It's important to know what to look for when choosing a digital camcorder. A digital camcorder captures sound and images by converting them to digital files that you can store and edit on a computer. At a minimum, a digital camcorder offers a lens, a microphone, a zoom function, an LCD screen for recording and viewing and basic playback options. High-end digital camcorders will include additional microphone jacks and manual controls for shutter speed and focus.

Image quality is the primary concern when shopping for a digital camcorder and quality is determined by the lens and the digital technology. Less-expensive models have lower-quality lenses that may not work well in low light or at long distances. Spending more may get you a better lens, or it may get you an average lens with a lot of features you don’t need. Know what you’re paying for, and be willing to sacrifice convenience features for a digital camcorder with a better lens.

Digital Camcorder CCD Chips
Every digital camcorder uses charged-coupled devices (CCDs) to convert light into digital data. Most digital camcorders have either a single CCD chip that does all the work or three CCD chips that process red, blue and green separately. Three-CCD digital camcorders produce the best possible image quality often work better in low light and at longer distances, but you’ll pay a lot more for this technology.

For family events or video that you plan to post on the Web, a single CCD digital camcorder is an excellent choice. If you need the digital camcorder for business presentations or professional purposes, you’ll want a three-CCD model.

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