What to look for in a digital camcorder

Sony DCR-HC90

Video storage format
This should be the first feature on your checklist. There are currently five flavors available ranging from the more popular (MiniDV), the up-and-coming (DVD discs, hard drive and flash-based) to the more obscure (Digital8, Sony's MicroMV).

MiniDV, the most popular format at press time, is supported by many camera manufacturers, including Sony, JVC, Panasonic and Canon. Because MiniDV uses miniature digital videocassettes to store your video footage, the MiniDV camcorders tend to be smaller but relatively more expensive than their Digital8 counterparts. Most people also agree that the quality of the video is better on MiniDV but this really depends on the quality of the camera and the tape media.

Digital8 camcorders, while not as compact as MiniDV ones, are generally more affordable and have the added advantage of being able to playback analog Hi-8 as well as standard 8mm tapes. If your intention is to get an inexpensive method of capturing digital video or to upgrade from an analog Hi-8 or 8mm camcorder, the Digital8 format is probably your best bet, however do note that there are precious few Hi-8 models out there anymore.

The MicroMV was introduced by Sony in 2001, when the company launched the DCR-IP7E Network Handycam IP. Almost 70 percent smaller than the MiniDV tape, the miniature video storage format produces some of the tiniest camcorders. The quality of the video capture is also comparable to those on MiniDV, but expect to pay a premium for the ultra-portable form factor.

JVC is the first camcorder manufacturer to explore using hard drives as an alternative storage format. As the video would already be digitalized, there is no need to reconvert it for the computer. Editing from within the camcorder is also more of a breeze, not to mention the cost savings from not having to purchase additional tapes. As a family camcorder, hard drives are a smart choice, but if video quality is a concern or there is a need to shoot more than a couple hours' worth of footage at each outing, then the buyer should the choices mentioned above.

Optical zoom versus digital zoom
As with digital still cameras, the optical zoom of a camcorder determines the number of times a camera can magnify an image through its lenses. Take note that this is different from digital zoom which simply takes a portion of an image and enlarges it, resulting in a loss of quality. Optically zoomed images enlarge the picture without sacrificing quality.

Bearing this in mind, it is important to look at the optical zoom power rather than the digital zoom rating on the camcorder to determine the actual amount of zoom you need. In fact, we don't even recommend using digital zoom since it affects the quality of the video capture. Instead, look out for at least a 10x optical zoom lens which is commonly found on most camcorders today and would generally be more than sufficient for most users.

Quality wise, CNET Lab tests have found out that Carl Zeiss lens, which feature in several Sony models, appear to deliver exceptional image resolutions. If you are looking for a camcorder with high-quality captures, look for those using those lenses.