Sony HDR-CX6
Digital camcorders can be a great personal electronic to have on hand for capturing special moments in the lives of your family and friends. With so many different digital camcorders to choose from, picking the right one can be a fairly tricky task. Asking yourself just a few simple questions about what you're looking for in a camcorder and doing a little bit of research can ensure you get the right digital camcorder to meet your needs.
Determine Your Needs
Determine what you are looking for in a digital camcorder. If you just want to record short videos to put on the Internet then you can probably get by with an inexpensive pocket camcorder. If you're looking to shoot your own independent films, then you will need to purchase a much better camcorder. Make a list of the types of things you're looking to do with your camcorder and what types of features you hope to have in your purchase.
Pick a Format
Select the format you would like for your camcorder to record video onto. There are four main types of digital camcorders: MiniDV, DVD, hard drive and flash. MiniDV camcorders record onto small one-hour tapes that can be removed and saved for archive purposes. DVD camcorders record video onto small 30-to-60-minute DVDs that can be instantly played back using your traditional DVD player. Hard disk and flash camcorders record video onto small hard drives or flash cards. They can typically hold more than 10 hours of footage at a time (sometimes even more than 60 hours) but require you to download video to your computer to archive it or tape to DVD.
Test a Few Models
Visit your local electronics store and try out a few of the camcorder models on the floor. Actually holding the camcorder in your hand can give you a good idea on what size of camcorder you might like to buy and what other features you might be interested in. Write down the model names and numbers for any camcorders that you're particularly interested in.
Read Reviews
Read reviews of the camcorder models you think you might want to buy. Sites such as CamcorderInfo and CNET can offer good professional reviews of products. Try reading some consumer reviews of camcorders as well to get a feel for what average users think about the camcorder.
Compare Prices
Compare prices for the camcorder models you're interested in at a variety of locations before actually making a purchase. Sites such as Pricegrabber offer low prices and links to different retailers who carry the product. Amazon, Newegg and eBay can also be great places to go online to compare prices. Check on the price-matching policy of your local electronics retailer. If you find a low price online, your local electronics store may be willing to match the price or even beat it to keep your business.
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