subject: Learn About The Types Of Camcorders [print this page] In a competitive market place, the only way to survive is to diversify the product range and then try to map its use with those of the prospects needs. Think of anything and this principle holds good. Camcorders are no exception. However what such diversification does on a psychological level is confuse and overwhelm shoppers with choices. You would agree if you have been shopping for camcorders and going through the multitude of video cameras on offer. From SD quality to high definition camcorders, from palm sized to professional video cameras, picking the right one was never so difficult. So how does one sift through the mass and pick a camcorder that really delivers and doesnt cost a bomb?
The answer lies in setting up expectations and then fastidiously looking for a camcorder that delivers all those features. Knowing what all kinds of camcorders are available therefore becomes crucial.
The Ugly Betty
These are the regular camcorders with basic features such as zoom in and auto focus and the buck stops there. You can do just about all the basic recording but the moment creativity and more manual controls are desired, they become things of the past. Avoid them if you want higher controls.
The Street Smart Joes
These are the more advanced and stylized camcorders and mostly come in HD. They let you record videos in 24p too, the most coveted frame rate for that film look. More importantly you can work with their ISO settings, capture still photographs in higher megapixels and record on solid state media than age old tapes. Using them is cheaper and easier, given the ease of transferring data to computers and post processing them.
The Big Daddies
These are the king of the arena, no feature is unknown to them and no control not possible. You want to shoot in the night, done, you want to shoot in fast frames for that jarring look. done. These camcorders get the impossible done and yet offer further flexibility. But remember they cost almost thrice or four times more than the regular camcorders and are targeted specifically for the professionals. A good example could be the top of the line Panasonic video camera such as PD series that let you experiment with all things cinematic.
Now that you know the three broad categories or types of camcorders there are, see what your use is. In short, Ugly Betties are fine for novices, Smart Joes are fine for enthusiasts and The Big Daddies are the right choice for professionals.
