apple Macintosh computers come with this port built
in as of this writing (February 2001), and many other manufacturers are
following suit. If your computer doesn't include this port (most PCs
don't), you can buy an expansion card. Be aware that digital video takes
huge amounts of storage space--about 210 MB per minute. That's why
digital camcorders still use tapes (more storage space) rather than
memory chips or cards.
Mini DV: The media most often associated with the DV format is
the Mini DV tape. Smaller than 8 mm tapes, Mini DV tapes record about an
hour of footage and sound.
Digital8: This is essentially the DV format recorded onto 8 mm
or Hi8 tapes, while retaining the ability to play old 8 mm and Hi8
footage. Digital8 camcorders tend to be a bit bigger and heavier than
Mini DV camcorders, but they use the same IEEE 1394 connector to
transfer footage to a computer.
MicroMV: Sony takes "ultra-compact" to the extreme with the
MICROMV series of camcorders, a family of digital video recorders that
incorporate exceptionally compact and well thought-out design with
incredible picture quality, powerful features and ease of use. The
world's smallest and lightest camcorders makes it that much easier and
more convenient to be ready to capture the moment when something worth
remembering happens. They record digitally on PC-friendly MPEG2 format.
Viewfinder
The viewfinder is probably the most important feature for the user--it
shows you what you're recording. All viewfinders should show you exactly
what you're shooting. Most will even show various special effects if
you're using them. Most eyepiece viewfinders are actually EVFs, or
electronic viewfinders--essentially a tiny LCD screen. Lower-end
camcorders generally come with a black-and-white viewfinder, which is a
great way to cut down on costs, but it can be detrimental if you really
need to pay attention to colours. As you progress up the scale, all
camcorders start to offer colour viewfinders, and most also have
built-in LCD screens that range in size from 2 to 4 inches. These LCD
screens are great for relieving eyestrain that can occur when squinting
into a regular viewfinder. Some camcorder manufacturers offer devices
with only an external LCD monitor.
Zoom
Most camcorders offer zoom capability, which lets you move in closer to
a subject or magnify an area. Zoom is great for sporting events,
weddings, filming nature and other situations where you're far away from
your subject. Camcorders use two technologies for zoom. An optical zoom
works just like a regular camera's zoom by physically increasing the
length of the lens, essentially creating a magnifying glass. Optical
zoom lets you retain high image quality, but you usually won't find it
at a higher power than about 24x. Many camcorders also have a digital
zoom, which takes a portion of the image and enlarges it digitally. The
downside to digital zooms is that they can extrapolate only from
existing image data, so the more you zoom in, the more you notice the
individual pixels. It's like when you keep zooming into a picture on
your computer--eventually you can't tell what's what because the screen
is a collection of blocky colours.
Power Source
Many camcorders run on a rechargeable ni-cad battery, although most of
the high-end models have converted to the more advanced lithium-ion.
Both usually last one to two hours. Camcorder kits usually include a
recharger (which often acts as the AC adapter as well), or the camcorder
itself can recharge the batteries. Some models even have car adapters
you can purchase separately.
VCR Capability
For all but VHS and VHS-C camcorders, playback capability is essential
because you'd need a special kind of separate player to play back 8 mm
and digital video. Fortunately, all consumer camcorders also function as
VCRs for their own format, so you can hook them up to a TV and play back
your tapes. Most camcorders include the basic VCR functions
(fast-forward, rewind); many of them have added search features and come
with compact remote controls (also useful for remote recording).
Light
While most camcorders do a good job of recording in low-light conditions
(inside a house, overcast days), you will encounter situations where the
available light isn't enough to get a good image. Many camcorders come
with a light built in for these situations--most often, the light can be
set to automatically come on when the natural lighting is too low. Some
camcorders also have connections for snap-on external lights.
Image Stabilisation
Many camcorders have a handy feature called image stabilisation that
helps correct for camera shake. Recording while walking, using a
powerful zoom or recording a fast-moving subject can lead to shaky
images that make viewers dizzy. Image stabilisation detects camera shake
and helps steady the image. There are two types of image stabilisation:
digital or optical. Digital image stabilisation crops the image that the
CCD picks up and uses the edge for a buffer zone. While it works well,
digital image stabilisation can degrade image quality slightly. Optical
image stabilisation uses a set of lenses to adjust for unwanted motion;
usually only high-end or professional camcorders use optical image
stabilisation because it is expensive and can add to the bulk and
weight.
Microphone
All camcorders should have a built-in microphone, which is often
recessed to decrease wind noise. These built-in microphones are usually
adequate for home recording needs, but don't expect your home video to
sound like a Hollywood film. In films, the actors are miked directly to
cut down on room noises, which camcorder microphones will easily pick
up. Many camcorders also provide connection capability for a separate
external microphone.
Exposure Modes
Camcorders usually sense the correct exposure during the recording; some
also have special settings you can use in certain situations. These can
include backlight compensation (for dark subjects against bright
backgrounds), fast shutter speed (for sports or other fast-action
events) and other exposure modes that compensate for glare, low
lighting, spot lighting, dusk and night lighting. Many also include the
option to manually adjust the exposure and focus.
Special Effects
Many camcorders now offer special effects that could once be done only
by a professional with expensive editing equipment. Some let you fade
out at the end of a scene (and fade back in at the beginning). Some give
you a whole range of fade options, including fade to black, white or
another colour choice; wipe the screen; close and open on the screen
like a shutter; fade to a blurred mosaic and more. Some camcorders let
you record in special video modes, including effects such as sepia,
black and white, negative and solarised (an effect that makes everything
look a bit like an oil painting). Some also let you shoot in strobe mode
for an artistic-looking slow-motion image. Special effects can be a lot
of fun. Although they probably won't comprise the bulk of your shooting,
they're useful in many situations.
Still Image
Capability
Many camcorders now offer the ability to take still images on the same
tape as the video. Some let you record audio with the image. These
"photos" remain on the tape and can't be printed like real photos, but
they're still fun. All digital camcorders function as digital cameras as
well, letting you take a large number of still shots on the tape. These
still shots can be downloaded, edited and printed from a PC. A few
analog camcorders have added a digital camera feature: they use a
separate memory card to hold digital pictures, making it easy for you to
download and edit them. It's easy for manufacturers to add this
capability since the guts of a camcorder are remarkably similar to those
of digital cameras, so look for more and more models to gain this
functionality in the future.
Motion or Audio
Sensing
A few camcorders also offer security recording. They use a motion or
audio detector to trigger recording.
Glossary
Still confused by camcorder jargon? Take a look at our
glossary
