To be able to buy the perfect digital camcorder for you, it is important to arm your self with a few good tips before you your purchase. This will ensure that you do not wind up with a digital camcorder that does not meet your needs or expectations. Outlined below in no particular order are a few tips to help you along the way.
If at all possible, take a look at the LCD screen in Day Light
Because certain LCD screens have the tendency to fade out in bright sunlight, you need to ensure that you can use the screen under those conditions. If this is not possible then just use the view finder as this will also prolong your battery life.
Lay emphasis on the lns’s optical zoom ratio rather than the digital zoom ratio
Ensure a minimum of 10x optical zoom as this is more important than the digital zoom due to the fact that digital zoom merely makes the image larger in the view finder.
For Longer recording times buy an additional high capacity battery
The normal battery that comes with majority of camcorders usually only last an hour or so. For $50 to $100, you can purchase a longer-lasting battery, so consider that into your cost if you think you’ll need it. There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of power in the middle of recording an important event!
Better audio results can be achieved with front mounted microphones
Buying a front mounted microphone camcorder is is better than a camcorder with the microphone mounted on top. Rather than the camcorder capturing the event being recorded, the top mounted microphone has the tendency to capture the voice of the person using the camcorder.
Best sound can be achieved by buying an external microphone
If the camcorder you’re interested in buying has the ability to connect an external microphone, then factor in an extra $50 to $100 for an external microphone as this will give you the best sound possible .
Before you purchase become familiar with the camcorder’s controls and feathures
A bigger camcorder model may work better for you if it’s more comfortable to handle, particularly if you have large hands as the smallest camcorders ocassionally can be difficult to use
Be sure to examine exposure controls and low-light options
All camcorders come with a completely automatic mode, but certain models have manual and semi-manual exposure modes. For eg, some models allow you to record at slower shutter speeds than others, or have aperture settings that permit more light to enter. Quite a few also offer scene modes, which you might be familiar with from digital still cameras. Low-light options also allow you to shoot in dark environments. Numerous camcorders come with an infrared light or a long shutter mode to assist in capturing images in the dark.
Wide-screen shooting capability and your format
If you own a high definition TV, you’ll get a full picture with no black bars at the top and bottom if you record with a wide-screen model. Also it is important to know the format the camcorder records in. Majority of camcorders record onto mini-DVD discs or MiniDV tapes. Bear in mind that MiniDV is the most widely available format which is a major boost if you find yourself short on tape while on vacation mainly because Mini-DVD discs are ofttimes difficult to come by.
Posted under Consumer Electronics
This post was written by George Kissi on April 5, 2008
