When you first open up a specialist magazine or start to browse the internet for camcorders, the sheer range of products can be, well, more than bewildering.
There is a HUGE variety of camcorders from which to select - ranging from entry level camcorders designed for the amateur enthusiast, up to the high end camcorders used by professional broadcasters and film-makers. It can be a little intimidating, trying to choose from amongst them. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What features and controls do you really need?
- What camera accessories will you require?
- What will be your main application?
- What is your overall budget?
We at Proactive have compiled a few points you may wish to consider when choosing your new camcorder.
Firewire-Input/Output
If you are planning on both shooting and editing with the camcorder, the Firewire - or I-link (IEE1394) - connection on most camcorders can directly interface to your computer's Firewire port, enabling bi-directional recording between the camcorder equipped with both an input and output Firewire board. This is very useful for quickly transferring your recordings straight to disk and vice-versa.
3-CCD/Single CCD
A 3 CCD camera or camcorder has dedicated CCD's for the primary colours RGB - red, green and blue. Compared to a Single CCD camera or camcorder, 3 CCD's provide more accurately defined images.
Optical Ability
Professional camcorders and cameras generally available have either fixed lenses or have interchangeable lenses. Consideration should be taken dependent upon your specific application when choosing a suitable model. Will you require a fixed or interchangeable lens? A wide lens or adapter? A macro lens? And so on.
Zoom range
The majority of camcorders with fixed lenses are usually supplied with 10x, 12x, 14x or 20x zoom lenses. This is an optical zoom - do not get misled by digital zoom, as this only magnifies a portion of the image thus reducing quality, so always refer to optical zoom if you can.
Audio functionality
Audio is as important as video and the vast majority of Professional cameras and camcorders have Professional balanced XLR mic connections that enable manual audio level adjustment and also greater compatibility with Professional microphone systems.
Look at the type of external microphone plug the camcorder has. The standard consumer version is called a mini-jack; the professional connector is the XLR input which also can provide 48V of phantom power (a method of powering condenser microphones) enabling the camcorder to power the phantom powered microphone.
Manual Focus
Always make sure that you have the option to control the lens focus manually. Whilst a lot of auto-focus lenses cope very well in certain circumstances, a manually controlled lens will always be the preferred choice of the professional, as they enable you to fix focus without the worry of the "hunting" that can occur with auto-focus lenses.
View Finder
If at all possible, always go for a black & white viewfinder, as they have the big advantage that they carry around three times as much pixel information than their colour counterparts, and this in turn means that you are a lot safer in crucial focus situations. A second advantage is that they also have a wider contrast range than the current colour LCD screens. If you are wearing spectacles or contact lenses, check that you can adjust the viewfinder's diopter for your eyesight.
Size
A camcorder's size generally prefigures the fact that the larger the camcorder the steadier your shot, since a shoulder mounted digital camcorder is less shaky than a hand-held palmcorder variant due to arm fatigue experienced with prolonged use. Your shooting application and style should determine the type of camcorder that you require. On Shoulder camcorders have the benefit of allowing more accessories to be attached such as wireless Microphone receivers and onboard lights for example.
LCD screen
This makes framing much easier for the higher and lower angle shots. The majority of modern camcorders have an LCD screen. Also compare the screen sizes, most have 2.5 inch, others maybe 3.5 inches, so it's important to chose the one with which you are most comfortable.
Handling
Try out as many camcorders as you can, see which button arrangement feels most natural to you. Make sure that vital functions (such as manual focus, aperture, white balance and so on) can be changed quickly and easily.
Balance
Front heavy camcorders can cause arm or shoulder fatigue when operated for long periods. Even the smallest palmcorder can become very heavy in long duration hand held situations. Accessories are available to help in these situations and can be found in our camcorder supports section.
Battery life
As a rule with batteries it's always the longer they last, the better. Smaller camcorders are usually supplied with low capacity batteries and upgrading to a larger capacity battery should be considered a priority when initially purchasing a camcorder. The latest high capacity Lithium-Ion batteries are extremely powerful and can provide enough power for up to 8 hours depending upon the camcorder model.
Format
There is a wide choice of different recording formats and standards available. From entry level DV tape to tapeless file based high definition. The choice of format will depend upon both your application and budget.
All of the listed digital format camcorder models have value and performance differences and benefits. We do encourage you to call us should you be in any doubt as to which format will suit your particular requirement. We are fully authorised dealers for all the major manufacturers and have experienced and knowledgeable staff that will offer free and unbiased advice. Demonstrations are also available in our fully equipped showroom by prior appointment.