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Basic Training: A Checklist To Find The Best Digital Video Camcorder For You

Buying a new camcorder can be a very daunting process. So many to choose from and so many options, many with confusing acronyms - IR, HD, IS. What does it all mean, and do you need to know?

These point-by-point questions should help guide you, so you can get the best idea on what features you need, what features you don't need and where your video productions are going in the next few years. Today we'll look at ten questions you need to ask yourself while thinking about new video gear.

Possibly the most important question you must ask yourself is, "What's wrong with my current camcorder?" Unless you can answer this question, with specifics, you might be wasting your money. Sit down and list the specific limitations of your current setup - is it low-light performance? Is the lens not wide enough? Is the autofocus too slow? Is it difficult to edit? Be wary of marketing hype -- "my current camcorder doesn't have image stabilization" isn't a reason to upgrade, while "my video suffers from camera shake" is a reason, and a camera with image stabilization might be the answer.

When faced with a swarm of new cameras lining the shelves of retailers and back pages of magazines, it's easy to wish that someone would just tell you what to get. And, to an extent, this is what year-end buying guides and reviews are for. But one reason that there are so many different models of cameras is that there are many, many different reasons that people own video cameras. If your main use is a camera to keep in your purse or book bag and capture your own pithy commentary for your video blog, your requirements will be different from those of someone hard at work on an indie movie and who hopes to get a theatrical release.

This is a very important but often misunderstood question. Don't confuse "how much should I spend?" with "how much can I afford to spend?" A video camera purchase isn't always about spending the most you possibly can. A less-expensive camera gives you more money to spend on other things - travel, audio equipment, editing equipment, etc. The camera is just one part of the process between idea and finished product. Camera manufacturers often make several different but related camera models that cover a spectrum of prices. When considering a particular camera, also take a look at the model above and the model below. Very often they share most of their features. Make sure you're not buying things you don't need. Also take into consideration other things that you do need - likd a new tripod or wireless mic. Think of your camcorder purchase as part of a package and budget accordingly.