Are you considering the purchase of an HD camcorder? So am I. My trusty Panasonic DVC 30 is now over 4 years old and by today’s standards, almost obsolete. I’ve been doing some research on a possible replacement. Next week I’ll tell you what three camcorders meet my criteria.
Expect to pay $1,000 or more. Before you rush off to spend your hard earned money, take some time to do your homework. Check websites and video forums to get the latest reviews. After narrowing your selection down to 2 or 3 models, drop in to a reputable dealer and ask to test the cameras.
Here are some tips to point you in the right direction.
- Avoid Mini DVD camcorders. The disadvantages are numerous. The biggest for professionals is the inability to edit the disks on your PC. In addition, the disks are expensive and the recording time on high-quality is low.
- Choose flash drive. Flash drives provide convenience and the ability to download instantly to your PCs hard drive. SD cards come in three formats: SD, SDHC, and SDXC. Cards that use the original SD format provide up to 2GB of storage, which isn’t adequate for prosumer video needs. Choose either SDHC cards (4GB to 32GB) or SDXC cards (64GB or more).
- LCD screen. The larger and brighter the screen and the higher the resolution the better. It makes it easier to see what you’re shooting. Be warned though, a bright screen will shorten your battery life. It’s wise to test the screen indoors and out before making a purchase.
- Viewfinder. Choose a camcorder that has a viewfinder. In addition to conserving power it’s particularly useful in bright light situations where the LCD screen may be hard to see.
- XLR audio input connectors. Make certain your camcorder is equipped with these connectors which are essential for professional sound recording.
- AVCHD format. Most new prosumer camcorders use AVCHD introduced in 2006. More on AVCHD can be found here. You’ll need a powerful computer to edit this format. Check your editing software to see what requirements they recommend. Your PC should have a 2.0GHz or greater multicore CPU and a minimum of 2GB of RAM although 4GB or more would be better. You may also need to upgrade your editing software for full AVCHD compatibility. For more information click here.
- Avoid fully automatic controls. You want a camcorder with both manual and automatic options. With manual, you have more control over exposure, speed, focus, and audio levels.
- Low light sensitivity. This is the amount of light required to produce an adequate image. Look for camcorders that perform well in low light. Anything between 5 and 10 lux is good.
- Image stabilization. Camcorders come with either optical or electronic stabilization. Optical provides better results.
- Menus. This is where you need to spend some time with the camcorder before making a purchase. You’ll quickly determine whether the menu options are easy or difficult to access. Believe me this can be a deal breaker.
What are some other tips you’d suggest? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
And remember, next week I’ll be highlighting my top 3 picks for prosumer HD camcorders.
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You read my mind… from a couple years ago! I could not agree with your assessment more! The camcorder I decided to purchase was the Panasonic HMC150 because it satisfied all my criteria and I LOVE IT! (I wonder… will this be one of your 3 picks? I’ll just have to wait until next week’s post
@vkkyd. Thanks for your comments. Tune in next week for my three picks!
I have a Canon xl1s. Talk about obsolete! However, I bought the most powerful Mac, use FCP and the camera still works as well and clearly, with all the above bells and whistles (oh,except the flash drive part. Heh heh.) It is not HD but serves me well. I’ll still check back to see what you recommend and why next week though!
Thanks!
@ Rebecca Robinson. I know what you mean about “serves me well”. I feel that way about my camera and I also know that HD provides a much better picture. Someday, I’ll have to make the switch.
I really like your list Dan. A couple of other things that I’ve heard that can make a big difference in image quality are the size of the imaging chip (bigger the better) and the number of imaging chips (1 vs 3CCD). Although, the ability to create a great looking picture has much more to do with the artist than it does with any of the above features.
I’ve also heard about a newer technology to help in focusing called peaking. Do you consider that an important feature in which camera you might buy?
@Tim Pierce. Thanks for your comments, Tim. I’m not really familiar with the pros and cons of peaking so can’t help you on that one.
Greatly enjoy your blog Dan. You cover a broad spectrum from tech to art. I bought a new Panasonic AG-HMC40P and I love it. It doesn’t have all the features of the 150, but it’s also about $1,000. less. I purchased the AG-MYA30G XLR mic adapter for $250 and it works great. I’m much more of a writer/director than a shooter, so this camera does all I want it to do.
How about a wireless mic comparison soon?
@Barry Bennett. Thanks for your comments, Barry. Glad you enjoy my blog. Good suggestion about wireless mic comparisons.