What to look for in a digital camcorder

LCD and viewfinder
Most camcorders now come with at least a 2.5-inch color LCD display which lets you view and playback the video/images you have captured quite comfortably. Those with 4-inch LCD screens provide a better view but they usually cost more and are generally bigger in size to accommodate the larger display.

Color viewfinders are now commonly found on most digital camcorders, although some of the older or entry-level machines still use monochrome panels. However, viewfinders aren't the objective since you'll probably end up using the LCD display most of the time.

Digital still capture
Virtually all digital camcorders let you capture still shots and store them on the tape or directly into a flash memory card. These images may be low in resolution compared to what the current batch of digital still cameras can capture, but they offer the convenience of just carrying one device for both video and still capture purposes. Eventually, future models of camcorders in the next two years will be able to capture image resolutions which can rival that of digital still cameras.

Other features to consider
3CCD: Usually employed in semi-pro or professional camcorders, 3CCD cameras tend to produce better and clearer images due to the use of three CCDs instead of one to create the full image. However, cameras with one CCD are often good enough for most consumer purposes.

Built-in lights: These lighting systems allow you to record video in low-light conditions but are generally not regarded as a good substitute for fine lighting.

Image stabilization: You will most likely find this feature on most of the latest digital camcorders available. This helps correct image blurring due to hand shakes during recording.

Progressive scan: This feature allows the camcorder to capture a full frame of video rather than alternative lines of pixels (as in most standard camcorders), resulting in better-quality videos in fast action sequences. The difference is hardly noticeable in normal recording modes.

Video inputs: With these, you can convert video footage from your video recorder or another analog camera into a digital format for editing instead of using a video capture card.