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So, you've decided to find out a little more about camcorders? Good move. No family should be without one. Memories come and go. Your children will only be a certain age once, birthdays will only come once, you may never take that vacation ever again, and special occasions will pass by fast and be no more than a figment. Camcorders are the closest thing to capturing reality. It's like having a movie of a significant event.

Don't leave yourself regretting that you've never captured precious memoirs on video. Storing them on videotape will allow you to archive video, watch them whenever you please, and maybe even play around with them and edit, add effects and music. A camcorder is undoubtedly an essential tool for any family in today's world. The type of camcorder you need depends on how you think you'll be using it. Here's a quick guide to help you find out which camcorder is the best for you.

The term Camcorder is derived from two products - a video camera and a video recorder. Integrating those two products into a small, portable unit helped bring about the first camcorder. Over the years camcorders have gotten smaller in size, higher in performance, and amazingly economical in affordability. The Camcorder has completely replaced the movie camera because it has a larger recording capacity and videotape does not require film processing - the images are instantly available.

Latest digital recording technologies allow new levels of sharpness, color saturation, and image resolution that are remarkably better than in the past. Sound performance is comparable to CD quality, with a wide dynamic range. Editing digital video recordings can be extremely easy because each digital camcorder has a special interface port (FireWire) or USB port that can transfer digital signals to DV-equipped home computers. Computers that have either of these ports can communicate with DV Camcorders for custom editing and enhancements.

The distinct advantages of having a USB or Firewire port involve the opportunity of transferring recorded images directly to a PC or Macintosh computer. With various software offerings (some included as part of current computer operating systems), you can edit and enhance your videos. You can also share your videos through E-mail and various websites. Have you heard of You Tube? This is a popular website where people can deposit their videos at no charge for you (and all) to see. It's a really simple and quick way to 'broadcast' and share your videos.

You'll observe, as high-definition camcorders emerge, the association of the camcorder and computer will become more necessary. Both computer-related and camcorder related manufacturers are working toward making this relationship as friendly as possible.

Camcorders are smaller and offer a wide variety of storage possibilities. When it comes to recording videos, they remain the most versatile and efficient means.

Usually the term 'video' is associated with motion, as in movies. All camcorders are capable of recording and playing motion, often at different speeds. Some camcorders may also be able to capture still photo images. Some models capture still images on videotape while others may have a special memory card slot for storage.

Video resolutions generally are up to 640 (or 720) x480 for Standard Definition (480i, 480p). High Definition modes are designed to meet 720p, 1080i, and 1080p resolution standards and are best suited for widescreen TV display. 720p and 1080i are for screens that have about 1366x768 resolution whereas 1080p displays are at 1920x1080.

Still picture resolutions are measured by pixels - the number of dots used to make a picture. Most cameras capture stills at less than 1,000 pixels (megapixel). As you move up the price range, you'll find camcorders that offer more megapixels for finer resolutions.

With few exceptions, camcorders are designed for point-&-shoot capabilities. This means that exposure and focus settings are, for the most part, fully automatic. There may also be manual modes. Macro (close-up) mode is available on most models.

Lux is a standard measure of light and many camcorders promote a very low Lux rating. The rating is based upon how much light is required to produce a recognizable image. Many cameras have a rating of 5 Lux or less. This is comparable to a room lit by one or two candles. There are problems associated with Lux capabilities. A Not all camcorder manufacturers abide by the same parameters to determine the rating. B 1) There is virtually no color recognition and considerable loss of image clarity, when shooting under low-light conditions.

Several camcorders include an integrated video-light. This helps add illumination and enhance color performance under dimly lit conditions. Some camcorders may also offer an infrared capability for nightvision - capable of capturing a video image in total darkness. In most cases, the image must be within 10 feet of the camera and tends to be monochromatic (black & white).

While virtually all camcorders are sensitive to record under virtually every lighting condition, there will be a loss of color integrity where available light is rather low. For those considering best quality images under low available light, consider adding optional video or photo lights and reflectors.

All camcorders include an integrated lens and a zoom capability to help bring distant objects closer. This is also known as Optical Zoom because the magnification is associated with the properties of the lens. Usually, optical zoom capabilities range from 10x to 25x (x = times) and beyond. Optical zoom provides a range of optic opportunities to shoot videos at very wide angles (for landscapes) and for telephoto (getting an image of a bird moving on a tree branch 300 feet away). The 'x' factor represents the range of the optical zoom lens on that camera. With only a few exceptions, you cannot replace the lens that your camera comes with.

Some lenses may allow the addition of optional filters and adapters for other optical effects. Many camcorders offer a menu of built-in special effect features so filters aren't ordinarily required.

Many camcorders also have the ability to digitally amplify the optical image. This is known as Digital Zoom. It brings distant objects even closer than you can get with your optical zoom system (lens). Many cameras have digital zoom magnifications that range from 50x up to 400x. While it offers optimal magnification performance, there is a degradation of optical quality as the digital zoom enhancement increases.

Digital Zoom should not be confused with optical zoom. They are two completely different concepts. Digital zoom magnifies the optical image and works by cropping and interpolating the pixel resolutions down to make parts of the image larger. It is used more for viewing videos than shooting them.

Camcorders are most frequently used when they're hand-held. Hands normally have a certain degree of shaking and this can jar the recorded image. Several camcorders have integrated systems to automatically compensate for these movements. There are three systems that are often used for stabilizing images:

Electronic Image Stabilization

Uses an electronic circuit to detect and compensate for any shake that seems unnatural.

Digital Image Stabilization

A digital program compensates for camera shake, but will not overcompensate when you pan or tilt the camera.

Optical Image Stabilization

Compensates for unnatural shaking using a series of optical devices either through the lens or through the CCD (the camcorder's electric eye).

Most cameras include a selection of special effects for on-camera use. These may include a variety of fades and wipes for customizable scene transitions. Some offer color variations including monochromatic sepia tones for antique black-&-white imaging. You can also add titles.

Many users choose to edit and enhance their videos off-camera by transferring images to a computer. There are many software applications designed for amateur and professional use that enable remarkable effect integration for vastly improved videos.

In most cases, camcorders are designed to fit in the palm of your hand. Their sizes range from the type of recording media used.

Camcorders that use memory cards exclusively for video recording are so small they can be pocket sized or, more appropriately, purse size. That's because most memory cards are about the size of a postage stamp (or smaller). Memory cards offer limited capacity from 512MB to about 8GB storage. Depending on resolution, that's up to about an hour of high-quality standard definition video with an 8GB card, or up to about 5 hours in long play (lower quality) mode. Most computers have memory-card reader slots built-in. This offers a very direct transfer of recorded images directly to your PC or Mac.

Those that use DVD discs or MiniDV tapes tend to be on the larger end because space is required for the insertion of the recording media. A typical camcorder DVD (3 inches or 8 centimeters diameter) can hold up to 1.4 GB of storage, is relatively inexpensive, and can be viewed directly to TV on most DVD players. Subsequently, your computer can also read these discs on its DVD drive for transfer to your PC or Mac.

A MiniDV tape can hold up to 13GB of storage per tape. That makes it the most efficient recording media. Unfortunately, transfer to your computer or play to your TV requires use of the camcorder as a player.

A few camcorders use built-in hard drives. These use no removable media. They are smaller than DVD or MiniDV camcorders but larger than those that use Memory Cards. Typical models have capacities of 30GB and higher. This permits 10 hours or more video recording capability. In this case, transfer to a computer using USB or Firewire is absolutely necessary. That's the only way you can clear recorded space on your camcorder's hard drive.

Virtually all camcorders have a viewfinder so you can see what you're shooting. Inside the viewfinder you see a very small television-like image. Almost all camcorders include an attached LCD color screen that is usually attached to the side of the camera with a swiveling hinge. The size of this LCD screen can vary, depending on the make and model, from around 2 inches to about 4 inches. This LCD often acts as an accessory to the viewfinder. You can use it like a video monitor, when recording. You can also playback your video to see how it came out. The reason why one would still use the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen is to extend battery life, since the LCD screen uses a lot of power to run. Many camcorder models that have this feature may also have an integrated speaker so you can hear the audio, as well.

Most camcorders include an AC adapter/charger along with a rechargeable Battery pack. You usually can expect the supplied battery to last about 1 to 2 hours per charge. In most cases, manufacturers offer other batteries (optional) that have the ability to last longer per charge. These batteries usually follow a rating system based on mAh (milliamps per hour). A 1200 mAh battery lasts about 2 hours, 2400 mAh lasts about 4 hours, but this can vary greatly from one camcorder to another. .

In the United States, all video equipment (Television, VCR, Camcorder) are calibrated to a broadcast standard: NTSC. In Europe and Asia, different broadcast standards are used and, depending on the country, may be PAL or SECAM. Each of these systems use different video parameters. These systems are not compatible with one another. In rare cases, there may be a camcorder that has a circuit allowing adaptability to different systems. The majority of the camcorders that we offer are designed for NTSC.

Emerging alongside broadcast standards is High Definition. This is designed for use with TV models that are capable of displaying 720p, 1080i, and 1080p widescreen video. Even these may be subject to different international criteria.

NTSC generally provides about 300 lines of horizontal video resolution. VHS, VHS-C and 8mm tape formats can generally meet this standard. Hi-8mm and SVHS-C offer close to 400 lines. Digital Video formats (MiniDV and Digital-8) can offer around 500 lines of horizontal resolution and high definition (HD) records at up to 1080 lines of resolution. This is best observed on a high-resolution television. Higher resolutions mean more information and that could be defined as more color, more visual detail, higher contrast.

You also have the option to record in 16:9 (widescreen) which is great for recording sporting events, such as football or soccer, so that now you can get the whole field in one wide shot at a closer vantage point than the distant wide shots we have been used to. Or record in 4:3 (standard) ratio if your TV is not widescreen.

Virtually all camcorder models include an integrated microphone. In most cases, it records in stereo. This microphone is usually omnidirectional. This means that it picks up all sound within its capturing range. If you wanted to record or emphasize certain sounds, you would need to use a more directional microphone. Each camcorder has a port for adding an optional microphone.

When discussing camcorder size, we touched on the different types of media camcorders may use and how they influence camcorder size and weight. The type of storage media camcorders use and understanding their differences are essential.

Camcorders offer recording at different speeds. Depending on the make and model, you might have two to four speeds to choose. The recording method is digital. This means that quality and recording time are dependent on how many bits of information are recorded in a given second. For Standard Definition, speeds are measured at thousands of bits per second (Kb). Available storage is measured by how many billions of bits (Gb) are available for use. High quality video requires a higher rate of Kb per second while lower quality video uses fewer Kb per second. So the time (Gb) capacity of your media is proportional to your recording speed. A 1.4GB DVD, for example, may deliver 30 minutes to 120 minutes of recording, depending on the speed used. Overall time capacity depends on recording quality.

For most cases, 30 minutes to 120 minutes of recording is adequate, especially when using replaceable media. Planning long trips requires bringing along an adequate media supply.

There are many different ways of storing video and audio in a camcorder: hard drive, mini-DV, DVD and Media Card are the leading ways of storage. With High Definition capability, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD disc media will be joining the group.

Using a camcorder that uses a hard drive disk can store over 40 hours of video in long play (LP), lower quality mode that you can then either view on the TV or transfer video in a computer to edit and then burn on a DVD disk. While the hard drive camcorder is neat and small, the media is finite and not replaceable. If you are traveling over a long time, you need to carry a computer or other storage device to transfer memory and, thus, clear space on the camcorder's hard drive, especially if you're recording at a faster high quality (HQ) speed.

MiniDV camcorders use many different sized tapes that can record up to 120 minutes in LP mode. Tough popular, tapes are susceptible to quality degradation due to long periods of time and environmental conditions. Tape quality can be compromised in extremely hot or cold conditions. Though the camcorder can transfer recorded images to a computer via USB or Firewire connections, there are virtually no MiniDV drives available for direct input to a PC or TV. While MiniDV tapes can store up to 13GB of information, the method is sequential - following the successive path of the tape. So not only do the number of Kb per second influence recording capacity, it is also the inches per second of available tape used. MiniDV tape can be recorded more than once.

DVD disks, at typical capacities of about 1.4GB, offer comparable recording capacities as MiniDV. It's simple to take the DVD out of the camcorder and play it in most DVD players for view on TV. It can also be read directly to your computer in virtually any DVD drive. Most DVD camcorder media is designed for one-time recording. The DVD must be finalized at the end of recording it, a process making the DVD no longer recordable, using a simple camcorder function. The finalization process requires some memory space to be used. DVD discs do not degrade over time and are less sensitive to extreme weather conditions. Scratches can damage DVD discs so care is urged in proper handling. If you plan to store DVDs, buying a reliable disc file is suggested.

You can also store video onto Secure Digital (SD) or Memory stick (MS) media cards. With a 8GB SD or MS card you can hold up to 5 hours of video in LP mode. The media is replaceable and can be rerecorded thousands of times with no degradation. Its tiny size allows the camcorder to be nearly pocket sized. Flash memory is very stable and not vulnerable to scratches or extreme temperatures. Most computers have a slot to read directly off the memory card. Price per GB is higher than DVD and MiniDV.

Another camcorder has emerged. It uses Flash memory but is limited to what has been built-in to the unit. Negligibly the lightest and smallest camcorder, it can come with up to 2GB of memory. Memory capacity is not expandable. It has a USB port for direct transfer with a computer, which allows user to clear the camcorder's built-in memory, which may be used and re-used many times.

There are a variety of accessories available for camcorders:

Replacement batteries

There are replacement battery packs available and, for many models, there are rechargeable batteries with longer power capacities than that of the standard battery. If possible, get an extra battery recharger. You may also consider a universal recharger like the iGo in case of emergency.

Cases

We strongly advise that you should consider getting a carrying case for your camcorder. There are many types and sizes. Apart from adding convenience while carrying your camera from place to place, cases also protect cameras from dust and accidental bumps, while being stored.

Tripods

Although many camcorder models include image stabilization, a tripod may be extremely helpful when doing more critical video photography. You can also use a tripod to just mount the camcorder, turn it on, and allow yourself to be part of the action. Another use for a tripod is one with a fluid type head. This will allow you to tilt and pan the camera smoothly, adding a professional look to your shots.

Lights

Though many camcorders are designed for use in low-light situations, several models may include a built-in color-enhancement light. Using brighter lighting improves color and image clarity. There are many external lights available that can connect to video cameras.

Recording Media

J&R offers a wide selection of videotape for all camcorder formats. There are often different grades of quality available, from standard- to high-grade, for regular to professional performance. DVD-R, -RW, +RW & +R DL are needed when you use a DVD camcorder. The differences between a R and RW is one is write once and the other one is read writable meaning you can erase and reuse. There are also many digital memory cards with different capacities, readily available.

Always make sure you have extra media on hand.

Replacement Power Cords

As a rule, camcorders usually include a standard rechargeable battery pack and an AC adapter/charger. Some manufacturers may also offer optional accessories for international voltage use or for operating camcorder from your car or boat.

Remote Control

Several camcorders may also allow remote control operation. For those particular models, there may be replacement remote controls available, at additional cost.

Connectivity

Camcorders have many different ways of connecting to different devices. The common connection would be to the home TV set; here you can connect from the camcorder to TV with audio outputs, S-Video, Component and the newest HDMI connections on the camcorder. For tips on how to connect a camcorder and what audio / video wires work the best, go to our Monster Connection Center for color diagrams, articles and tips. Another device to connect to is a home PC; here you can use USB or IEEE-1394 (Firewire) connections. This interface, commonly known as FireWire or I.LINK, is standard on most new computers, but if you don't have one you can easily add one to a notebook or inside a desktop computer.

Video Editing

Once you have your video on the PC, video content can be edited, converted for Internet use, or even burned to a DVD. This allows the creation of a digital editing studio at your home or office. Several camcorders include software for this purpose. We also offer advanced digital video software (Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut Pro) for those seeking professional caliber performance. With software you can create and share great looking movies in minutes with popular video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Elements. You can add amazing audio and video effects and share movies on DVD disc and on websites. Turn all your video clips into a polished movie in just a few drags and clicks. With the right video software you can apply transitions, music score, sound effects, titles and add a DVD menu to your home movies to easily access them on the DVD player.

While many camcorders may include editing software, both Windows and Mac OSX versions include built-in video edit software.

Publishing on Websites

Sharing video has never been easier. You can download it to your computer and attach it to email. There are also various websites where you can introduce your video to the world.

Want to be recognized for something cool that you just filmed or something funny that your pet did or have a great idea to be shared with millions of people around the world, YouTube is your answer. Just go on the web and enter HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com" www.youtube.com and register. Once you have a free account with YouTube you can now upload 1GB of video at a time to their website. Once you have finished creating your video you need to save it as .MOV, .AVI, .WMV, .MPG or for best results YouTube recommends MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid) format at 640x480 resolution with MP3 audio. Once you have the video in acceptable format you can now upload it one of two ways. If the file is less than 100MB and not more than 10mins long, all you would need to do is click the "Upload Videos" in the upper right hand corner on the YouTube page, enter as much information about your video as possible, including Title, Description, Tags, and Category. Then click the "Upload a Video" button. In the next window, click the "Browse" button to browse for the video file, then select the file you want to upload and click the "Upload Video" button, now your done. For files greater than 100MB you can download/install the YouTube Uploader software to allow you to send files up to 1GB in size.

If you prefer to use YouTube as an album for your videos, without sharing them with the public, that option is available. Simply go to your "My Videos" section and code the video as Private. You may also list only those who you authorize to view the video. YouTube

If you don't want to use YouTube to host your videos, there are other websites such as Google Video and Yahoo Video that offer similar features as YouTube.

Many cameras have a multifunction LCD screen that displays tape used, remaining battery power, among other things.

There are a variety of accessories available for camcorders:

Replacement Batteries
There are replacement battery packs available and, for many models, there are rechargeable batteries with longer power capacities than that of the standard battery.

Cases
We strongly advise that you should consider getting a carrying case for your camcorder. There are many types and sizes. Apart from adding convenience while carrying your camera from place to place, cases also protect cameras from dust and accidental bumps, while being stored.

Tripods
Although many camcorder models include image stabilization, a tripod may be extremely helpful when doing more critical video photography. You can also use a tripod to just mount the camcorder, turn it on, and allow yourself to be part of the action.

Lights
Though many camcorders are designed for use in low-light situations, several models may include a built-in color-enhancement light. Using brighter lighting improves color and image clarity. There are many external lights available that can connect to video cameras.

Tapes
J&R offers a wide selection of video tape for all camcorder formats. There are often different grades of quality available, from standard- to high-grade, for regular to professional performance.

Replacement Power Cords
As a rule, camcorders usually include a standard rechargeable battery pack and an AC adapter/charger. Some manufacturers may also offer optional accessories for international voltage use or for operating camcorder from your car or boat.

Remote Control
Several camcorders may also allow remote control operation. For those particular models, there may be replacement remote controls available, at additional cost.