Camcorders
Camcorders have become an integral part of the modern world. It is now possible for individuals to economically capture all of life's precious minutia on film. A camcorder can immortalize any moment, from the birth of a child to the wedding of young lovers to a final goodbye to old friends. The extensive capabilities of camcorders vary, as do prices. Some new camcorders run as low as £50, while the most advanced devices can cost upwards of £50,000.
Analogue versus Digital
There are two types of camcorders available on the market today: digital  and analogue. The most fundamental distinction between digital and analogue cameras is in how they store moving images. Analogue camcorders record film onto analogue tapes of varying sizes and grades depending on the camera. Digital camcorders record onto a hard disk, DVD or other detachable storage device. Because of its increased storage capacity and improved picture quality, digital equipment has become increasingly popular. Digital camcorders also weigh less and are easier to handle than their analogue counterparts. Though some purists still prefer the gritty look of analogue film to the glossy perfection of digital recording, most general users and seasoned professionals agree digital camcorders are the way to go. Below is a short comparison that will help you determine what kind of camcorder is right for you.
Digital Camcorders
If current trends continue, digital camcorders will soon completely replace analogue ones on the consumer market. In fact, one major manufacturer, Canon, has already stopped making analogue models altogether. Digital camcorders can be plugged into computers where footage and sound can be easily edited, copied, manipulated, and emailed. Digital camcorders are generally superior to analogue ones for a few reasons: - They provide better picture quality.
- Have improved storage capacity and portability.
- Digital film quality does not degrade and can be easily stored in several ways almost immediately.
If you are in the market for a digital camcorder, you have two types to choose from: - A digital camcorder that plugs into a computer, which is then used to burn DVDs.
- An alternative camera, which has a self-contained editing and burning system, so that no computer is needed.
How to Choose a Digital Camcorder
It's not smart to choose your digital camcorder strictly on its make and model. It is more important to consider your needs and price range in order to find the most suitable option. How much are you willing to spend and what are you going to use your camcorder for? There is no use buying a cutting-edge device if your primary goal is to record lo-fi home movies. Conversely, if you plan on creating your own short films or want the best features available, there is almost no limit to what you can buy.
| Casual Home Movie Maker or Professional Videographer? |
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Budget
Price: Under £200
Style: Horizontal or compact - Simplistic, easy to use, and cheap.
- No accessories, no manual controls.
- Sometimes bulky.
- Sometimes the viewfinder is in black and white instead of colour.
- Look for bundles that include editing software to increase editing capabilities.
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Casual
Price: £200-£300
Style: All - Versatile with plenty of auto features and programmable scene modes.
- High compatibility with other format types.
- Can also work as a web cam.
- Look for touch-screen LCDs, interval recording, and analogue to digital conversion.
- Also check for software bundles.
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Ultra Compact
Price: £300-£700
Style: Vertical, ultra compact or combo - Small, slick, and cutting-edge.
- Takes advantage of memory cards and other formats, image stabilization technology, and manual controls.
- Look for Bluetooth support, digital effects, simultaneous recording and image shooting.
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Compact
Price: £500-£800
Style: Horizontal - The JVC Everio G series hard-disk camcorders offer unprecedented storage capacity, eliminating the need to carry tapes, discs, or any media at all.
- Microdrive format lets you shoot up to 7 hours of high-quality MPEG-2 video, 15x optical zoom, 2.5-inch clear LCD monitor, 1/4.5-inch CCD imager with 1.33-megapixel resolution.
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Semi-Pro
Price: £700-£1,200
Style: Compact or horizontal - Delivers high-quality images and allows for Bluetooth and networking capability plus video conferencing via stills or video.
- Touch screen LCDs, wide screen playback, image stabilization, and plenty of exposure control makes them well-rounded for professionals.
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High-end
Price: £1,300+
Style: Horizontal - Plenty of add-on accessories available to make these professional quality cameras.
- Interchangeable lenses, progressive scan and variable frame rates.
- High resolution and high connectivity make for easy editing.
- HD compatible and option of full manual override.
- Onboard editing adjustments.
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What's the Best Recording Format For Me?
MiniDV Cassettes -- This is the most common type of digital recording format. MiniDV produces high quality images with more than 500 lines of horizonal resolution and supports HDV-formats. Also, it is compatible with most video editing software and camcorders that use this format can easily connect directly to a television and be used for recording on a VCR. MiniDV is not compatible with analogue formats. It is not difficult to find cameras that use this format.
Digital8 Cassette -- D8 cassettes are bigger than their mini counterparts, but they still deliver the same resolution. However, they are much cheaper. Because of their size, they are also compatible with analogue formats.
MicroMV Cassettes -- These ultra tiny cassettes are used with ultra-compact camcorders. They allow for viewing thumbnail indexes and still boast the same resolution as MiniDVs and D8s. They are fairly expensive.
Mini DVD-R Discs and DVD-RAM Disc -- Mini DVD discs make going from recording to watching videos a breeze. Simply record your film and pop the finished disc into a DVD player and you are ready to go, no computer necessary. Mini DVD discs can also hold both stills and video images (MPEG-2), so there is no need for an extra memory chip. The unfortunate thing about these otherwise extremely convenient discs is that they can't be edited on a PC without some trickery. Also, some may find this format a bit expensive.
Microdrive, CompactFlash, and built-in hard drive -- These recording materials produce high-resolution MPEG-2 videos and still shots get stored on tiny chips that are convenient and versatile.
SD/MMC and Memory Stick -- Camcorders that use a flash memory card in addition to a cassette are not particularly common yet, but they are very useful for transferring and saving videos. They're also the best bet for prospective webcammers. They can also be used interchangeably with certain digital cameras. SD/MMC and Memory Sticks are mostly used for MPEG-1 and MPEG-4 files.
Top Manufacturers
Top 10 Digital Camcorders
(according to CNET.co.uk)
Analogue Camcorders
If you have no interest in editing, don't have a DVD player and/or don't have access to a computer then an analogue camcorder is the right choice. Analogue camcorders are the perfect option for the budget-conscious consumer. They can be either: - VHS-C camcorders, which record onto compact VHS tapes, have lower picture quality than most other cameras and only hold forty minutes of footage on a single tape.
- Hi8 camcorders, which use 8mm tapes, have higher resolution and better colour consistency than VHS-C tapes and can hold up to five hours of footage.
Now, before you run screaming for the most expensive digital camera you can find, remember: - The superior quality of a digital picture is lost when footage is transfered to VHS.
- If you plan on using VHS, an analogue camcorder's final picture quality will be essentially indistinguishable from digital footage for a far cheaper price.
| Basic Analogue Camcorders |
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Price: £180
Very inexpensive hi-8 camcorder. Features 20x optical zoom and Steady-Shot video stabilization. Has good autofocus qualities. Very quiet. |
Price: £155
Another inexpensive analogue camcorder featuring 22x optical zoom. Very lightweight. |
External Links
CNET.co.uk -- Excellent camcorder advice.
Ehow.com -- How to use your camcorder.
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