If you're reading this article, it means that you are probably in the market for a new video camera or are at least considering the possibility. Perhaps, If you are lucky, you are able to attend the National Association of Broadcasters annual tradeshow in Las Vegas every April, wandering around the NAB show floor looking at the various professional cameras on display, trying to determine the best features for the money. But let's face it, when it comes to features, best is an incredibly subjective term. The fact is that we all have our preferences, and some features are far more important to one shooter than they are to the next. In this Buyer's Guide, we will list many of the features available on professional and prosumer cameras. It's your choice to decide which features of the cameras within your budget are the most important to you.

Feature Rich

The 2010 model cameras are offering more great features in every price range than ever before. Benefits such as tapeless media and interchangeable lenses have become more common. It's all about HD this year - there is no such thing as an SD-only camera within the prosumer and professional markets. Besides HD, every camera on the grid allows you to use external mics, whether your needs call for lavaliers or boom mics. And single-sensor camcorders? No such thing on this level of professionalism - nothing but three-sensor cams here. Of course, it's your choice as to whether to go with CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) or CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) chips. Each type of chip has its advantages and disadvantages and, again, it is a matter of how you shoot, what you shoot and what results you are accustomed to getting when you shoot.

Sensors

The differences between these two types of sensors is minimal under most situations for the casual videographer, but for those who shoot in low-light conditions or in conditions where they could be shooting into bright lights (such as wedding receptions and outdoor sporting events at night), sensor choice can be critical. The rolling shutter of the CMOS chip can cause problems in very low light situations, but can be advantageous when shooting at night in a brightly-lit stadium or racetrack. CMOS sensors also use less battery power than CCD sensors, and that can be an advantage when operating in the field. Sony is well known for it's low light capabilities, their camera's capitalize on the CMOS sensor. Most of the cameras on this grid, whether they use a CCD system or CMOS, are three-sensor units. The single-sensor prosumer camcorder, just like the single-sensor pro camera, is now a thing of the past.