In last year's Annual Camcorders Buyer's Guide, we divided camcorders by price. This approach still makes some sense, but it may not offer what you need to get your 'perfect' camcorder. The reason? The advent of flash-based 'brick' camcorders - often packaged like MP3 players with digital zoom lens added - and the growing popularity of HDTV at the high end means that your choices have become ever more complex. If you buy based on price alone, you could get the wrong camcorder for your needs.

So let's look at four basic classes of camcorders: Flip-Style (named for the Flip flash-based camcorder that spearheaded this product category), Standard Definition (SD), Basic High Definition (HD) and Premium High Definition.

Flip-Style: Simple But Not Serious

This is an entry-level camcorder, in all senses of the word. A Flip-style camcorder comes in a MP3 player-like package with a digital zoom lens (maybe), one on/off Record button, a basic audio microphone, and the ability to record to internal and/or external flash memory. The videos are usually downloaded using a built-in USB that plugs into your computer. From there, you can burn them to DVD or post them directly to YouTube. At around $200 or less, Flip-style camcorders are fine for fun shots, but not for serious videography.

Standard Definition: No Longer the Standard

When most people think of consumer camcorders, they think of SD camcorders. These units have flip-out LCD screens and/or eyepiece viewfinders, optical zoom lenses and better quality microphones, and as few or as many customizable features as you are willing to pay for. Recording can be done to internal/removable flash memory or internal hard drives. Depending on the quality you are willing to pay for, the final result can be very impressive. Prices for SD camcorders start under $300, and go up a few hundred dollars from there.

Before you buy an SD camcorder, however, ask yourself one question: Ar you going to buy a new SDTV in the near future? Or will your next TV and every TV after it be HD? Answer: HD. This is why it doesn't make sense to buy an SD camcorder when the world is moving to wider screen, higher resolution HD video - now matter how good the price.

Basic High Definition: Today's Definition of Standard

The basic HD camcorder is the entry-level product for anyone who cares enough about video to read Videomaker - even if you just want your 'home movies' to look better. By basic, we mean a camcorder that handles all basic functions automatically; such as white balance, focusing and audio.

Such models cost less than premium HD camcorders - from $500 up to about $1,000 - and often come in lightweight plastic cases that need to be handled with care. But for the money, you can usually count on getting an HD camcorder that shoots excellent images, offers optical zoom (a must, since digital zoom makes your video look grainy) and can be used to create prosumer-quality videos when used with a computer-based editing system. Depending on what you buy, basic HD camcorders can record to tape, optical disks and removable flash memory.

If you are relatively new to shooting video, you would be well-advised to start with a quality basic HD camcorder that does much of the thinking for you. Exhaust the capabilities of this product level, before you spend more to go to the top consumer level.