Getting
a New Camcorder? What do you really need to know?
The
holiday’s are rapidly approaching and many of you are probably
thinking of getting a new camcorder for the family. What do you need to
know before you pull out that credit card? What kinds of extras and
accessories do you really need to have?
In
the last few years, it was hard to decide between purchasing an analog
camcorder (VHS or 8mm model), or getting one of the new Digital Video
camcorders.Since then, not
only have some manufacturers stopped making analog camcorders, the
prices for Digital Video camcorders have dropped to prices similar to
analog.
There
is little reason to get an analog camcorder if you can get a DV
camcorder for about the same price.Of course, if Santa is a little thin in the pocket book, you can
get great deals on closeout analog camcorders.
However,
DV is now the way to go. How do you choose? Especially since most DV
consumer grade camcorders offer the same basic features and
capabilities?
The
hardest decision may be whether to get a standard DV camcorder or one of
the Sony variants. In our opinion, the new MPEG2 and MPEG4 camcorders,
as well as the DVD-RAM and solid-state camcorders, are not quite ready
for prime time yet.
In
addition to selling regular DV camcorders, Sony also offers the new MICROMV
camcorders as well as Digital8 camcorders. MICROMV is a new technology
that may or may not last – plus the camcorders, albeit very cool, are
quite expensive. Digital8 has some advantages, especially if you have a
big collection of recorded 8mm and Hi8mm tapes. Not only will Digital8
record a digital video signal (identical to regular DV) on a 8mm or Hi8
tape, it will play back 8mm and Hi8 tapes that you have previously
recorded using an older 8mm or Hi8 camcorder. Sony is pricing Digital8
very competitively so this might be something to consider.
So
what do you need in a DV camcorder? There are some essentials and some
nice to haves. Unless you are a pro or plan to sell your tapes, you only
need a one-chip model, not a three chip. If you can’t understand a
feature or capability, you probably don’t need it.
Luckily,
almost all consumer DV camcorders now provide the essentials. This
includes DV in and out, an external microphone in jack, fold out LCD
viewfinder, as well as at least a 10x OPTICAL zoom. You’ll notice I
emphasize OPTICAL zoom. Digital zoom is next to useless. I always wonder
when I see camcorder manufacturers advertising large 100x or 300x
digital zoom capabilities. What are they trying to hide?
The
nice to haves include optical image stabilization versus digital, a lens
ring that enables you to add filters and extension lens, manual focus
using a lens ring instead of push buttons or zoom lever, headphone jack,
and batteries that can be taken out of the camcorder and charged in a
separate battery charger. Another nice to have is a digital memory slot
that enables you to capture still images onto the memory card rather
than to tape.
Should
you get a camcorder that also functions as a digital still camera? Right
now, most devices can only do one function well. Most affordable DV
camcorders cannot capture high-resolution still images. They look OK but
they are nowhere as good as those captured with a mid-range or better
digital still camera. Some digital still cameras can capture video, but
it is usually very low resolution and you can only capture very short
segments.
So
why get a digital memory slot? On some higher end camcorders, the
captured digital still images look OK. They look definitely better than
the stills you can pull off from moving videotape. Another reason is
that many camcorders allow you to move images and graphics from the
memory card to the tape. By using this feature, you can add pre-made
titles, outlines, pictures, to your videos as you capture them. This can
be pretty cool.
What
about manual over-rides and special effects? Most camcorders work very
well in auto mode. Unless you are a video hobbyist or a professional
videographer, you will probably never need to use the advanced controls.
I don’t recommend using special effects or editing segments in the
camcorder.That is what your computer editing software is for.
What
brand is best? You may have noticed that there are many fewer camcorder
manufacturers then there use to be. Only the best survived - you
can’t go wrong with any of them. This includes Canon, Hitachi, JVC, Panasonic, Sharp, and Sony.
The
bottom line – check the ads and online stores (like our sponsor B&H
Photo Video) and get the most affordable DV camcorder with the
features you will really use.
What
Extras and Peripherals do you really need?
Many
people go overboard with extras. Or maybe an overbearing sales person
makes one too many suggestions.
First
off, lets look at your computer. The beauty of Digital Video is that you
can easily import it into a computer and edit it, all without damaging
the original video captured in the camcorder.You can trim scenes, move them around, add special effects and
transitions, as well as music and Voice-Over. When you are all done,
depending on your computer, you can output the final video movie back to
tape, share it among computers, burn it to DVD, or convert it to a
streaming video format and share it on the Internet.
The
common denominators are the need for a 1394 connector and editing
software on your computer. Many new computers, especially those from
Sony and Apple, include a 1394 connection. They may call it Firewire or
iLink, but it is the same. If your Windows computer does not have a 1394
connection, adapter cards are inexpensive ($50) and easy to install.
There are also several outboard boxes that make it easy to get DV into
your computer.
On
the software side, most new Apple computers include iMovie. Most new
Windows computers include MovieMaker. The Sony Windows machines (VAIO
models) include a bunch of video editing applications. If the supplied
software doesn’t do the job, or if your computer doesn’t have any
video software at all, there are a bunch of inexpensive and easy to use
products to check out.
What
else do you need?
Tape.
There are basically two kinds of DV videotapes – cassettes with
built-in memory chips and less expensive DV cassettes without memory
chips. Some camcorders use tapes with memory chips to make it easier to
do in-camera editing and searches, as well as adding graphics and
titles. However, for most camcorders, regular DV tapes work fine. Get a
name brand tape – not some discount cassette with a name you never
heard of. Personally, I use Fuji tapes.
Bags
and cases
Not
only are most camcorder cases overpriced and not very useful, they are
also advertisements for theft. An expensive camera bag with SONY or
CANON printed on it is like a blinking neon sign that says “Steal Me
Please.” If you really want a bag or case for your camcorder, get one
that does not have any logos on it. I believe in the ugly bag theory.
The worse the case looks the less likely it is to get stolen. I
deliberately hand my new cases to my kids, along with a few color ink
markers and sheets of stickers, and tell them to go crazy. Not only do
they manage to thoroughly disguise my bag, but also their decorations
ensure that no other traveler will accidentally pick it up.
What
is the best camcorder case? Ready? A diaper bag. Nobody steals diaper
bags. Especially if you use a few cloth or plastic diapers as padding
wrapped around and over your camera gear. Combine a diaper bag with your
kid’s original decoration and you get the best possible camera case at
a tenth of the price.
By
the way, always keep a few big plastic trash bags in the case or
on your person. You never know when it might rain, or when you may get
stuck in a very dusty or sandy environment. A plastic bag will keep
those dangerous substances out of your camcorder’s tiny fragile gears
and motors.
Another
important accessory is a tripod. It doesn’t have to be
expensive. Just make sure it is sufficiently sturdy to hold your
camcorder without shaking. With the advent of smaller, one hand
camcorders, it becomes even more important than ever to use a tripod. It
is impossible to hold a camcorder steady when shooting a long telephoto
shot.Yes, image
stabilization helps but will cannot handle the shaking when using a shot
with 10x, 15x or 20x telephoto. You can get a good enough tripod for
forty bucks or so online or at almost any larger discount store.
The
final accessory is an extra battery or two. Of all the
accessories, this will probably hurt your credit card the most. However,
it is very important. There is little worse than lining up the once in a
lifetime scene and then having your battery die on you. Always have an
extra charged battery with you when you travel – or even around the
house. And remember, even when not in use, batteries do lose their
charge. So before any important videotaping event, charge up those
camcorder batteries.
Yes,
there are lots of other accessories like external microphones, camera
mounted lights, filters, etc., but those all fit in the "nice to
have" area. As long as you have a good DV camcorder, a computer
with DV in and out to edit with, a case to hide your camcorder, a tripod
and extra video cassettes and batteries, you will be prepared fro almost
anything your family and friends can throw at you.
