DVD Camcorders

DVD Camcorders Buyers Guide

Today's DVD Camcorders are far smaller, lighter and are simpler to use than the analogue machines of recent times. Technology has allowed the achievement of near professional level sound and picture quality at domestic prices. There are however a great many features which can be confusing for the first time buyer.

DVD Recording

There are many advantages to recording information digitally: there is no loss of quality even when a recording is played many many times; professional effects can be added via editing software and it makes it much easier to transfer information to and from a computer for editing and storage. DVD Camcorders record directly onto DVDs. Whilst these are physically smaller than DVD movie discs, they will play in almost all DVD players.DVD Camcorders record in one of two formats: DVD-R - which will work in most DVD Players - but which can only be recorded once; or DVD-RAM, which can be used for multiple recordings but which, at present will play on far fewer DVD Players.

Key Features and Buying Considerations

Auto Exposure (AE) Modes

These automatically set up the DVD Camcorder's focus, shutter speed and exposure for different recording conditions. These are ideal for a quick set or for novice users.

Battery Life

Recording time is determined by the type of battery used, recording speed and recording mode. The main battery types are Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and Lithium Ion (Li-Ion). Lithium Ion is rapidly becoming the standard. Importantly, some DVD Camcorders can only use one type. Most DVD Camcorder batteries have an average usage time of one hour but are usually rechargeable for many hundreds if not thousands of cycles.

Digital Still Shots

Some DVD Camcorders can be used like a digital camera to take still shots which are stored on a memory card for later transfer to a computer. Most digital cameras will provide better quality pictures but this can still be a useful feature on occasions.

External Microphone

Most DVD Camcorders have a built-in internal microphone. Some offer an external microphone which improves sound recording and reduces the chance of picking up any mechanical internal noise from the camcorder itself.

Image Stabilisation

It is sometimes hard to hold a Camcorder steadily. The smallest movement on the behalf of the photographer can result in exaggerated movement on screen. Nearly all DV Camcorders have an image stabilisation system. This is mostly electronic but in some it is achieved through the optical system. In low priced models, this can sometimes result in reduced picture clarity.

Manual Overrides

Many DVD Camcorders allow the user to override default settings to get the desired effect. This can be an time consuming process in some cases but allows experienced photographers to achieve precisely the desired effect.

Uploading Recordings onto a Computer

Many computers now have DVD drives, making it simplicity itself to transfer the data from the DVD Camcorder - just put the camcorder's disk in the computer's drive. In some cases, it may be necessary to transfer data via either USB which is relatively slow and runs the risk of some data loss or with better DVD Camcorders via Firewire connections. In the case of Sony models this is with their own version i-Link.

Zoom

This is essential for most people. It allows you to frame the subject without physically moving the DVD Camcorder. The most important factor here is the optical zoom range. This controls image sizing by moving the DV Camcorder's lens internally. Basic models offer around 10 times magnification. More expensive units may offer 25 times or more. Optical zoom is often augmented by Digital Zoom wherein the DV Camcorder's software is used to enhance magnification. This can provide as much as 400 times zoom but will almost always compromise picture quality if used excessively.