If you're in the market for a digital camcorder, it's prudent that you arm yourself with a few tips before you buy otherwise you might end up with some thing that does not suit your needs. Below are a few guide lines that will help you along the way.
If at all possible, take a look at the LCD screen in Day Light
You need to ensure that you can use the LCD screen under any lighting conditions as certain screens tend to fade out in bright sunlight. Use the view fiinder if you're unable to view the images on the screen in bright day light. Using the view finder will not only get the job done but also extend your battery life.
The lens's optical zoom ration is more important than digital zoom ration
Ensure a minimum of 10x optical zoom as this is more important than the digital zoom due to the fact that digital zoom merely makes the image larger in the view finder.
Buy an additional higher-capacity battery for longer recording times
Majority of camcorders come with a battery that only lasts an hour or so. However, you can purchase a longer lasting battery for about $50 to $100 so remember to include that in the budget. Running out of power in the middle recording an important event could be very frustrating!
Front mounted microphones deliver better results
Buying a front mounted microphone camcorder is is better than a camcorder with the microphone mounted on top. Rather than the camcorder capturing the event being recorded, the top mounted microphone has the tendency to capture the voice of the person using the camcorder.
Best sound can be achieved by buying an external microphone
For the best sound possible, factor in an extra $50 to $100 for an external microphone if the camcorder you're interested in has the ability to connect an external microphone.
Before you purchase become familiar with the camcorder's controls and feathures
Ocassionally the smallest camcorders can be difficult to use, particularly if you have large hands. A bigger model may work better for you if it is more comfortable to handle.
Exposure controls and low-light options are to be examined
Quite a few camcorders allow you to control certain functions and modes like adjusting apperture settings to permit more lights to enter, low light options to enable you to shoot in dark environments using infrared light or long shutter mode. These are manual features available on certain digital camcorders even though all camcorders come with fully automatic mode.
Know your format and look for wide-screen shooting
Recording with a wide screen model will allow you to view your recording without the black bars at the top and buttom if you have a high definition TV. You also need to know the format the camcorder records in. Mini-DVD disc or MiniDV tapes are the most common formats with majority of digital camcorders. Mini-DVD discs are often more difficult to come by than MiniDV as MiniDV is the most widely available format.
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