How to Choose a Video Camera
Buying a video camera, or camcorder, can be confusing. There are so many types out there. Which one should you buy? What are some features you need to look for to ensure the camera you purchase is exactly what you need? Armed with the right information, selecting a camcorder won't be difficult.
There are ten basic things to look at when purchasing a video camera. Once you understand these things, you can shop confidently for the perfect camera for you.
1. Discs or Memory Card?
There are different formats when recording on digital video cameras. Decide if you want to record on discs, hard disk drive, or memory cards.
2. Pixels
Pixels set the clarity on your recording. The higher the pixel number, the more clear your recording will be.
3. CCD Chip
Pixel information is captured on a CCD chip behind the lens of your video camera. These chips come in different sizes. Most chips range 1/6 inch to 1/3 inch. The larger the CCD, the more light is taken in resulting in brighter images and color.
4. Low Light Performance
When filming indoors, it's important to look for this feature. Some camcorders will have automatic mode settings for dark conditions. In addition to this, many also allow you to manually set these features to ensure the best quality for your images.
5. Zoom Lens
There are two types of zoom lens, digital and optical. Optical zoom maintains picture quality. Digital zoom enlarges the pixels in the image which can result in grainy looking video. Ignore the the digital zoom and look for a camera with a good optical zoom.
6. Comfortable Fit
For good recording, you need to make sure the video camera fits good in your hand. The more stable your hand is when filming, the better the quality of your images. Before buying, hold the camera in your hand, look through the lens, try the zoom, and play with the controls to see if you can easily reach them while recording.
7. Interconnectivity
Each video camera comes with different sockets to connect to DVD players for transferring the video or to computers for editing. If you plan on editing your video, make sure your camcorder comes with a Firewire (IEEE1394 interface) or a USB port. All modern computers have a USB port, but not all have IEEE1394 port.
8. LCD Screen
Most video cameras now come with a LCD screen. This makes viewing what you are recording very easy. However, this uses up the battery very quickly and is difficult to view in bright light. A traditional viewfinder, in addition to the LCD screen, will come in handy.
9. Sound Quality
Nothing can ruin a video like poor sound quality. If sound is important to you, check to see if you can hook up an external microphone to your camcorder. You may want to for a headphone socket as well to monitor what you are recording.
10. Research
Do your research. Go online and look around. Get an idea of what you're looking for. Ask questions. Ask about any warranties on the video camera. Sales associates will be able to advise you in many areas. Don't be afraid to ask.