Tips for Buying a Camcorder by Bill Olson

There’s hardly an upper limit you can spend on a new camcorder. A new high-definition camcorder might cost $90,000 and a DVC-Pro might cost $20,000. A serious videographer of even modest means can easily spend more than $2,000 on a “prosumer” grade camera.

A video producer looking to spend less than $700 will have an easy time selecting a camera if they only want to catch those memorable moments of the kids growing up. If your goal is to record a speech or an interview, or to make a fiction film or documentary, there are some features and accessories you should look for.

All cameras under $1,000 have built-in microphones and automatic functions: focus, iris, etc. Most of these consumer-grade cameras ONLY have automatic functions and no place to plug in an external mic. But the serious videographer/producer needs to have more control over the camera and sound.

The first thing to look for is an external mic jack. The built in mic will not pick up sound with great clarity over a distance. If you are videotaping a speech, an interview, or actors performing for an Oscar, the speaker’s voice level can get quite low. Usually there will be air conditioners, traffic, or other sounds in the background. When filming, you might not notice these other sounds, but on video, they will make it harder to hear the subject.

A headphone jack will also be helpful. Listening while filming will help you know if you’re getting the sound you want with the appropriate quality.

Next, look for switches for manual focus and manual iris. We’ve all enjoyed the benefits of automatic focus, and there are times when it can be used well. But if the light level is low, or there are objects closer to the camera than your subject, the automatic focus can get confused and not know where to focus. This is especially true in low light: the subject will go in and out of focus, which is distracting to watch.

The value of manual iris comes clear if the subject is in front of a bright background, like a window with sunlight streaming through. In these cases, the automatic iris will close down (or “stop down”), leaving your subject darker than you would like. A manual iris can be opened so you can see the subject more clearly, even though the background will be brighter than you’d otherwise prefer.

It’s not enough to have these manual controls. You will also benefit by investing in a microphone, the length of extension cables you think you’ll need, a good headset (preferably one that covers your whole ears) and a good tripod. “Steady shot” is often convenient, but it will not give the stable, professional look that most serious producers need.