Whether you’re the next Scorsese or have more amateur aspirations, sometimes the movie mode on your digital camera just won’t do. For the moments that deserve another viewing (like when you bring home your first pet together, or hosting your first party in your new home) it’s fun to have a camcorder on hand. Here’s what you need to know to pick the right type.
MiniDV Camcorder
Who it’s best for
You want a camcorder to take on vacation or for other candid moments, but you don’t want to spend a ton.
How it works
Video is recorded onto a cassette, but they’re nothing like those ancient VHS tapes—the video is digital and high quality, and the cassettes are way smaller. If your computer has a DVD burner, you can use to it to transfer your video to DVD.
Why we love it
MiniDV has been around for a few years, so there are a lot of models to choose from. Plus, they’re usually less expensive than other options (expect to pay somewhere from $250 to $400).
Why we’re iffy
The easiest way to watch would be with a MiniDV player (which cost $600 or more), though you can usually hook the camera up to your television or computer with cables.
What to look for
A light-weight camcorder that fits well in your hand, has a big, clear LCD screen, and shoots at least 500 lines of resolution.
Our Pick
This miniDV camcorder from JVC has a 2.7-inch LCD screen, an SD card slot to capture still pictures, and an attractive price tag. JVC GR-D770, $280, JVC.com
DVD Camcorder
Who it’s best for
You want to cut out the middleman (the computer) to watch your video.
How it works
Video is recorded onto little DVDs (they’re only about 3” wide).
Why we love it
The discs will work in most DVD players so you can watch your video right away without worrying about hooking up any wires. And they’re just a little bit more expensive than MiniDV camcorders—most fall in the $400-$600 range.
Why we’re iffy
The recording time for each disc is short. At the highest quality you can only shoot for 30 minutes (compared to about 60 minutes for miniDVs), unless you buy a camera with…
What to look for
Dual-layer support. This means you can use both sides of a DVD (if you buy a double-sided disc) for a full hour of recording time at the highest quality .
Our Pick
The camcorder by Canon is easy to use, has a 35x optical zoom, and a super fast startup (less than a second) when it’s in standby mode. Canon DC220, $450, USA.Canon.com
Disc-free Camcorder
Who it’s best for
If you believe more is more. You can shoot lots of video and trim it down to the best footage on your computer.
How it works
Some have hard drives, and others use flash memory. Either way, you never have to buy replacement discs.
Why we love it
Think about the difference between your old discman and your iPod—a 30GB hard drive camcorder store over 20 hours of video, but you might be more reliant on your computer.
Why we’re iffy
There are less camcorders to choose from, though new models are being released all the time as the technology gets better. They’re also a little bit pricier than other types—expect to pay between $500 to $700 for a hard drive camcorder.
What to look for
As with any camcorder, don’t be wooed by a camera’s digital zoom abilities—pay attention to the optical zoom, which tells you about the strength of the camera’s lenses.
Our Pick
This 30 GB hard drive camcorder from Sony makes sharing simple. It comes with a dock that helps you upload video to your computer or easily burn it onto a DVD. Sony Handycam Camcorder DCR-SR62, $650, SonyStyle.com
What About HD?
High-def has been the talk of tech for a few years, and camcorders are catching up to the buzz. A few companies have released models that record HD, but they’re still pricey—the Sony HDR-UX5, for example, shoots HD right onto a mini DVD, but the camera costs $1,000. The cameras are cool, but worth waiting until the price drops.
Cheap Shots
An inexpensive alternative we love: Pure Digital’s Point & Shoot Video Camcorder. The $130 recorder is super easy to use, shoots 30 minutes of video, and has a built-in USB port to plug straight into your computer. PureDigitalInc.com for stores
by The Nest Editors
6/24/08
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