| There has been such rapid changes and | | | | camcorders are just more advanced, better quality |
| improvements in the field of camcorders over the last | | | | versions of an 8mm camcorder that produces the |
| ten years or so that it may be confusing when you | | | | very best picture and sound that you can get this side |
| start looking to buy one today. There are a handful of | | | | of digital itself. |
| competing formats that you should be aware of and | | | | * Digital camcorders - These are currently the most |
| know what they mean before you buy. So here is a | | | | expensive camcorders available but they are also |
| digital camcorders review on what you should know | | | | becoming surprisingly more affordable too as time |
| before you buy: | | | | goes on. They record video images in digital format |
| * First of all the old bulky VHS camcorders of | | | | which allows them to be much more vivid and sharp, |
| yesteryear are gone. They have given way to much | | | | and the sound is vastly improved over the old analog |
| improved versions that are lighter, smaller and produce | | | | camcorders. Because everything is recorded digitally |
| much better video. However, you can still use VHS | | | | there is no loss of detail when copies are made and |
| tapes for playback if you choose a VHS-C type of | | | | this is a big advantage for some. Of course digital files |
| camcorder. This is an analog camcorder that records | | | | themselves would take up huge amounts of disk |
| to tape that can be used in a VCR but the tape itself | | | | space, so most digital camcorders still record to tape |
| is small and compact to eliminate the big bulk of the old | | | | for the extra storage space capacity that tapes offer. |
| VHS camcorders, Once you record the video, you just | | | | The miniDV category of digital camcorders is |
| place it into an adapter that lets you pop it into the | | | | extremely small and records to tapes that are even |
| VCR just as you would with any movie and view your | | | | smaller than 8mm, while still recording hours worth of |
| video. Although they are small and compact, these are | | | | video at a time. |
| some of the most inexpensive camcorders that are | | | | So many people think that all camcorders they find are |
| available today and can be had for just a couple | | | | now digital camcorders, but as this digital camcorders |
| hundred dollars at many places both online and offline. | | | | review indicates, you can still run across a lot of analog |
| * 8mm camcorders also record to tape but the tapes | | | | camcorders out there as well, and they are usually |
| are even smaller than those used by VHS-C | | | | easily spotted by their lower price. If they will do the |
| camcorders. The disadvantage is that you can not | | | | job for you, that may be all you need. But if you want |
| play them through the VCR, but you can connect the | | | | the best audio and video possible consider either the |
| camcorder straight to the TV and play it that way. Hi8 | | | | miniDV or the 8mm digital camcorder instead. |