Videomaker's Annual 2009 Camcorders Buyer's Guide
Anyone remember tape-based camcorders? As funny as it sounds, tape may be going the way of 8mm film. For the past few years, disc recording and solid state memory have been slowly displacing the trusty ol' tape as the media of choice when it comes to recording family memories. This is just one way that the steady progress of technology is affecting the selection of today's camcorders.
No longer considered cutting-edge, but really the norm nowadays, these new forms of media storage are growing more popular as the price drops for increasingly larger amounts of memory. Additionally, features found in top-range cameras a few years ago can now be found on the bargain shelf.
Prices are wide and varied, but are largely dependent on the format, complexity and size of the unit. When shopping for cameras, you can expect to find prices that start as low as $50 and skyrocket to the "if you have to ask" range.
Virtually unknown 18 months ago, flash-based camcorders have flooded the market, and appear to have "discovered" a market no one knew was there before. Originally made as the Muvo Flip camera, this type of camera now has numerous imitators of varying quality. The same size as, and resembling, a cell phone or a funky MP3 player, this camera normally comes equipped with a 1-2" LCD screen on the back, no eyecup viewfinder, a single record button under the screen and a minor powered digital zoom, if any at all. All come equipped with a USB connection for downloading of the video information to any handy computer for editing and burning to a DVD.
Upsides? Price, small size, convenience of use, simplicity and the availability of HD on some of the pricier models. The downsides? As we discussed, no optical zoom, the on-camera mic installed by the manufacturer can be an afterthought, battery life may be limited and the durability at this price can be of the "throwaway" variety.
The camcorders in this category are those intended for the casual shooter who wants something more than a simple point and shoot camera for the beginner. Starting where the Flip camera leaves off, these selections do boast optical zooms, better audio and a more varied selection of recording media. They have minimal features and lack the plugs, switches and electronic wizardry of higher-end camcorders. The average user will rarely get beyond pressing the record button and hoping the "auto" setting can handle it all. Tape still rules here, but, as discussed, is starting to become supplanted by memory chips and hard drives.
Exposure compensation, white balance and audio are handled automatically and require no manual adjustments. Improvements in exposure algorithms, multi-point focus and larger image sensors mean the overexposed, off-color images with scrambled audio are essentially gone. This is a result of the "trickle down" of electronics: those cutting-edge items once found in only the more expensive products are soon passed down to entry-level products so companies may gain an advantage on their competitors. Capitalism once again comes to the rescue of the video enthusiast!
The typical camcorder in this price range will come packaged with a single battery and charger, strap, lens cover, a CD of low-end editing software and little else. The lens elements will often be constructed out of plastic, and the audio choice is limited to a single microphone mounted on the camcorder body with no external mic input.
