1) If you want to get a camcorder that also does digital picture
you'll want to look for the still image Pixels (megapixels mp)
Generally speaking a 4mp camera is a little above average these days
and 3mp is about average. In a camcorder you should be able to find
plenty with 2mp which is great for computer photos and prints of
roughly 4x6.
2) Media used to store. The standered is MiniDV (in my opinion), if
you want to spend the money on something using DV go for it. There are
a few that use Digital8 (or used to not sure anymore) if you have an
old camcorder (8mm or Super 8 atleast) and want to ensure you can play
those Digital 8 might be of interest. I am not a big fan of DVD
camcorders the media is expensive, little record time, and has had
incompatability issues.
3) Image Stablization. Optical is by far the best, you pay for it
though. Most consumer products will have a standard Video Image
Stablization, Sony does a pretty good job, canon fairs well too.
4) CCD sesnor. Your best will be a 3 chip, that too is gonna cost you.
Most consumer products have a single sensor and finding out any specs
about them is rough.
5) Computer interface. Most will have firewire, I hate usb2 so I would
say don't get one with USB2 if it doesn;t also offer firewire. To me
Firewire is the standard for video transfer, offering only USB2 is a
design flaw and probably means the camcorder is dumbed down in other
ways too, but hey thats your call ;)
Brandwise I love canon and sony. Generally speaking these will be your
higher cost camcorders. Samsung made a model a year or 2 ago that got
pretty good reviews and also had a 4 mp camera on it. I lack
expereicne with Samsung video records so can't say much about them.
JVC varies on what series you are looking at, last I checked most were
only so so and had issues with loading tapes after a year or 2. I
dislike Panasonic in general,though they did make a 3CCD recorded that
was nice and fairly inexpensive, and I have yet to find a sharp I
think is reliable.
Adam H
On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 10:58:21 -0400, Marwan Saidi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hey gang...
>
> The wife has tasked me with getting specs for a digital video camera. I know that there are those here who know much more than I. What are the things that I should look for in a good one? Also, there are about 2.6 trillion reveiw sites out there, does the list have any favorite sites for reviews / comparison shopping, etc?
>
> Thanks much!
>
>
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