The Basics

Camcorders are a great source of capturing every moment on your vacation or those great family events. But whatever the occasion is, you will always love to get the best quality out of the picture you have taken or the moments you have captured, right? To get what you want, however, you have to stick to certain determining factors while shopping for a Camcorder. Knowing the key features that you should look for in a Camcorder will help you grab the best deals available. TopCamcorders.com is here to show you how.

Choice of a Camcorder can be molded by what you are looking for precisely or in short by your requirements. So, it is always advisable to consider first, what your requirements are. Will you be filming only in the vacation and outdoor pictures or do you need the camcorder for indoor activities? Or would you use the device for special occasions like capturing some sports event? All these requirements will require and call for different specifications. But in general, there are some common considerations that can guide you to choose the best Camcorder suitable for your requirements. Have a look:

Storage Format

There can be a number of formats of the storage for Camcorders. Here is a list of some of those storage options. This is one major consideration that you should make while choosing the Camcorder and to do that, all you need to have is the basic information and knowledge about the formats.

There are mainly two storage formats for the Camcorder. One is analog in which you will get Camcorder Storage Formats like 8mm, Hi8, Compact VHS and SVHS-C. On the other hand there is Digital storage format which includes variations like MiniDV, Digital8 and also DVD. Another type that is fast emerging uses the Flash Media or memory card as the recording media. Let us now have a look at the different types of formats that we have got here to decide which one will work for your requirements best.

• VHS Format:In this format, the video is recorded in a VHS tape which is played in the VCR while no adapter is required for the act. You can film the moments for almost 2 hours at a stretch. But the resolution of the picture is rather low which is 250 lines.
• 8mm Format:In this format an 8mm tape is used which is played in Camcorder only. Both the resolution and the filming time are better than the VHS. You can go on shooting for almost 5 hours at a stretch with 8mm format while the resolution is 270 lines in this case.
• Hi8 Format:In this format the video is captured in one 8mm tape but the major difference is this tape is compatible with both VHS and VCR unlike the 8mm Format. Playing time here is also 5 hours with an even higher resolution of 400 lines.
• MiniDV:With MiniDV, welcome to the digital storage format for the Camcorders. This is at present the most popular format for the camcorders. MiniDV uses 6mm tapes which can be played in the Camcorder and through it in your TV. Along with the falling price, MiniDV Camcorders are not only affordable but also are of a high quality. The picture resolution is 500 lines and there is almost no compression which makes the picture quality best. Moreover, due to the small media size, the Camcorder itself is of a small size and light weight. With a MiniDV Camcorder you can carry on recording for almost 3 hours together.
• Digital8:With a high and same resolution of 500 lines and recording time of 2 hours just as with the MiniDV format, Digital8 has some other advantages that account for its popularity. This type of Camcorder uses an 8mm tape which is compatible with analog Hi8 or 8mm formats as well. Moreover, the tape costs less than the MiniDV tapes.
• DVDIn this type of Camcorder the recording media is DVD. The facility that you get with it is, you don’t have to waste time and energy in loading your video clips in the DVD as with other formats. But the resolution here is low as the data is compressed and the price is also higher than other digital formats.
• Flash Media:This is a relatively new format for the camcorder media storage. A flash media or memory card is used to record in this type of Camcorders making the device small and light weight. But then these are of high price and the picture quality suffers as the picture is compressed a lot in Flash Media.

View Finder and the LCD Screen

These are among other considerations that you need to ponder over while shopping for Camcorders. Though in most of the recent models of digital Camcorders you will get the color viewfinder and with some old models, monochrome view finders, you may like the LCD feature best. Most of the Camcorders now come with a color LCD screen that varies in size. Some are of 2.5 inches while you can get one with 4 inch also. The price of the Camcorder also varies according to the LCD screen size.

Digital Zoom & Optical Zoom

Which one would you prefer, a digital zoom or an optical zoom? Digital Zoom though increases the picture size but it damages the picture clarity. On the other hand, optical zoom enhances the picture size without compromising on the picture quality. But even before you cast your vote in favor of either digital zoom or optical zoom, consider, whether you really need this zooming factor in the Camcorder.

Camcorder Lens

Camcorder lens is another important feature that you should consider before you invest in one headlong. This is one of the most expensive features in the device and you should consider the brand you are going for as well.

CCD

Mostly in regular Camcorders there is only one CCD while in professional and semi professional Camcorders there can be three CCDs. You should check this feature better as it controls the quality of the pictures.

Image Stabilization

This is a great feature that allows you to rectify some of the smog effects that can be a result of shakiness while taking the pictures or recording it. Image stabilization helps you to correct some parts of the picture to make it clearer.

Shutter Speed

If you are planning for wildlife photography or want to record some sports events, then you should always go for a Camcorder with high shutter speed which has the ability to capture the moving objects in their action easily. Whereas, if you are buying the Camcorder for regular recordings at vacations or family gathering, then go for the regular one, as Camcorders with high and fast shutter speed will cost you more.

Low Light Performance

Most of the time this feature is overlooked which is one of the major considerations to make. Of course you are not going to record all your videos outside or on a sunny day. But then most of the regular Camcorders perform miserably bad in low light and produce bad quality picture. So, always go for a Camcorder that will give you good quality picture even in dark or low light situations.

While these are some of the major considerations that you should give a thought before you jump and buy a Camcorder, there can be several other points to ponder over. Let us give some more food for your thoughts. While shopping for the best Camcorder, also look for features like, still pictures, automatic exposure, accessories along with the features already mentioned. Moreover, don’t forget to read the expert reviews of TopCamcorders.com offers and compare the prices with us before you grab the best deals on Camcorders.

Uses of Camcorders

Apart from the several types of professional usages, Camcorders have almost become a necessity in personal events as well. You can hardly see any personal event, business gatherings and meetings, political gatherings and many other events without spotting a number of Camcorders. Here are some of the occasions where Camcorders render a great service:

• Family or personal events:In an occasion like marriage, birthday celebration, family outing or get together and several others, Camcorder has become one important member of the family itself. It not only helps you to record the precious moments live but also stores it in the specific media for you to cherish later.
• Entertainments:You must have noticed that there are several programs telecasted where people send home video clips. It shows how important Camcorders have really become in our daily lives. Moreover, there are instances also where an entire movie is made through Camcorders like “Blair Witch Project” and many others.
• Media & Business: In the world of media, be it electronic or print media, Camcorders have become absolute necessities. Many of the live footages that are shown in the TV news are taken through Camcorders. Moreover, you may have also seen and have first hand experience that during political gatherings or business meetings, Camcorders are used to capture the moments.

Apart from these usages, Camcorder is also a great companion while traveling or recording your favorite match and events. So, if you have decided to get a Camcorder, allow TopCamcorders.com to guide you through important tips and information and lead you towards the perfect choice of this useful gadget.