Before you buy a video camera camcorder, you need to determine your needs. The following user profiles can serve as a guide to help you choose the device.
For Home and Vacation Users
These are people who shoot holiday gatherings, birthday celebrations, baby steps and family vacations. They need to do a bit of editing and carry it around.
If you fit in this category, look for these specs; the video format should be 1080i or 720p, high or standard definition. The lens type should be 10x and more. The sensor specs should be at least 680,000-pixel effective (standard definition) or 2 megapixel for HD. Also look for camcorders with video editing software, remote control and touch screen LCD.
For Those on Budgets
This is also for those who want a simple, no frills device. Those with standard definition video formats will be fine. You�ll also want those with auto exposure shift, auto viewfinder, 2.5 inch LCD display and low-res photos. These are for posting on the Web. These budget pieces also come with analog to digital conversions and faders.
Price is Not an Issue
If you want one that has all the bells and whistles, get one with a video format with 1080i or 1080p high definition. The sensor specs should be 1/4-inch or 1/3-inch CCD or CMOS. The resolution for HD should be at least 2 megapixels. The illumination should be 2 to 7 lux (the lower the number, the better it is).
High end video camera camcorders have spot metering, programmed scene modes and auto exposure shifts. Technophiles should also look for those with infrared mode and flashes for the stills. The LCD display should be at least 3 inches. If you want your gadget to stand out, get one that can record and capture photos at the same time.
For Documentary Filmmakers
You�ll need advanced controls and high quality output. Get a machine that has lens ring zoom controls. Other features the device should have are progressive scan, SMPTE color bars, selectable gamma curves and 24P, 30P, 60i frame rates.
Documentary filmmakers will also need features like zebra stripe pedestal, interval recording, manual saturation and black point. The photo resolution should be for 4 x 6 prints. Port connectors for these camcorders should be IEEE 1394, S-Video and LANC.
For Non-Professional Videographers
The video format and lens specs can be the same as those of home and vacation users. The device must have at least 345,000-pixel effective video resolution. For HD the resolution has to be 1.6 megapixels at least.
The supported recorded formats should be mini DVD-R/RW/RAM, SDHC, hard disk and MiniDV. You’ll also need headphone and microphone terminals. You’ll also need the following features: zebra stripes for exposure modification, auto exposure shift and an LCD color viewfinder. The LCD should be at least 2.5 inches.
The important thing to consider when you are looking for a video camera camcorder is to discover which user profile you fit in. Using this approach, you, not the manufacturer, will decide what is best.
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