The last 25 years have seen camcorders become increasingly diminutive, shrinking from their origins as large, expensive over-the-shoulder beasts, only marginally smaller than the giant cameras then used for studio television work. These days, all high-quality camcorders are much smaller, and, with products such as those of Pure Digital Technologies, Inc.'s Flip Video line, they're becoming even tinier. You can shoot acceptable internet-quality video with a camera that is about the size of an average box of crayons.

These types of cameras aren't the toys they may initially appear to be. They shoot in 640x480 resolution, which makes them perfect for YouTube. A built-in USB plug allows video to be quickly offloaded to a PC for editing and uploading.

Given the popularity of the Flip product line, look for competitors to emerge that best its current video quality. Kodak has already announced its ZI6 camcorder in time for the Christmas retail season; it shoots at 720p at 60fps, with a 16:9 aspect ratio, at a price only slightly higher than Flip's product line.

Ultimately, you may find yourself owning several camcorders: a Flip-sized device to keep in your pocket at all times, a consumer-grade camcorder for vacation and holidays and a high-end professional or prosumer-grade camera for high quality and/or demanding situations. Now you know some facts, have fun with our guide!

Ed Driscoll is a freelance journalist covering home theater and the media for the past decade.

Click here to view Videomaker's Manufacturer's list for Camcorders.
This buyer's guide includes camcorders with tripod screw receptacles and focusable lenses that can record at least 20 minutes of full-frame, full-motion standard-definition video, priced up to $15,000.

(see Manufacturer's list above)

• Recording Media The media onto which the camcorder records. HDD=hard drive; SD=Secure Digital; SDHC=Secure Digital High Capacity; MS=Memory Stick.
• Data Format The type of data recorded by the camcorder, e.g., DVD-Video, DV25, DV50, AVCHD
• Image Sensor(s)
  Number of Sensors Whether the camcorder uses one or three image sensors.
  Sensor Type Whether the camcorder uses CCD (charged coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) image sensors.
  Size of Sensors The diagonal measure of the sensor(s), in inches.
• Optical System
  f-Stop The largest aperture setting of the camcorder's iris.
  Optical Zoom Power The maximum magnification of the camcorder's lens without using digital zoom modes.
  Image Stabilization If the camcorder offers image stabilization and whether it is electronic (e) or optical (o).
  Internal ND Filter Whether the camcorder includes a built-in neutral-density filter.
• Video Features
  Direct Iris/Gain Control Whether the camcorder offers explicit manual control over the iris and gain setting, as opposed to offering only a simple exposure value control to adjust the camcorder's automatic exposure control. (y/n)
  Zebra Stripes Whether the camcorder includes zebra-stripe overexposure indicators. (y/n)
  LCD Monitor Size The diagonal size of the camcorder's LCD view-screen, if so equipped.
  LCD Aspect Ratio Whether the LCD monitor display is 4:3 (standard-aspect) or 16:9 (widescreen).
• Audio Features
  Standard Mic Input Whether the camcorder includes a mic input, and if so, how many jacks are provided, and whether they are 1/8" or XLR. Some camcorders allow accessory microphones to be connected only via the camcorder's shoe, but those capabilities are not considered here.
  Audio Level Controls The type of audio level controls provided by the camcorder, if so equipped.
  Headphone Jack Whether the camcorder includes a headphone jack. (y/n)
  Speaker Whether the camcorder includes a speaker. (y/n)
• Video Input/Output
  FireWire Whether the camcorder includes a FireWire (aka IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for sending and receiving digital video. (y/n)
  USB (for Video File Transfer) Whether the camcorder can send video files to a computer. Camcorders that have a USB port that can handle only still images are not counted. (y/n)
  Other Digital Video Out Whether a camcorder may include an HDMI or HD-SDI port.
• Miscellaneous
  Wireless Remote Whether the camcorder comes with a wireless remote. (y/n)
  Battery Charging Whether batteries must be charged on-camera (cam) or can be charged solely with the provided AC adapter (ac).
  Form Factor Whether the camcorder rests on the shoulder (sh), is held upright (u) or is the standard, held-in-front-of-user design (std).
  Media Loading Configuration Whether the camcorder loads tapes, discs or cards from the top (t), bottom (b), side (s), rear (r) or front (f).
  Accessory Shoe Whether the camcorder includes a shoe for mounting accessories (such as lights or microphones). (y/n)
• np Information not provided by manufacturer.