10 Questions to Ask When Buying A Camcorder

by Jack Kabza
Published on Nov 15, 2005 3:00 PM



You know you’re going to buy a camcorder for either a loved one or yourself. You have a good chunk of change and you’re ready to start shopping. Trouble is, you don’t have any idea of what exactly you’re looking for, or your loved one hasn’t specified the model they’re after. You haven’t had enough time to do thorough research or delve into the CamcorderInfo.com review archives. Now you find yourself standing in the store in a forest of gadgets and gizmos and pushy salespeople. One of them approaches you with an unctuous smile and a gleaming, beguiling camcorder. An alarmingly high price tag dangles from a string. Are you ready to defend yourself? Can you sort the promising from the pathetic? Here are ten essential questions that should be in everyone’s arsenal.

1: Which media?
In other words: what does the camcorder record its video to? This is the most fundamental way to classify camcorders. The most popular media is MiniDV, little cassettes that are the media of choice. MiniDV records the highest quality video in the consumer market because there is virtually no compression – the squeezing that can occur to data between captured and conversion into a readable file.

The monopoly that MiniDV held on the market is starting to wane with the rise of DVD camcorders, because users put the disc right into their DVD player for near instant viewing—provided the type of DVD disc the cam uses is compatible. DVDs come is a few different varieties, and you’d do well to make sure they’re compatible with your home DVD player. DVD cams compress video a great deal more than MiniDV, and can’t hope to match their quality. This is the tradeoff for convenience.

Several ultra-small camcorders record to flash media – SD cards, Memory Sticks, and more (read more on flash media choices here). These, too, offer convenience, but come at the cost of quality and often have a heavy price tag.

There is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ media; every type has its benefits and drawbacks. MiniDV is best for editing, DVD best for instant gratification, SD fine for those who already have large cards and are after a very small or stylish cam. If we had to pick, we would suggest that you stick to MiniDV to be on the safe side; innovative (and therefore generally overpriced) camcorders this year are exploring types of flash media, and you’re more likely to get a good deal on a tried-and-true MiniDV machine.

2: Expandable battery?
Camcorders run out of juice sooner than you expect, and included batteries don’t last much longer than an hour, generally. We always recommend carrying a backup battery, but another solution is to purchase an additional battery that’s designed to provide longer life.

Traditionally, camcorders have their batteries at the back of the body, where they can be placed and locked into a shallow indentation. This indentation has no cover or door, which looks a bit untidy but permits larger batteries to fit into the cam and extend their added bulk outward.

Some camcorders, designed for extreme style or portability, have batteries tucked away underneath behind a door or latch, or hidden inside the body. If you’re totally new to camcorders or don’t have much experience shooting, we don’t recommend getting one of these style-over-substance models first. Pick a camcorder with room for an expandable battery if you can, to give you plenty of time to shoot while you’re still learning.

3: Manual control?
Manual controls, to put it simply, are any controls that change the way the video is recorded. Some camcorders offers a setting for complete manual control, meaning you have authority over all the typical settings: white balance, aperture (exposure), shutter speed, focus, and gain. Other camcorders have “priority” modes, which hand over the reigns on one control at a time and automatically correct the rest according to your adjustments. Often there is one priority mode for aperture and another for shutter speed.

One of the most important controls is manual white balance. What is manual white balance? It’s the ability to tell the camcorder’s chip what the color white should look like in any given environment. By pointing it at a white surface and telling it, “This is white,” the chip can then calibrate the other colors. White balancing improves color reproduction. Without it, you’re stuck with a potentially inferior automatic white balance.

Other manual controls allow you to adjust how much light is allowed into the lens. Aperture controls the light by literally narrowing the opening it shines into, and shutter speed (you guessed it) changes the speed of the shutter. Closing it every 1/2 second is extremely slow and lets in a great deal of light, while 1/2000 is quite fast. Some camcorders will offer gain control. Gain is a digital boost to the incoming signal. Increasing the signal will brighten the image, but will also increase the noise in that signal. Panasonic camcorders historically offer the best manual control options in the consumer range.

Using these controls is how you get the most from your camcorder. Buying a cam and not using its manual controls is like buying a computer and only using the word processing software—your machine can do so much more. Tinkering around with the controls is the best way to learn, so make sure you have the tools for tinkering.

4: How’s the auto mode?
Your prospective camcorder should have some type of Auto Mode on it (if it does not, you’re definitely in the wrong part of the store—or the wrong store, period). Have the salesperson show you how to use it. Can you hit a single button and start recording? Or do you have to twist three jog dials, hit a button, enter a menu, and scroll down to find it? Nearly all camcorders’ auto modes are very easy and accessible, but some methods may be more intuitive to you than others. It should be simple and something you can remember. This mode may be your happy recipient’s first introduction to using the camcorder, after all, and it should be a snap to engage.

Not all auto modes are created equal. Some camcorders permit users to still change a few settings in auto mode. Do you want your auto mode to be totally foolproof and keep you from accidentally changing anything, or do you want to be able to tweak a little? See what you can change in it. You might be perfectly happy with your machine’s auto mode and never want to move beyond it, or you might find it too limiting while the advanced modes are too overwhelming, and never wind up using the camcorder at all. Get a feel for the auto mode to see if it’s a setting you’re comfortable learning in.

5: What ports does it have?
Most camcorders should have at least two ports, or places to connect cables to: a USB port, for digitally transferring footage to your computer, and an A/V port, for transferring footage with the old analog method that televisions use. MiniDV camcorders will also have a DV (digital video) port. The camcorder you’re after probably has a few other ports as well.

Some camcorders will have a composite port, which is basically an A/V port in a different shape that takes a different type of cable, one that has one plug going into the camcorder but breaks into three plugs coming out: two for audio and one for video. An S-Video port is also like an A/V port, but better; it separates the data into more channels and thereby provides a clearer picture. Some camcorders will have a port for flash media dedicated to capturing still photos. Some will have a fixture on the top called a shoe, designed for holding accessories like lights and microphones. A hot shoe (as opposed to a cold shoe) enables communication between the two devices directly, instead of having to use a cord, as well.

So which of these extra ports matter? In general, the more ports (and the more options) the better. But there is one port we like to see, and one you should look for too: a microphone in port. The microphones that are built into camcorders are not top-notch, to say the least, and if you ever start exploring the land of accessories, an external microphone should be high on your list—provided of course you cam has the port for it. A microphone in port is usually found on mid-level to higher-end models. If you’re paying $500 or $600 hundred dollars and up and there is nary a mic in port to be seen, back off. For that kind of money, there should be one.

6: How about the model above? Below?
Here’s a dirty little secret of the camcorder industry: frequently, models in the same line will have very few differences between them, and those that are there are superficial. Often two or three models together in a lineup will have the same sized imager and same type of processor inside, and therefore produce video that looks nearly indistinguishable. It’s like selling two versions of a car that have the same engine, but one lacks air conditioning and a sun roof; only the whistles and bells differ—the next camcorder model down may have a little less optical zoom, a shoe that’s cold rather than hot, and a port or two less. But those superficial differences can spell at least $100, maybe $200, in additional costs for you.

Ouch. How important is that extra 5x of optical zoom? Ask the salesperson how that intriguing cam differs from the next model up and the next model down in the same series. Sometimes the actual internal hardware among them is different; sometimes not. Often you’ll find that you can be satisfied with a cheaper machine that has comparable performance.

7: Accessories?
Though the salesperson might stumble on your other questions, depending on her level of camcorder knowledge, this should be an easy question for her to answer. Salespeople are expected to sell, and if you hint that there are other things you want to buy, they should be happy to list them for you.

Listen carefully. The list of accessories shouldn’t affect your decision to purchase a particular camcorder, but you should still be aware of what’s out there. Why? That new camcorder is merely the centerpiece of your upcoming technological entourage. You’ll probably need to buy media for it, like MiniDV tapes or DVD discs; you might want a camera bag, a tripod for steadier shots, a white balance card, accessory lenses… you get the idea. You might not be buying this stuff now, but you probably will someday, and you should inform yourself of what’s ahead. (Read more about buying accessories here.)

8: What is your return policy?
It might not be camcorder related, but it’s an important question to ask. Suppose you do buy that gleaming beguiling cam and take it home, but find out it’s not everything you dreamed it would be—or it turns out that your bratty brother wanted more games for his PS2 instead. Fancy an $800 paperweight? We didn’t think so. Before it comes to this, make sure that the retailer will permit you to return your camcorder; if it’s part of a special sale, they may not take it back. Or they may only give you store credit in exchange instead of cash, or there may be a time limit on returns.

Know what you’re getting into before you give any place your business. This is a smart move regardless of what you’re buying. You’re the one ultimately in charge of where the money goes, and if turns out ahead of time that the store return policy is not acceptable to you (if they only take back unopened merchandise, for example), you can pick up, walk out, and take that $800 to a retailer who gives you more respect as a buyer.

9: Can I see that thing for a second?
This is a vital and frequently overlooked step to take before handing over the credit card. The person who receives this gift will spend a lot of time holding it. You should try holding it, too. Make sure that little machine handles as good as it looks. Are the buttons and switches easy to reach? Are they big enough? Does the camcorder feel balanced? Is it light enough? Can you find your way around the menus on the LCD screen without the Rosetta Stone? Your potential purchase needs to feel at home in your hands, and besides, you can tell a lot about a camcorder just by fiddling around with it—how durable it feels, if it’s designed well, whether or not the zoom toggle functions smoothly. Play with it until you’re satisfied you have a feel for the model. Don’t let the salesperson rush you. They’re getting paid to be there. You may also want to handle a few other models you aren’t even interested in, just to get a sense of what feels right and what you’re looking for.

10: Can you put this aside?
We know, we know. You’ve found the camcorder of your wildest dreams, and you can’t wait to whisk it away. But you really should. You haven’t fully checked out your prospective purchase yet, and there’s only so much you can learn from a trip to the store. So now what?

Go back home and look through the CamcorderInfo.com reviews or reviews form other websites. On our site we test cams for color accuracy, resolution, and low light performance, in both video and stills (if the camcorder can take them), and sometimes the camcorder that has a fine-looking picture on the LCD screen will produce dark grainy video on a real monitor. Trust us, you’ll be glad you checked.

And besides, it’s always a good idea to take a step back and think before making any major purchase. For some of us, even a low-end camcorder costs a lot of money. True, you can always return it if you’ve educated yourself about the store’s return policy, but it’s less hassle to avoid an ill-advised purchase in the first place than it is to undo it. So take some time and spend the evening dreaming about that special camcorder. If you still want and respect it in the morning, you know where to find it.