Mini DVD Recording:

With this type of recording format you will be able to play on most DVD players as this is, in fact, a small version of the standard DVD used for movies we buy today. Besides, it allows you to edit your film directly on a digital camcorder, and computer. However, the drawback is that it can’t make long recordings. In general, its capacity varies from recording 30 minutes to 60 minutes of video. Also, it doesn’t provide high video quality.

Mini DV:

Mini DV is, actually, a miniature version of the standard VHS tapes. The customers are usually confused about this type of recording because VHS tapes are rarely used today. Nevertheless, the truth is that Mini DV is definitely able to provide great quality video pictures. What’s more, they can make a significant time amount of recordings. Still, the main disadvantage is that one can get really bored if they need to upload the video to the computer for its editing or sharing. The whole process goes very slowly and the film will be transferred minute for minute!

Built-In Hard Drives:

This kind of recording format enables you to directly transfer media from your digital camcorder onto your computer. Moreover, this is an efficient way for recording videos easily whenever you like. It means that you will manage and edit images in a minute! And, what’s best it will cost you less money in future. Namely, there is a great number of hard drives equipped with huge capacity to store many hours of video! In addition, with most internal hard drive digital camcorders, you will not need additional media storage accessories to save and store videos. Besides, a built-in hard drive enables the user to edit videos manually and then to transfer them right on a digital camcorder. Speaking about the disadvantages, you must know that digital camcorders that come with an installed hard drive cannot always enable you to transfer a long video recordings with the same quality of video preserved. It is because of a limited storage space. Therefore, make sure you opt for a digital camcorder which has enough storage amount in the hard drive so that you can record long videos easily.

Secure Digital Cards:

Most often, the consumers prefer the Secure Digital card. In general, the Secure Digital (SD) Cards have been developed to adapt to the improved technology of the future. They are very suitable for use in small and portable electronic devices including digital camcorders. Despite the fact that they are small in size, they have extraordinary features regarding fast transfer, and high video quality. But, if you are planning to record longer videos, the SD Card may not be a good choice because of the small storage capacity which decreases video recording lengths. Still, these cards are constantly upgraded with more and more recording space available. One of the recommended SD Cards is the Panasonic SDR-S10 SD Super Compact Size Camcorder with 10x optical zoom.  In addition, a 2 Gigabyte Secure Digital Card is included in this purchase.

What’s more, because it’s a solid state device with a removable memory card, movie transfer and editing is simpler. You don’t need the FireWire ports and digital capture cards reguired for conventional camcorders. You simply copy the movie file across in just the same way as you would a still image and double-click on it to play it back in your default movie player – typically Windows Media Player or Apple’s QuickTime Player. What’s more,  Sanyo VPC-C1EX comes with all the software you need to edit clips, join them and produce your own professional looking movies.

But if you want movies, why don’t you just buy a digital camcorder? We’ve mentioned the fact that movie file transfer and editing is so much easier with this camera, but there are other reasons for choosing it, too. First, there’s its size. It’s small even for a digital camera, and way smaller than even the most compact mini-DV sized digital camcorders. It’s inexpensive, too. Now most digital cameras have a still shot facility, but they don’t yield anything like the picture quality you’ll get from Sanyo VPC-C1EX.

Many people want both a still camera and a movie camera, so why buy two devices when you can get one that does both jobs? Sanyo VPC-C1EX may not be a serious photographic tool, but as a carry-anywhere do-it-all snapshot device, there’s surely nothing like it.

Well, there is, actually. Fujifilm launched its hybrid M603 model a couple of years back, but it was so far ahead of its time that it didn’t really catch on. Like the Sanyo VPC-C1EX, the M603 offers 640 x 480 movie resolution at a frame rate of 30fps. The main differences are that the Sanyo records sound in stereo, just like a ‘proper’ camcorder. It has a much wider zoom range, too -5.8x rather than the M603’s 2x optical range.

Sanyo VPC-C1EX Key Points

The VPC-C1EX is a smart little device, then, that meets two important needs in one. But will it catch on? And, small as it is, what’s it like to actually use?

The first job is to get the lens cap off. Not normally something that would defeat an experienced photographer, but this one does fit rather tightly, with barely enough room beneath it to slide in a fingernail and flip it off. You start the Sanyo up by flipping out its LCD. This releases the Power button beneath. When you close the LCD, a small lug presses down on the button again, switching a camera off – a bit like the lamp in your fridge. The start-up time is just one or two seconds, so you won’t miss too many sudden picture-taking opportunities. All you’ve got to do is point the camera and press a button on the left to take a still image, and one on the right to start recording a movie (press it again to stop recording).

The multi-point AF system seems to work reliably enough in still photography mode, though it’s not especially quick. Focus confirmation takes around a second, maybe a fraction less, at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, and rather longer at the telephoto end. In dim indoor lighting, longer focal lengths can leave the AF hunting for a couple of seconds or more.

There’s aiso a rather disconcerting ’shutter’ sound after you take a still photo. What’s disconcerting about it is that you hear it around half a second or so after you’ve pressed the shutter release. This isn’t shutter lag – it happens even when you’ve waited for focus confirmation. The shutter sound just seems to be slow to react, and it leaves you unsure as to the exact moment the picture has been taken.

The design of the camera isn’t perfect, either. It fits really snugly into the palm of your hand, but only until the moment when you actually want to take a shot. Then, in order to move your thumb over the shutter release, you’ve got to slacken and distort your grip. This, and the upright design of the camcorder, means that it’s more prone to camera shake than conventional designs.

All the main controls are at least clustered in one area. This includes a good-sized zoom control and. beneath that, a tiny thumbs!ick navigator and a button for activating the menu system.

Sanyo VPC-C1EX – Built for beginners

Everything here is designed for novices. The menus work in Basic and Expert modes and a female voice helpfully describes each option you select (yes, really – you can turn this off via the Setup options, if you prefer).

In Basic mode, you can choose the video and still quality, scene mode, flash and self-timer. Switch to Expert mode, and you’ll also be able to adjust the ISO and white balance. You’ll find you can adjust EV compensation now, and not via the menus but simply by pushing the little thumbstick controller left and right while you’re framing the shot.

The camcorder’s size, finish and ergonomics let it down. The slippery little thumbstick is bad enough, but you have to shift your grip so much to perch your thumb on it that you’re in real danger of having the camera slip out of your hands. The VPC-C1EX is pretty, sure, but it’s not that great to use.

The LCD is small, but very sharp and clear. The Sanyo’s playback mode is pretty speedy, and there’s no denying the novelty of playing back movies on this tiny handheld device.

Photographically it’s a competent snapshot camera rather than an enthusiasts’ model. In addition to the standard program AF mode, there’s a selection of scene modes, including Portrait, Landscape, Nightview and Lamp modes. You can also apply various filter functions: flattering ‘Cosmetic’ and ‘Slim’ options, Sepia, Mono and ‘Ghost’ effects.

The built-in flash is a bit of a surprise: specifically, how weak it Is. It’s powerful enough to illuminate someone standing in front of you facing you, but not much else. You do get a good selection of extras, though. In addition to an impressive software bundle, the VPC-C1EX comes with a docking station for recharging and image transfer, plus a good-quality case.

And, of course, there’s that 128MB SD memory card. It’s the minimum you need for shooting video footage, and indeed this card can only accommodate between five and seven minutes of full-resolution footage, depending on the quality setting. If you want camcorder-style capacity a 1GB SD card will let you shoot for up to 60 minutes.

All of which is really rather relevant. While the Sanyo’s 128MB card is great for shooting stills -hundreds of them – it’s limited to short video clips only and a memory card to substantially boost its capacity is going to represent a considerable additional investment.

It’s also the point at which we have to bring back a potential rival – the Fujifilm FinePix M603 mentioned at the start. The FinePix may have been a comparative flop, commercially, and it doesn’t have the zooming range or the stereo sound of the Sanyo, but it’s a much better camera for still photography and the movie quality is just as good. What’s more it takes far less expensive CF cards or MicroDrives. The real point is, that until stocks are finally exhausted, you can pick up an M603.

And picture quality is relevant. The Sanyo’s still images are okay for a 3.2-megapixel camera, and far better than a camcorder with a still shot facility can produce, but if stills are your main interest you can get similar or better image quality than this for half the price.

All in all, Sanyo VPC-C1EX is a clever little hybrid device that really does deserve to find a home with snapshotters who don’t know whether they want to shoot stills or movies or – more to the point – want to be able to do both. If anything, it’s digital camcorders that should feel threatened by this device. It’s far smaller than even mini-DV camcorders and the solid-state storage is far more convenient.

Its price varies depending on the model you are searching for. Some simple models are obtainable for a few thousands only. On the other side, professional camcorders are more expensive and need to be well studied before they are used. Needless to say, higher features mean expensive camcorder and vice-versa, so amateur photographers will not be able to access the device so easily. It means that consumers should gather any information necessary for taking videos.

If you need a digital camcorder just to take pictures of you and your family then there is no need to purchase an expensive model. For a reasonable amount of money you can be sure that you will make good quality videos without any troubles.

However, before you decide to buy a digital camcorder there are three main factors to consider, such as pixel size, digital zoom, and lens. Pixel-size defines how many times a shot can be enlarged in order to provide better features. You will not need camcorders with high amount of megapixels for regular shootings. Digital zoom enables the good clarity of the shot, taken from a distance, too. High quality lens provide better shoot-quality.

All in all, camcorders are gadgets that should serve you for many, many years. Due to that, you should carefully choose the one that will best fulfill your needs. It implies that its features and specifications should be thoroughly studied before you go to shop and buy one.

For this reason, it is necessary to do a kind of research of all the models available in the market. The good thing is that you can do that online if you visit some of numerous sites and check the reviews of the latest digital camcorders. Besides, you are advised to check forums, where you can be sure to find a 100% precise feedback.

The majority of digital camcorders have some basic features such as automatic focus, zoom in ad zoom out, the size of screen, batteries and others. First of all, you need to check the LCD screen size due to its double function of acting like a viewfinder and playback screen. Therefore, it would be better to choose a larger screen. Just, take into account that the cost will increase if the screen’s size increases.

Further, most of the modern digital camcorders contain automatic focus as well as exposure control. However, there are some people who would rather use manual control since it provides more flexibility. In other words, such types of digital camcorders allow you to record at much slower shutter speeds.

Whenever possible try how your digital camcorder records outside by getting some sunlight on it. After a while you will see what will happen. Some digital camera screens will fade out in bright sunlight which is not very helpful when you want to record.

Probably most of you have encountered the problem with batteries running out in a short period of time. In general, most camcorder use batteries that last only a couple of hours, so it will be much better to provide lithium ion batteries. They are easy to deal with, and what’s more important they last longer in comparison with NiMH (Nickel-metal-hydride) batteries.

Since the technology advances constantly each day, you can get any of necessary information about the latest changes in the area of digital camcorders by reading media magazines and media stores near you.

One of the most important features to be considered is the LCD size. Providing a LCD with a large screen seems reasonable since the LCD performs as both the viewfinder and the playback screen. Nevertheless, you should take into account that the cost will get higher as the size of the screen increases.

Also, you have to make a clear distinction between 2 types of zoom, the optical and the digital zoom. Optical zoom refers to the lens itself and the way it can zoom in on the subject before you shoot. On the other hand, digital zoom entails that you take the picture first and then magnify it to see it bigger. Although it seems great, the problem with digital zoom is that it will greatly reduce image quality. So, a better option is to provide a high optical zoom.

The next thing to consider is to get a camcorder with lithium ion batteries because they can last longer. Besides, they are easier to handle compared to NiMH (Nickel-metal-hydride) batteries.This is important in order to avoid the problem of running out of battery power while using a camcorder.

Further, select a camcorder with a microphone attached in the front. If you buy a digital camera with a microphone placed on the top of the camcorder, there’s a chance of recording the voice of the consumer instead of the event you want to record.

Since modern technology has advanced greatly, it has contributed to adding a lot of new features to digital camcorders. In that sense, media magazines and media showrooms can keep you constantly informed about anything new in this area.

Video quality is the most important feature of any digital camcorder. Well, it means that your gadget should have great capacity in order to capture the best of all the images and to convert them into effective sequences. Furthermore, a good electronics digital camcorder must have appropriate audio quality. Once the consumer wants to shoot something, he would like to record the voices, as well. In that sense an auto-adjust mode suits well in generating good quality shoots with suitable audio-recordings. On the other hand, those users who want to adjust the audio-mode according to their needs can choose manual mode for every settings and then convert to auto-mode if and any time they like.

The next thing to be considered when you upon deciding to buy a digital camcorder is megapixels. Good camcorders should have 5-6 megapixel configurations that enable great quality of the images you want to capture. Only professional photographers should go for high megapixel camera since they are capable of handling and focusing the camera.

Another important part of digital camcorders is lens, as they enable you to click various events and get the best quality shoots. Many reputable manufacturers use high-quality branded lens in their products because they always provide best quality pictures to the person concerned.

Any electronic devices including camcorders, of course, should provide after-sales services. In that sense, you are recommended to choose only branded camcorders which offer proper support if anything wrong happens to your gadget. Moreover, you can get technical support through various brochures and leaflets that come along with the product. They should be read basically to allow easy image capturing. However, you have to make sure  there is a service center in the place that you planning to visit, as otherwise your newly bought camcorder will not be able to work properly when you need it most.

As it is expected, with every purchase of a gadget, you would be interested to find out how much money you should give for it. Then, before buying a particular model, make sure its price goes within the range of your budget, but don’t forget to check its features as well.

The next feature that should be considered is the low light capability of the digital camcorder. Actually, it is very important to check this since most of family video recordings are either taken indoors or in a low light environment. Recording without low light capability will usually result in a rough movie, whereas a unit that has low light capability will make clear and crisp images as if they were recorded outdoors on a sunny day.

Make sure to check the size of the camcorder. It is important due to the fact that you must be able to hold it steadily while recording the event.  Besides, the buttons should be properly located in a place where there is no need  to push the camera just to press one button.

Further, you should check whether your device has ability to be connected to a computer. Well, there are several camcorders that provide wireless connectivity, which is great except for the feature that it could be pretty expensive for your budget. Look for a digital camcorder that has firewire connectivity, as it will enable you to make a fast transfer of files to your computer for later editing and storing.

Last of all, it is very important to search for a digital camera with a high number of megapixels. It is completely different with digital camcorders because this does not improve the quality of footages taken. Try to find and buy a product that has at least 1/3 CCD stamped on it. However, if it is unaffordable for you, lower it to one fourth CCD.

With digital camera you can be sure that you will have a lot of benefits, in the most part because you will have all the worthwhile moments captured for later viewing.