Camcorder Comparison of Features

One of the most confusing things about digital camcorders is that there are several different media formats for recording your video footage. In a nutshell, camcorders use one of four formats – MiniDV tapes, MiniDVDs, memory cards, or built-in hard drives. All have their pluses and minuses though some are easier to use than others, especially MiniDVDs, an increasingly popular format which makes playing back your footage as simple as Netflix.

Most camcorders on the market still record in Standard Definition though the tide of High Definition camcorders is beginning to turn. While HDV camcorders are clearly the wave of the future, if you decide to get one, the only way to take full advantage of the eye-popping resolution offered by 1080i High Definition video is if you have some way of playing it back. Or in other words, if don’t already own an HDTV or a computer with a high-resolution screen, you might be better off sticking to a camcorder that records in standard definition.

On the other hand, if your home theater is already HD-ready, it might be worth it to plunk down a few extra bucks and buy an HDV camcorder that can record video with stunning detail.

Most camcorders on the market still record in Standard Definition though the tide of High Definition camcorders is beginning to turn. While HDV camcorders are clearly the wave of the future, if you decide to get one, the only way to take full advantage of the eye-popping resolution offered by 1080i High Definition video is if you have some way of playing it back. Or in other words, if don’t already own an HDTV or a computer with a high-resolution screen, you might be better off sticking to a camcorder that records in standard definition.

On the other hand, if your home theater is already HD-ready, it might be worth it to plunk down a few extra bucks and buy an HDV camcorder that can record video with stunning detail.

While playing back your unedited footage can be fun, what’s even more fun is taking all that footage and editing it into a real movie. Most digital camcorders come with some sort of editing software but you’re likely going to want something better. The good news if you own a recent Mac computer, you likely have a great program already installed on your computer – iMovie HD. If you don’t have a Mac, another good option is purchasing Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 for your PC, which has more advanced editing features than iMovie HD but is just as easy to use.

Along with capturing digital video footage, many camcorders can also capture digital photos. While the quality of those photos won’t likely be as good as what you can get even with the most basic digital camera, manufacturers are adding more megapixels and features into their camcorders to make them better picture takers.

Sony leads the pack with its DCR-DVD508, which captures 6 meg stills (4 while also recording video). It’s a bit pricey though at about $900. There are less expensive models out there but if you want to capture images that you can actually make good prints out of, don’t dip below 3 megapixels.