How to buy a budget digital camcorder - our top picks
By Emily Price
Buying a digital camcorder can be difficult if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. Here are some camcorder basics to help you get started in finding the right model for you as well as some of our top picks for budget camcorders:
Camcorder Formats
The most popular formats for camcorders are MIniDV which record video onto a small tape, DVD that record onto a small DVD, and HDD that record your video onto a hard drive, and Flash camcorders which record video onto small lash based memory cards. All three formats have both standard-definition and high-definition models available, with the HD models typically adding a few hundred dollars to the camcorders price tag.
In general, the camcorder market is headed more toward solid-state camcorder options like the flash based models currently available. HDD and Flash camcorders allow you to record numerous hours of video at a time, where as with MiniDV and DVD camcorders your record time is limited by the length of your tape or DVD.
Camcorder Zoom
Most camcorders have both an optical and digital zoom. Digital video is made up of thousands of tiny dots called pixels. An optical zoom uses your lens you come closer to the picture, a digital zoom simply enlarges the individual pixels in your photograph. If you use too much digital zoom your video will become pixilated, meaning you’ll see those individual pixels.
If you think you’re going to use a lot of zoom look for a camcorder with a high optical zoom rather than one with a high digital zoom.
Things To Look For
- Low-Light Performance: Camcorders typically perform very poorly in low-light situations. Be sure to read reviews of camcorder models you’re interested in and see how they perform in low-light situations. A camcorder that has a “low-light” or “night” mode isn’t necessarily going to perform well in low-light situations
- Microphone Input: The built-in microphones on camcorders are almost always pretty low quality. If you think you’re going to want to shoot interviews or something comparable with your camcorder then you will want to make sure you have the ability to connect an external microphone.
- Manual Features: Are you going to want to just press record and go, or are you going to want to tweak different aspects of your camcorders picture? Many camcorders offer users the ability to control their camcorders focus, shutter speed, and exposure manually. If you like to get creative with your video then you’ll probably want to find a camcorder with some manual options to work with.
All that said, here are some of our top picks from the camcorders on the market today:
Pure Digital Flip Mino
If you’re looking for a camcorder on the extreme cheap for YouTube videos and the like Pure Digital’s Flip Mino is an excellent choice. While not the fanciest camcorder on the market, the compact device is pocket sized, and makes recording video as easy as pressing record. Priced at around $150, these camcorders are designed with web video in mind so they don’t have a lot of the features that other more expensive camcorder do. On the upswing however the Flip is pocket sized making it easy to travel with, and can be customized with a skin of your choosing (including your own photographs) on the outside for an additional charge.
Samsung SC-MX20
While most camcorders these days are going high-definition, you can still find some high quality standard definition camcorders at a pretty good price. The Samsung SC-MX20 typically costs a little over $200 and is only slightly larger than the Flip. While with the Flip you’re only getting basic controls, the Samsung will give you an array of other features to play with as well as a much higher quality zoom and lens. The MX20 records video directly onto SDHC and SD cards and comes with software to help you share your video with friends and family.
JVC Everio GZ-MG330
The JVC Everio is a standard definition camcorder that has a 30GB internal hard drive for storing video. The camcorder typically costs a little over $300 and has a 30x optical and 800x digital zoom. The huge size of the hard drive on this camcorder is part of what makes it such a good buy. With a 30GB hard drive you could store video from an entire weekend getaway with the family and not have to download the clips to your computer until you get home. This camcorder also comes in a few different colors, so you can find a model that matches your own personal style.
Canon DC310 DVD Camcorder
DVD camcorders are an excellent choice for people who don’t want to upload their video to their computer or transfer it in any way in order to play it. DVD camcorders burn your video onto a DVD that you can then put in your DVD player at home and watch. The Canon DC310 records standard definition video onto mini-DVDs. The camera has a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD, 37x optical zoom, and 2000x digital zoom. Scene modes on the device include portrait, sports, night, snow, beach, sunset, spotlight and fireworks for customized images. The camcorder also can record video in Dolby Digital sound and has a 9-point autofocus.
Not every camcorder is right for every person. Think about what you want to use your camcorder for before you make a purchase to ensure you get the perfect camcorder for your needs.
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