Buyers Guide: Camcorders

For those who want to capture those special moments, digital camcorders offer a wealth of great features and formats. But what do they really mean and do you need all of them?

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Smaller camcorder designs are easy to carry, but can be awkward for larger hands.

The MiniDV format is usually in mid-range to high-end models. Digital-8 is entry-level and plays analogue Hi8 and 8mm tapes. Some digicams record directly to DVD-R/RW and Ram, or solid-state memory cards. The amount of data needed for quality video makes the latter impractical.

Sony’s tiny MicroMV is a better alternative. Cassettes are smaller than MiniDV and it stores video in mpeg-2. Files are smaller for editing, but you’ll need software that accepts this type of data.

Look at optical zoom and forget digital zoom. Around 10x is normal, with up to 20x for more expensive models.

To transfer edited images back to tape you’ll need a DV-in and out Firewire (Ilink/IEEE 1394) port. Otherwise DV-in is fine to transfer footage to your PC.

Built-in microphones are susceptible to noise, so look for a 3.5mm jack or an accessory shoe and use a separate mic. Most digicams take still photos, but limited resolutions mean you’re better off with a dedicated stills camera. In addition, look for image stabilisers (optical is better than digital) and a good range of AV connectors. Some camcorders have a USB port, so they can be used as a webcam.

Camcorders - recommended models

Sony DCR-HC19E
An excellent low-cost camcorder with a touchscreen LCD and good video software

Canon MV850i
Simple to use and good quality, although it doesn't come with video-editing software
Read review >

Panasonic VDR-M55B
Expensive, but being able to burn footage direct to DVD makes it easy to use
Read review >

Samsung VP-D453
An attractive, compact camcorder with a good range of features and decent-quality images

Panasonic NV-GS21
A robust model with good image quality and a wide range of connectivity options as standard

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