| Digital camcorders record information in electronic, | | | | Display”) screen can make it easier to see |
| or digital, form, to a range of digital storage | | | | what you are recording, particularly in situation |
| media, including tape, DVD and hard disk. | | | | where using the viewfinder if difficult, or |
| Key Features | | | | impracticable. An LCD screen can also be used to |
| Popular recording formats for digital video, | | | | play back video footage, once it has been |
| nowadays, include Mini DV tape, Mini DVD and | | | | recorded. Most LCD screens are around 2.5 |
| hard disk drive (HDD) storage, akin to that used in | | | | inches, measured diagonally, although screens as |
| computing technology. Mini DV tape is becoming | | | | large as 3.5 inches are available. A larger screen |
| scarcer, but, nevertheless, still provides arguably | | | | inevitably means a larger camcorder, and probably |
| the highest video quality, and easiest editing. Mini | | | | a higher price tag, too. The Mustek DV535A |
| DVD camcorders record to special DVD disks, | | | | model, for example, features a 2.4 inch TFT LCD |
| 8cm in diameter, which are compatible with many, | | | | screen. |
| but not all, domestic DVD players. Mini DVD files | | | | The size and weight of a digital camcorder |
| are more difficult to edit than those recorded to | | | | determine how easy it is to carry around – |
| Mini DV. Hard disk drive digital camcorders may | | | | and, therefore, possibly, how often you take it |
| allow up to 7 hours, or more, of highest quality | | | | with you, and use it – and how easy it is to |
| video to be recorded, and files can be | | | | physically operate. The emphasis on smaller and |
| manipulated, and deleted, in the same way as | | | | smaller camcorders means that price may, in fact, |
| they are on a computer. | | | | be inversely proportionate to size, despite tiny |
| The performance of a camcorder in low levels of | | | | camcorders having fewer features and less |
| light is often what sets a good model apart from | | | | accessible controls. |
| a lesser model. This performance is determined | | | | Conclusion |
| by the size, and other characteristics, of an image | | | | Specifications can be useful in helping to narrow |
| sensor, known as a CCD (“Charge Coupled | | | | down your choice of digital camcorder to a |
| Device”), or CMOS (“Complementary | | | | manageable number, based on your available |
| Metal Oxide Semiconductor”). The larger the | | | | budget, but there really is no substitute for |
| image sensor, the more light that can be | | | | physically getting your hands on your chosen |
| admitted, and the brighter and more colourful the | | | | camcorder. This allows you, for example, to feel |
| resulting image(s). Consumer camcorders normally | | | | the weight of the camcorder, and to check that |
| contain a CCD between 1/6 and 1/3 of an inch in | | | | its controls are large enough for your fingers. |
| size. The Mustek 8200 model, for example, offers | | | | Bear in mind, too, that unless you intend to use a |
| a 3.0 mega pixel CMOS sensor, and a maximum | | | | tripod, some form of image stabilisation – |
| resolution of 8.0 mega pixels. | | | | digital, or better still, optical – will probably be |
| When it come to actually shooting video footage, | | | | required. |
| a large, integrated LCD (“Liquid Crystal | | | | |