Camcorder Shopping Tips

Get the low-down on what you need to make an informed decision when shopping for a camcorder.

Comparing digital camcorders can be confusing. Many of them look alike, their specifications can seem similar, and it is easy to get confused by terms like optical and digital zoom, light capacity, and CCD.

Fortunately, DigitalAdvisor is here to help. This short guide will teach you the basics of digital camcorders, and give you the information you need to become a smarter shopper:

· Zoom: Bigger Isn't Always Better

· Dim Light = Dim Video

· LCD Screens: Bigger is Better

· One-Chip or Three-Chip?

· Size and Shape

Zoom: Bigger Isn't Always Better

A camcorder's zoom lets you capture the action without getting in the middle of it.

Whether you need to get close to the action at a sports game, or capture the perfect smile at a birthday party, you need a camcorder that can take effective close-up shots.

Unfortunately, the zoom numbers advertised by manufacturers aren't always what they seem. In particular, you should forget about the massive digital zoom figure—this figure is often nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Unlike optical zoom, which uses lens optics to enlarge the image, digital zoom simply crops the edge of the image and fits the remaining picture into the same space to give the appearance of zoom. This process is no different from zooming in on an image on your computer.

While digital zoom does make objects appear bigger, it also decreases resolution, eventually producing a grainy and blurry image. If you were to use the 700x digital zoom advertised with some cameras (a figure derived by multiplying a 10x optical and 70x digital zoom), you would simply end up with a few indistinguishable pixels.

When comparing camcorders, you should concentrate the optical zoom figure, which is usually 10x or above. The greater the optical zoom, the more you can enlarge your subject without sacrificing picture quality.

Dim Light = Dim Video

Scan the reviews of almost any amateur camcorder and you will find one consistent complaint: poor low-light performance.

The fact is that most amateur camcorders do not perform well in low-light conditions, under which they often record dark, grainy images. Fortunately, most home movie makers can easily avoid shooting in such conditions; while it pays to be conscious of a camcorder's low-light limitations, you should keep in mind that they are unlikely to prevent you from filming.

Even though most digital camcorders have difficulty shooting in low light, there are some that are able to shoot in complete darkness. Cameras with this capability use invisible infrared light to illuminate their subjects, and while the resulting video is colorless, it provides a unique opportunity to capture footage in complete darkness. This technology was pioneered by Sony (look for their cameras with the NightShot feature), though other manufacturers have now added it to their camcorders.

LCD Screens: Bigger is Better

Digital camcorders come with flip-out LCD screens that act both as viewfinders and playback screens. LCD sizes range from 2- to 3.5 inches; when choosing a camera, bear in mind that larger screens are much easier to see. As one might expect, however, camcorders with large LCD screens are more expensive, so buyers on a budget shouldn't worry too much about LCD size.

One Chip or Three?

Some higher-end camcorders have three CCD chips (the part of the camera that converts light into digital information) instead of one. While one-chip camcorders use a single CCD to record the entire scene, three-chip camcorders have a prism that divides the incoming image into three colors—red, green, and blue—and sends each to its own CCD. The result is more accurate color rendition and higher video quality.

Of course, cameras with three chips are more expensive, but some three-chip models are available for less than $1,000, and many serious shooters believe the improved video quality justifies the extra money.

Remember that one-chip camcorders can still produce excellent results, so the casual home movie maker should not feel compelled to spend more money just to have three-chip model.

Size and Shape

Digital Camcorders come in two basic shapes: horizontal and upright. Horizontal models are the classic camcorder shape—longer than they are tall, a hand strap on one side and the videotape chamber towards the back. As a general rule, high-end horizontal camcorders have the most advanced features and the best video quality.

Upright camcorders have a vertical orientation, with a slender body, a hand strap on the side and a lens at the top. These camcorders are smaller, and appeal to buyers looking for a "go-anywhere" model. The smallest of these models use the Micro MV tape format, which allows for remarkably small body. Since upright camcorders are more compact than their horizontal counterparts, they are a good choice to travelers and anyone else who needs a small, lightweight model.

Within these two categories are a variety of shapes, sizes, and weights. The lightest camcorders weigh around one pound, while larger, more advanced models can weigh close to three pounds. Buy a lightweight model if you plan on doing mostly handheld shooting, since holding a heavy camcorder all day is guaranteed to be tough on your arm. If you'll be shooting from a tripod, then weight is less of a concern.