How to Buy a Digital Camcorder

Digital Camcorder Shopping Tips

Are you ready to buy a digital camcorder? PC World's recommendations can help you find a camcorder that's right for you.

Check out the LCD screen in daylight, if possible. Some screens will wash out in bright sunlight, and you'll want to make sure you can easily see what you're recording under any conditions. If you can't see the screen in bright daylight, try using the viewfinder: It can help get the job done without eating up a lot of battery power.

Look at the lens's optical zoom ratio instead of the digital zoom ratio. With a digital zoom, the camcorder is only enlarging the image in the viewfinder instead of really giving you a closer look. The optical zoom spec is more important--you'll want at least 10X optical zoom.

For longer recording times, buy an extra, higher-capacity battery. The battery that comes with most camcorders often lasts only an hour or so. For $50 to $100, you can buy a longer-lasting battery, so factor that into your cost if you think you'll need it. (Remember, however, that larger batteries add to the camera's weight.)

Front-mounted microphones get better results. Top-mounted microphones tend to capture the voice of the person using the camera, drowning out everything else.

Buy an external microphone for the best sound. Factor in an extra $50 to $100 for an external microphone if you want the best sound possible. Make sure, of course, that your camcorder has a place for you to plug it in.

Try out the camera's controls before you buy. Sometimes the smallest camcorders can be difficult to use, especially if you have large hands. A larger model may work better for you if it's more comfortable to handle.

Check out exposure controls. All camcorders offer a fully automatic mode, but some models have manual and semimanual exposure modes. For example, some models let you shoot at slower shutter speeds than others, or have aperture settings that allow more light in. Many also offer scene modes, which you might be familiar with from digital still cameras.

Low-light options let you shoot in dim settings. Many cameras offer an infrared light or a long shutter mode to help you capture images in darkness.

Look for wide-screen shooting. If you own an HDTV, you'll get a full picture (no black bars at the top and bottom) if you shoot with a wide-screen model.

Pick the right format. MiniDV camcorders are still the best bet in terms of software compatibility, and buying an HD camcorder may mean you'll need to bulk up your computer and your video editing package as well. Don't expect to edit footage captured with an AVCHD camcorder using most video editing programs. What's more, you'll have to use an editing program that supports the MPEG compression format for mini-DVDs, or first convert the video into a format that the program understands.