Help Choosing a Camcorder
Posted on 05. Sep, 2008 by george maxyme in Photography
Decided to purchase a camcorder? What are your criteria for choosing the appropriate model for your needs?
So what are your criteria for buying a camcorder? What's your profile? If you are a family of mom, dad, partners, kids and pets or any combination of the previously mentioned you should be able to find a suitable camcorder of your choice.
The grandparents are coming over, you dig the camcorder out of its box and discover it broken, got to make a quick decision. You want to make a purchase that's good and not rushed, but you need that camcorder now, so take time to look for a camcorder with ease of use with capability for sharing pictures in e-mail and over the internet.
Probably the most influential factor in choosing a camcorder is price. As price is a relative factor, check your budget to see where each price range fits. See if camcorders within the chosen price range have worthy features. Sometimes spending just a little more can get you more bang for the buck. If your camcorder purchase is based on buying when you have available cash, then your decision will be influenced by your current budget. If there is no rush, investigate the camcorder that best fits your needs and methodically save toward your objective.
The different types of camcorders to chose from range from the older style VHS-C to the recent flash memory types. The VHS-C format is based on technology introduced by JVC in the 1980's; it is a compact, smaller version of standard VHS tapes. The VHS-C format is rapidly becoming obsolete, but is priced to accommodate almost any budget. They normally have very basic features making them easy to operate. You normally won't get high definition digital video output from VHS-C formatted camcorders. Basic features to look for should include built in digital still camera, light weight, digital effects for the video recorder and long battery life of about two hours or more. Look for price from $250 - $500.
The mini-DVD format was designed to reduce the bulky size of the DVD formats, just as the VHS-C format was designed to reduce the size of the standard VHS formats. The mini-DVD format is a digital camcorder with high definition capabilities. Recording can be done in wide screen to accommodate viewing on modern television sets, and your movies and still shots can be transferred to your computer for sharing. Prices can range from under $100 to over $3,000. A wide range of features and conveniences come with such a wide price range.
