We live in a highly technological society. Many people in this period are switching from the old analog camera to the new digital cameras and camcorders. Here are some guidelines to help you choose wisely.
Steps
Step 1. Find out if you want a cassette, disk or memory card / hard disk camcorder
Step 2. Orientate yourself to a camcorder with many pixels
Digital images are made up of hundreds of thousands of small dots of light arranged on a grid. Each dot is called "pixel", and is the unit of the image. The larger the number of pixels, the higher the image quality. Look for "genuine resolutions" only. Some manufacturers feature interpolated resolution (improved via software) that has nothing to do with camera quality.
Step 3. Look for a camcorder with a nice CCD
Pixel information is captured by the CCD chip behind the lens, in the same way that film captures light in a video camera. There are several types of CCD chips. Most compact cameras have CCD chips between 0.42 and 0.84 cm. The wider it is, the more light it captures when capturing the image, making it brighter and more colorful. 3-chip cameras handle colors better than single-chip cameras.
Step 4. Look for a camera that performs well in low light conditions
Since most camcorders are used indoors, it's important to look for one that works well in low light conditions. The best models, in addition to allowing you an automatic mode for low light conditions, have the ability to manually set some characteristics, such as iris and shutter speed to increase the entry of light into the camera.
Step 5. Look for a camera with good zoom
There are two types of zoom for digital video cameras: optical and digital. You have to take into account the optical zoom, because it keeps the images sharp.
Step 6. Look for a video camera with a good image stabilizer
One of the main reasons why an image doesn't come out well, other than low light, is flickering. To have good stability, you must first be comfortable with the camera. Take it and simulate a take. Try it in the shop if you can. Can you distribute the weight well in your hands? Is it easy to change shooting settings, or do you have to do a lot of movement?
Step 7. Look for a camera with the type of interconnect that's right for you
It is essential that the camera has an HDMI output. Each camcorder has outputs on the back to be connected to the DVD player, VCR or PC, to be able to edit movies. Some have the old RGB outputs available for connection to DVD players and VCRs, while others have an S-Video output. If you intend to edit the videos on your PC before viewing them on the TV screen (or DVD player), you will need either a Firewire output (IEEE1394 interface) or a USB (2.0 - 3.0 depending on the input on your computer). All modern computers have USB 1.0 or 2.0 ports available, while not all have Firewire or USB 3.0 ports.
Step 8. Look for a video camera with an LCD screen and viewfinder
Most modern camcorders are sold with an LCD screen so you can view what you are filming and review it. These screens usually consume a lot of battery, and are difficult to view in the presence of a lot of light (outdoors). For this reason it is better to get one that also has the traditional viewfinder.
Step 9. Look for a video camera that has good audio quality
Unfortunately, most built-in microphones have a bad habit of recording the noises you make when shooting. If good audio output is important to you, look for a camcorder that can connect an external microphone. Check if there is also a headphone port, so you can hear what you are recording.
Step 10. Do a cross search between different types of cameras
Make sure it is of good workmanship. Guarantees from large retail chains can save you a lot of money in the long run. And in many stores they will be happy to give you advice, if they are not affiliated with particular brands. Do an internet search and consult forums to see what others think about the model you would like to buy.
Advice
- Try to balance the cost of the camera with the features you want. Of course you are looking for the best, but until you are able to shoot well with the camera, you will not need any special features.
- Sometimes the huge digital zoom of video cameras is sponsored. In reality, the only thing it does is enlarge a part of the existing image, blurring it.
- Another important factor is the number of chips. The 3-chip cameras capture the three primary colors - cyan, magenta, and yellow. This type of camcorder has an image rendering with very sharp colors.
- Some models are even equipped with a night vision device, to be able to shoot in the absence of light.
- Some camcorder models have an option called “gain”, to be able to shoot in low light conditions. This function is useful, it increases the brightness level of the image, but reduces its quality.
- Check which ports you have available on your PC, DVD and VCR, in order to connect the camcorder properly.
