10 Important Features to Check before Buying the Best Camcorder

People interested in buying the best camcorder have to consider several important things. The camcorder is a complex digital device with many features and functions. Manufacturers may use different types of technical terms and jargon to describe their product as better than others. However, it is important to check certain main features carefully before buying any particular camcorder. Following are some important considerations before buying any camcorder.

Budget

While some people consider it to be the last thing, it is basically the most important part. There are hundreds of camcorder models available from many manufacturers. It is important to first set a budget and buy the best camcorder within that budget. The set amount must also take into account the costs related to some additional accessories like lights, carry bag and filters.

CCD

This is the heart of any digital camcorder and still camera. It is a tiny small component that sees and records the light coming through the lens. It converts the light into digital data. When buying the best camcorder, the buyer needs to check the CCD’s pixel per inch number. Higher number indicates better quality images. If possible, one should also check the size of the CCD. CCDs larger in size produce sharper and more vivid color images. Camcorders intended for professional use have three CCDs that are used to capture the green, blue and red colors separately.

Recording Media

There are different types of recording media used to store recorded videos in the best camcorder. The first is the old-fashioned magnetic tape. The small tape used in camcorders is not that expensive but it cannot be reused many times. It also faces the same problems that people used to face with the VHS tapes. Moisture and fungus makes it unusable, and videos may be lost forever. Most models use the small size DVD. This type of small DVD is available in similar formats as the larger DVDs, like DVD-R and DVD-RW. For recording still images, camcorders use flash media. It is important to note that some companies use proprietary recording media which cannot be used in camcorders made by other companies.

Zoom

The zoom function makes it possible to photograph a subject that is some distance away. The magnification of the best camcorder lens is written as ‘X’ factor. It simply means that an image can be viewed with that much magnification. In a camcorders having 10X zoom, the image can be magnified 10 times larger. In the zoom position, the image is recorded in same magnified format. In some video camcorders, the same image is magnified using the camcorder’s computing processor. At the same time, there is some loss of image clarity in the images taken at zoom position.

Image Stabilization

Most digital camcorders have image stabilization feature to take care of normal handshake. Generally it cannot be noticed during filming but while watching the recorded video, the shake can be noticed easily, especially if the subject was recorded using the camcorder’s zoom feature. There are two types of image stabilization systems used in camcorders. Some camcorders use internal computing processor to correct the shake while others use the optical image stabilizer with the lens. The latter is the better option which is used in the best camcorder.

Photographs

Generally cameras intended for still images cannot record good quality videos. Similar is the case with the best camcorder which is mainly made to record videos. Some models are capable of recording still images as well; however, the quality of still images is not the same as the one obtained from the still cameras. At the high-end there are some camcorders that can be used for both purposes quite well. Buyers who intend to use the camcorder for both video and still images should select the model after checking the quality of still images.

Battery

Most camcorders use proprietary battery design. Usually, the rechargeable Li-Ion battery, which is supposed to last longer, is used. However, the camcorder is a power-hungry device. Some models drain the battery faster than the others. It is important to select the model that consumers less power. Camcorders that use tape media, or motor function for any other purpose drain the battery faster. The power of the battery can be saved if viewfinder is used in place of the larger LCD screen. It is important to buy an extra battery while buying the camcorder. The buyer should also choose a model whereas the battery can be taken out for charging.

LCD Viewer

When buying the best camcorder, one should always buy the model that has LCD screen. It is quite difficult to record videos looking through the viewfinder. The recording of a moving subject is quite easy while looking at the LCD screen. The screen can be rotated which allows to take videos and photographs of self. The LCD screen is described in inch format. While the larger screen makes it easy to view everything clearly, it also consumes lots of power.

Aspect Ratio

There are two types of aspects ratio used in camcorders, the standard 4:3 and the widescreen 16:9. The latter is generally used to record videos in widescreen format. The aspect ratio refers to long to tall ratio. Nowadays, most of the TVs are in the widescreen format so watching videos in widescreen gives better viewing experience. It is important to note that during filming, the aspect ratio should be kept at the right format. When videos recorded using the 4:3 ratio are viewed on widescreen TV then the images on the screen appear in square format with black background on the sides.

Audio

The best camcorder is not only about images but audio as well. The inbuilt microphone of most camcorders does not provide good quality audio. It also records the whirring sound of the internal motor that is used to operate the tape or the lens. It is important to select a model that has external microphone jack. For recording good quality audio, an external microphone should be used.

There are some other features as well that should be checked before buying the best camcorder, but these 10 features are the most important ones.