High Definition HD Camcorder Buying Guide

High definition camcorders usually do give you the finest video quality overall. However, to get the full value of the high definition technology, you will likely pay more money than for a standard definition camcorder so you want to be sure that you’re buying the right video camera for your needs. You do not have to be an expert in camcorder technology to evaluate the specifications of high definition camcorders and determine which is best for you. This HD camcorder buying guide will help you understand the basics and help decide which options are important to you, and which you can do without.

The primary consideration when buying a camcorder is determining what you want to use the camcorder for and how easy you want it to be to use. Is it primarily to take home movies or for more professional videos? What do you plan to do with the videos? Do you plan to edit the movies or simply post them to an online video sharing website? Do you want a video camera that you can just turn on and shoot video no matter the lighting or activity? Or do you want to have more technical features for optimal video recording? The answers to these questions will help you know what to look for in an HD camcorder.

One drawback to getting an HD camcorder is you need a full-sized camera to get the best benefits that an HD camcorder has to offer. There are pocket HD camcorders available. However, the technology in these pocket sized cameras is not as advanced as the larger sized ones, often loosing the high picture quality that has buyers interested in a high definition camcorder in the first place. If a smaller sized HD camcorder is important to you, look for one with a removable memory card and/or one that does not have a viewfinder. These design features result in a more compact camcorder. Keep in mind that with HD camcorders, the smaller the camera usually the lower the video quality gets. If getting a pocket size camcorder is high on your list of features, you may be better off with a standard definition camcorder rather than spending the money on HD.

HD camcorders are typically either 1080 or 720. These specifications refer to the resolution of the video with 1080 producing a better resolution, which translate to a better video picture quality. 720 resolution will take up less memory to record however.

Here you will find several options within the video camera. Some models record the video to a hard drive, internal or external flash memory, or a combination of these. This is mostly a convenience issue. If you don’t want to worry about buying and keeping track of a memory card that can be removed from the camera, then buy one with internal recording. However, if you want the convenience of transferring videos without taking the camera cord with you or want more memory storage, then buy one that records to an external memory card.

Do not just focus on the picture quality when deciding what camcorder to buy. The audio quality is just as important. Stereo and zoom are desirable features for a quality camcorder microphone. Placement of the microphone is also something to consider. Microphones on top of the camcorder will record the operator better than it will record the subjects of the video.  Microphones on the front of the camcorder will records the subjects of the video better. If you need superior audio, then buy a camcorder with an external microphone connection.

The zoom capability will range for 10x to 400x, with the higher the number providing zoom. If you plan to take video of landscapes or animals at a great distance, then you’ll want a higher zoom. When shopping for higher zoom camcorders, know that there’s a difference between optical and digital zoom. Optical zoom performs better as this relates to the lens ability of the camera. Digital zoom simply zooms in on your recorded video, similar to cropping a photograph.  If most of your video work will be up-close such as for home movies, then the lower zoom will be more than sufficient.

Shooting video indoors in low light is still the biggest problem for camcorders. Look for camcorders with a mode that allows you to adjust for low light settings or other low light features if you really need high quality indoor videos.

These models do cost more than a comparable standard video recorder or even digital photography camera. Plan to spend at least $200 for full-sized HD camcorder. Pocket HD camcorders can cost less than $100. High-end professional models will run you several thousand dollars. However, at the high end, the HD camcorder for home or vacation use will cost about $1500. Essentially, the better the features, the more the HD video camera will cost. These higher priced models also tend to take more expertise to use.