Choosing the Best HD Video Camera
Looking for the best HD video camera? We can help. High definition camcorders are not nearly as complicated as all the techno-talk makes it seem. Follow our advice and recommendations and you’ll easily be able to find the best hd video camera for you. Here is a list of the Top Ten features every HD camcorder needs to have.
Convenient recording media
HD video camcorders use three formats to store the recordings they make: MiniDV tape, an internal hard drive, a writable DVD or flash memory. For all round usefulness and affordability, miniDV tape is my top recommendation for media for a main camcorder. Flash memory is fine as long as you can remove the card and easily replace with another when filled. DVD and internal hard drives are costly, sometimes not compatible with all DVD players and can be quirky when it comes to running out or filling up available memory.
Optical image stabilization
One non-negotiable feature you must have on your HD camera is optical image stabilization. The quality of hi def magnifies your mistakes. Image stabilization manipulates the lens to help compensate for shaky hands and keeps your video steady as you zoom in. There’s another feature called digital image stabilization. It uses software tricks to help reduce video jerkiness. It’s often grainy and not as effective as optical image stabilization, but, if optical is not available on the model you want, it’s better than nothing.
Choose optical over digital zoom
At times, you’ll want to get close. Don’t be tricked by huge magnification numbers for digital zooms. Again, digital zooming is den through software trickery and almost always results in grainy images. You want a camera that has a powerful optical zoom. The higher the magnification number (the “X” factor), the better. 10X is the minimum, 12 to 18X is better.
Get a touchscreen
Instead of controls built into the camcorder body, look for a model that offers a touchscreen LCD. The touchscreen makes it quicker and easier to adjust the camcorder settings, playback and set options than mechanical switches and buttons.
External microphones
If the model you select has an external microphone connector, count that as a huge plus. Though normally only an option on the higher end moles, this allows you to record directly from an external mic, either wired or wireless. That’s a huge improvement over the audio that is picked up with the omnidirectional “shotgun” mic that comes standard on all camcorders, especially when interviewing people or recording a speech or presentation.
USB2 out jack
You will want to edit your HD video. Make sure you can connect the camera directly to a computer. USB2 is the best these days. FireWire, sometimes known as 1394 or iLink, is acceptable. S-Video in/out is least desirable because it diminishes the HD video quality. Besides, requires a special card or interface box for most commuters commuters to take.
1/4 or larger CCD
This is the element inside the camera that actually captures your video and as a general rule, the bigger the CCD, the higher the relation, or video quality. High end cameras have three CCD chips, each handling a different color.
Manual white balance
You don’t want blue tinged video with HD. Look for a button or switch that lets you manually adjust the camera to the proper color levels
Time Code
If you plan on editing your video, make sure the camcorder has this feature. Time code imprints a time reference for every frame of the moving image. It doesn’t appear on the finished project but can be read by your editing software and allows you to find the precise code to find the right shot.
Earphone jack and audio monitor
You need to be able to monitor the audio as you record. Cheap units skimp on this essential. You want to be able to plug in a pair of earphones so you can make sure you’re getting what you thought you were getting. It is also nice if there’s a small speaker on the camcorder to let you hear the sound during a playback check.
If you can select as many of those ten features as possible, you can be sure that you have found the best hd video camera for you. Be sure to look around at the many and contantly updated hd video camera reviews we post on our blog.
