Hi friends,

I am looking for a new camcorder, would like to pay around 1000 bucks. Can you please suggest which one to go for?

Thanks.

It depends what technology you would like to use - for example the latest one is MiniDV, and I think you should be able to get one around your price range.

I think Samsung has one around 800 - cheapest one in the ragne. I have JVC one, which is good.

Thanks.

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Torontian Desi

Swamiji,

Aapko kya jarurat pad gari in sab bhautik chijo ki?

Anyway, following is very good information.

The Bottom Line Know your formats and the rest will be easy.

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The quality of your camcorder will hinge on its camera section, the lens and charge-coupled device (CCD) chip which translates the light images of the real world into electrical impulses which the video-tape recorder (VTR) section of the camcorder puts onto a recording medium, such as magnetic tape.


One-Chip and Three-Chip Camcorders

The least-expensive camcorders, those selling for about $2,000 and less, employ a single CCD chip to create those electrical waves which represent the image. When you get up above $2,000 or so, you'll usually find camcorders with three chips, one for each of the primary colors. In these cameras, a prism breaks up the image from the lens, directing each hue to its respective CCD chip. The three-chip cameras provide sharper colors and image quality. In fact, most professional cameras also use a three-chip system. The chips in consumer camcorders are usually 1/4-inch or 1/3-inch, while the chips in pro cameras are usually ½ or 2/3 of an inch.

The chips are further differentiated by their pixel count. In the cheaper cameras, the 1/4-inch chips will have as few as 250,000 pixels. A count this low actually limits the horizontal resolution. In fact, some Hi8 camcorders, which technically can resolve up to 400 horizontal lines, are limited to 250 lines because of the low pixel count of their CCD chip. Better-quality three-chip camcorders often have a CCD pixel count of about 400,000. Some of the expensive single-chip camcorders, such as the Sony DCR-PC5, have a single 1/4-inch 680,000-pixel CCD. This will provide about 500 lines of horizontal resolution, similar to the resolution of a camcorder like Sony's DCR-TRV900 with three 1/4-inch CCD's of 380,000 pixels each. However, the colors from the PC5 won't be as rich as those with the TRV900.

There are other models, such as the Sony DCR-PC100, which have a single chip with an even higher pixel count -- 1,070,000 pixels, the so-called mega-pixel count. However, this doesn't provide 30% more horizontal resolution than the 680,000-pixel chip. Rather, the million-plus pixels are only all used for digital stills. The rated horizontal resolution, according to Sony, is just 20 more horizontal lines than that of the PC5 (520 lines).


Most Digital and Analog Camcorders Record on Tape

However the camera section of your camcorder takes in the image and transforms it to electrical waves, you'll need the VTR section to permanently record those waves. The main storage medium is magnetic tape, though a few new cameras use other formats, such as MiniDisc or CD-R. Some Sony camera's use that company's proprietary Memory Stick (a plastic-covered RAM unit, about the size of stick of gum) to record digital stills. Most camcorders which record digital stills place these on the same tape they use for moving video.


The Two Main Recording Methods -- Analog and Digital

Camcorders divide into two main methods of consigning their video signal to tape -- analog and digital. In the consumer camcorder realm, most of the better, more expensive models are digital, though there's nothing inherently superior about the format in terms of initial recording and playback. Digital's main advantage is that the image, once put to tape, will not degrade over time and with repeated playbacks. Also, video in the digital format can be more readily stored on a PC or Mac hard drive and then manipulated with editing and effects software.


Analog Formats

The main analog consumer camcorder formats are VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, S-VHS-C, 8mm, and Hi8. The VHS format is the one we all know from our home VCR's. It has a horizontal resolution of about 240 lines. S-VHS uses the same size tapes as VHS, but has a horizontal resolution of 400 lines. VHS-C and S-VHS-C are identical in resolution to VHS and S-VHS, respectively, but this format uses a compact tape and its running time is usually limited to 20 or 40 minutes, versus the two-hour running time of the full-size VHS and S-VHS tapes. The 8mm format uses a compact tape, not much bigger than an audio cassette, and has a resolution of about 240 lines. The Hi8 format uses the same size tape as 8mm, but has a resolution of about 400 lines. The maximum running time for 8mm and Hi8 tapes is two hours.


Digital Formats

Digital camcorders, in the initial stage of processing the image, are identical to analog cameras -- the light passes through a lens and is focused onto a CCD chip(s) which creates an electrical video signal representing the image. In a digital camcorder, there's another stage -- an analog-to-digital converter, or ADAC, which turns that electrical video signal into digital data.

There are two common digital recording formats. The most popular, MiniDV, uses a tape that's about the size of a micro-cassette tape. Generally, the longest running time on these tapes is 60 minutes, though there are a few 80 minute tapes. The MiniDV camcorders can operate in an extended-play mode, with reduced audio performance, that increases running time about 40 percent. The Digital8 format, popularized by Sony, records onto Hi8 tapes. The Hi8 tape used for Digital8 recording runs at twice the speed used in a Hi8 camcorder, so recording time is limited to one hour. Both formats have a horizontal resolution limit of about 500 lines. Many digital camcorders have IEEE-1394 jacks, also known as Firewire or iLink, which allow convenient, direct digital communication between the camcorder and a computer.


LCD Monitors

One popular feature which has become almost universal on camcorders is the LCD screen. The LCD screens, ranging in size from 2.5 to 4.0 inches, are mini solid-state monitors, similar to the screen in a laptop computer, which swing out from one side of the camcorder body. Some people find it easier to frame their shots in the LCD screens, as opposed to using the viewfinder which means you have to keep the camcorder next to your eye at all times to see what you are shooting. On the other hand, LCD screens burn quite a bit more juice than a viewfinder and will proportionately reduce the run time you get from a battery charge.


Examples of Current Models

The least-expensive camcorders, with prices starting at about $250, are the VHS, VHS-C, and 8mm models. Sony makes a decent, basic 8mm camcorder, the CCD-TR517. Panasonic has a popular line of VHS-C camcorders, starting with the PV-D300. Full-size VHS camcorders are rare, but they haven't completely disappeared yet. Although they're bulky, you can rest a VHS camcorder on your shoulder, making it much easier to get a steady shot than with the smaller, handheld camcorders. Of course, with VHS you can just pop the tape into your home VCR for playback. The VHS-C tapes will also play in your home deck, but you must first put them into a VHS-tape-sized adaptor box. To play back 8mm, Hi8, Digital8, and MiniDV camcorder footage on your TV, you'll have to run a video cable between the camcorder and the TV. The TV's which have audio/video input jacks on the front panel make this much easier.

Going up in quality with the analog decks, you have S-VHS, S-VHS-C, and Hi8. Prices on these camcorders start at about $400. As mentioned above the 1/4-inch, 270,000-pixel CCD chips, in a model such as Sony's CCD-TRV67 Hi8 camcorder, keep these less-expensive units from resolving the full horizontal resolution of which the format is capable. Sony's CCD-TRV87 Hi8 camcorder, with its 1/4-inch, 470,000-pixel chip, can handle the format's full 400 lines.

Next up in quality and price, you have the basic, one-chip digital models. Sony's Digital8 units start at $550 with the Year-2000 model TRV120 and the Year-2001 TRV130 (adds a small built-in light, among other new features). The MiniDV models start at about $600 and include such base models as the Panasonic PV-DV100 and the JVC GR-DVL300. Some of the high-end Hi8 models, such as the feature-laden Sony TRV87, have prices that are a bit higher than those of the entry-level Digital8 camcorders.

Most MiniDV models, such as the Canon ZR10, the Panasonic PV-DV100-800, the JVC GR-DVL500-805, and the Sony DCR-TRV11, sell for around $1,000, more or less. These are all still single-chip models. The most expensive single-chip models are the fancy, compact camcorders (ideal for travel), such as Sony's PC5 and PC100, the Canon Elura 2, and the JVC GR-DVM80, selling in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. The Sony DCR-TRV20 has a price around $1,600.

The best MiniDV camcorders are the three-chip models. The least-expensive of these is Sony's DCR-TRV900 which goes for about $2,000. Sony's semi-pro DCR-VX2000 goes for about $3,200. Canon's GL-1 is about $2,500. The fanciest semi-pro (a.k.a., prosumer) camcorder, the Canon XL-1, features interchangeable lenses. Depending on the kind of lens and accessories you buy with an XL-1, it can cost anywhere from about $4,000 on up to well over $6,000.

Hi!

I'm staying in abu dhabi presently but planning to make my first landing in May2004. I want to buy one camcorder now before leaving. But hte problem is here we get only PAL system but as I know in USA and Canada it is only NTSC system. What should i do ? Shall I buy PAL system only ?]

I am not sure, but when you talk about Camcorder, you should go for digital one - like Mini DV and then you should not have problems with NTSC or PAL.

For analog you will definately have problems.

This is my understading..

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A Proud Indian Canadian

If you buying a Sony one and you want to make VCD or DVD, add another 50- 60 bucks for Firewire port and DV-PC interface cable.

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Cheers!!!!!!!