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Camcorder Buying Tips

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There are a LOT of choices out there when it comes to buying a new Camcorder. How many MegaPixels do you need… or do they even matter? Here are some excellent tips sent in by a community member, to help you in choosing your next Camcorder.

  • Megapixels do not increase video quality Everywhere you go, you read about Megapixels. However, this is really just marketing from the manufacturers. While the megapixel count has a big impact on the quality of the still photos that your camcorder takes, it has very little impact on the video quality. What impacts the video quality is the size of the chip inside the camcorder (called the CCD). A CCD is simply the chip that recognizes light. It takes the light in as input and breaks it down into the basic Reds, Blues, and Greens. Naturally you want 3 CCD’s to capture anything nice and pretty. Many people rely on the auto features for still video when in reality you want to be able to white balance your picture, as well as set the focus to your face.
  • Figure out where and when you are going to use your camcorder Some camcorders do better indoors, while others do better outdoors. Some camcorders are more compact… while others are easier to handle. Before you start shopping for a camcorder, write down 5 or 10 different situations you see yourself using your camcorder in.
  • Low light performance matters – a lot! You’ll read people talking a lot about the low light performance of a camcorder. Now, when we talk about low light performance, we’re not just talking about a bar or a dark basement. We’re talking about the inside of your typical house! Low light to you and me is much different than low light to a camcorder. Typical room lighting is low light for a camcorder, so you should pay extra careful attention to the low light performance before you buy.
  • There are features, and then there are features that matter A lot of camcorder makers have put features on their models that might seem to be important and helpful, but in reality they are just gimmicks. While we mentioned megapixels, another one to look out for is an on-camera video light. These never have enough power to really improve your video quality. However, the biggest gimmick is digital zooms. Camcorder makers will advertise 500x, 600x or 700x digital zooms. The problem with a digital zoom is that it highly distorts the picture, and you should never use it. When shopping for a camcorder you should totally ignore the digital zoom.
  • Hybrids still and video is not always a good thing While a lot of people like the convenience factor of being able to combine your digital camera and your camcorder in one package, it’s not the most frugal choice. Unless you’re spending upwards of $1,000, you’re not going to get the same still performance out of a camcorder that you would out of a digital camera priced under $200. The best deal is to buy them separately. You will save money and also get better quality.
  • Play before you buy With a camcorder, it is critical that you’re able to hold it steady to shoot good video. While some of you may be thinking, “hey, I have image stabilization so I can shoot while I’m in an earthquake”… image stabilization’s capabilities are limited on all models. It is really important that you’re able to hold the camcorder still and stable and comfortably. Even when buying online, go into a store and play with the models before you click buy.
  • Buy a warranty, bag and tripod Although you might be a bit wary of salespeople’s techniques to up-sell you to buy more, you should always buy a warranty with your new camcorder. Considering that this is a portable device that you’ll be taking outside and on adventures, the likelihood of it breaking is pretty high. As for a bag, it’s important to protect your camcorder from damage and a dedicated bag is the best solution. You might balk at the idea of lugging around a tripod to events you want to shoot, but it’s the best way to ensure that your video isn’t shaky and that people will want to watch it and not get sick!
  • If it’s too good to be true, it probably is When buying online, remember the old adage “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” If you find a price that is drastically lower than most of the competition, it is very likely that you’ll get a camcorder from a country other than the one you are buying in, a camcorder with it’s accessories missing, or not get your camcorder at all. You also should be careful to make sure you’re buying a NEW product, and not a re manufactured one.
  • All camcorders are not made equal While most of the models on the market will suit your needs, there are huge differences in the different camcorders on the market today. Don’t just buy any old camcorder, research and understand the models before you actually make a decision.
  • Use your camcorder! While this isn’t strictly a buying tip, it’s important nonetheless. Don’t just buy your camcorder, put it in a closet and take it out only for a wedding or graduation. Think of new interesting events and things that you can tape. You may capture some amazing memories.

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