A guide to buying a HD camcorder

All digital camcorders look alike from outside, but there may be a world of a difference in their inside mechanism. If you are looking for an HD Camcorder, you should know exactly what functions and specifications you need before you buy one. Your choice will largely depend on your purpose of using a camcorder and your available budget for such a purchase. Read this article which guides you to buying a HD camcorder.

Home and holiday video cameras

Purpose If your purpose of using video camcorders is to shoot pictures of your family, vacations, parties and other memorable moments in your personal life, you need an HD camcorder with easy output and simple controls. You can choose 1080i or 720p HD video format. 10x Zoom lens and automatic exposure control which will make your amateur movie making experience enjoyable and hassle-free. Make sure that your unit of choice includes a colour viewfinder and at least a 3-inch colour LCD. The price of a Sony camcorder with these specifications may be anywhere from $300 to $700 in 2011, depending on the model features.

Budget camcorders

If you are operating on a tight budget and looking for Sony Handycams or other brands under $500 price range in 2011, you can look for a basic model without too many accessories or advanced features. Avoid the costly models that use discs or cassettes. You may get a model with a viewfinder and LCD in size 2.5 inches. Pictures will be in relatively lower resolution, but ideal for posting on websites or sending via emails. You can still get digital effects and digital video editing features in this price range.

Latest and popular video cams

If price is not your first concern, and you are looking for one of the hottest video camcorders with state of the art features and cutting-edge technology, you can find a number of slick devices on the market. In terms of specs, you must go for 1080i or 1080p HD resolution, and a zoom of 10x or greater, which is controlled via lens ring or switch. The resolution must be high enough to be suitable for 8x10 prints. The price of such a cool pro camcorder may range anywhere between $700 to $1500 in 2011, depending on the kind of specifications and features it offers.