What
camcorder is best for YOU? camcorder
Reviews camcorder guide, camcorder reviews
In the last
few years, the camcorder industry has
consolidated and now there are only a few
manufacturers making great camcorders and
video cameras for the
consumer, prosumer and professional market.
You can't go wrong with any of the leading
brands.
Special Deals and Rebates on Camcorders
Canon
camcorders,
Hitachi
camcorders, JVC
camcorders,
Panasonic
camcorders,
Sharp camcorders,
Samsung camcorders, and
Sony
camcorders.
Camcorders
& Video Cameras for
Professionals & Prosumers
The
Basics of Making Great Movies with Your New
Camcorder
The New Camcorders Are Here!
- Sony, Canon and Panasonic are about to
release their fall camcorders. Internal hard drives,
high capacity cards and HD for consumers are the
order of the day.
How to Buy Video Gear
We buy our gear (camcorders, software, computer supplies,
cameras) from B&H. Yes, they are a sponsor of this
site, but we have been using them for years and years - long
before this web site existed.
Camcorder
Comparison Charts - How to help pick out
the best camcorder - a review of camcorder
features and spec
Glossary
of Video Formats - You need to know this
before you buy a camcorder
Camcorder
Glossary of Terms
CAMCORDER
REVIEWS & BUYING GUIDES - The top
camcorder brands include:
Canon
camcorders,
Hitachi
camcorders, JVC
camcorders,
Panasonic
camcorders,
Sharp camcorders,
Samsung camcorders, and
Sony
camcorders,
CHECK THE
ABOVE LINKS TO THE BEST NEW CAMCORDERS!!!!
What kind of
camcorder will work best for you?
It depends
on what you need and how you shoot.
The good news is that almost any new name
brand camcorder will work great. However,
there are a few options. You have to decide
what kind of recording format is best and
most affordable.
Your
options include the "old-fashioned" analog
camcorders such as VHS, 8m, S-VHS and Hi8,
industry standard Digital Video (DV),
Digital8 (D8), the new DVD camcorders, as
well as the emerging generation of
camcorders that can record directly to a
hard drive or flash memory.
Most digital video (DV) camcorders capture good
high quality audio and video that can easily
by inputted into your computer for editing
and conversion to digital and streaming
formats. Many computers (most Apple and Sony models) now ship with 1394/Firewire
connections. 1394/Firewire add-in cards are
inexpensive and simple to install.
But you don't
absolutely "need" Digital Video, If you use a
analog video capture card in your computer,
your older Hi8mm and S-VHS machines
can be used to create good looking,
first generation video. You can get
very good analog camcorders for extremely
reasonable prices. If you are lucky, maybe
someone you know is considering upgrading to
DV and will give you their working analog
camcorder.
However,
there are many advantage of buying a digital
camcorder. You get the best quality
recording, and in many instances, your new
computer has a Firewire. iLink or 1394
connector to enable you to plug your
camcorder right in. Using your computer to
edit DV right out the camcorder is very
simple and easy.
Another
advantage of using DV is that most DV video
editing software systems allow you to
control your camcorder from the computer
screen. Instead of manually hitting play,
rewind, fast forward, etc., you can do all
that by using your mouse and keyboard. You
can get special video
editing keyboards that have a built-in
jog shuttle to make moving the video
extremely easy.
The better
(more expensive) software programs give you
even more control - enabling you to slow
down or jog the video back and forth to find
the right spots. Many DV software
packages
Newer camcorders also
feature better and easier to use special
features and "bells and whistles."
When using an analog camcorder (VHS, S-VHS,
8mm or Hi8mm), you will need to convert the
analog signal to a digital signal to do any
computer editing or to burn it the video
clips to a DVD, CD or Video CD. Any time you
convert formats, you lose quality.
Sometimes it is imperceptible - sometimes it
is very obvious.
First
generation VHS video is fine for most
Internet use. Higher quality recording
formats like Hi8mm and S-VHS will even
provide better looking first generation
video to work with. The secret is to only
use first generation video when transferring
to your computer and to use the best
possible analog conversion card you can
afford. The better the card, the better the
transfer.
For most
streaming video movies, any standard DV, Hi8
or S-VHS camcorder "should"
suffice. The only gotcha is the audio.
What About
the Audio?
Unfortunately,
not only do most camcorder mikes provide poor
quality audio, many times they are located in
bad spots on the camcorder body. This is
especially true of the tiny compact DV
camcorders with the mike placed on top of
the camcorder, facing up, perfect for
catching the sound of your breathing. For more on audio
-
click here
If audio is
important, look for a camcorder where the
mike is facing forward and is far as
possible from the physical body of the
camcorder. Many times, vibrations from
zooming or even from the tape moving, create
a vibration that is picked up by the mike as
a low buzz that can irritating, especially
when recording low volume events and
activities.
If audio is
very important, make sure you get a
camcorder with an audio in jack that enables
you to plug in an external microphone. The
better camcorders will include an earphone
jack so you can monitor the sound as well as
shoe that enables you to physically mount
the mike assembly onto. Some camcorders come
with shotgun mike accessories that mount on
the shoe and then transfer the audio through
the shoe without needing to connect a
mini-plug for audio. That works well.
More
expensive, prosumer camcorder often offer
volume controls for controlling levels while
recording, as well as XL jacks for use with
professional microphones and audio gear.
How to Buy
and Test a Camcorder
Unfortunately,
quality can vary when buying a camcorder.
Even though most camcorders work very well,
occasionally you might get a lemon. If
possible, try out the camcorder in the store
before buying it. This might not be easy.
The typical camcorder video display in most
stores is meaningless. What you want to test
is how well the camcorder records and plays
back, not how well the video signal looks
through the viewfinder, LCD viewscreen, or
attached monitor.
You
actually want to be able to pick it up and
videotape some different scenes and then
play them back. That is the real test. Are
the buttons easy to reach and seem logical?
Do the recorded colors look good and
realistic? How does it sound? Try playing
back the recording in a quiet spot in the
store and listen if there is an annoying
buzz or vibration.
Make sure
the unit is returnable. Take it home
and play with it. If you are not satisfied,
bring it back and get another one.
Related
Articles & Information:
Read This - 10 New
Years Resolutions for the Video Maker - How
to make your family and event videos look
and sound better
The
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Is Your Camcorder Ready for Summer Vacation?
How
to Shoot Video
Basics
of Making Home Videos
What
Camcorder Accessories do You Really Need?
Get a Tripod Please - Suggestions from a Pro
Digital
Video versus Digital8 versus S-Video vs DVD
vs Flash
Tuning
Up Your Camcorder
History
of Camcorders
What
Kind of Camcorder Should I Buy?
Zoom
Wars - My Zoom Is Bigger Than Your Zoom
Camcorder
Glossary of Terms
Guide to Tripods
Digital8 vs Analog Video vs Digital Video vs
DVD Camcorders
See Best
New Prosumer Camcorders
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