T
here was a time when making a camcorder recommendation was
simple: Divide your feature requirements into two lists labeled “must-
have” and “nice-to-have.” Then buy a model that delivers all of the for-
mer and as many of the latter as possible without busting your budget. These
days, making a purchasing decision is a little more diffi cult, thanks to all the
options that have resulted from improvements in technology.
Your fi rst decision, at least, is simple: Go digital. No one should
spend money on an analog camcorder. After that, your choices
become much more complicated. There’s a bewildering array
of models, each with different features, capabilities, and price
tags. In fact, shoppers can choose from 18 different con-
sumer DV cams from Sony alone.
And tape—such as MiniDV—is no longer the only
digital recording medium: Of the six models reviewed
here, for example, one can write directly to either
3-inch DVD-Recordable or DVD-RAM discs, one is
based on fl ash memory, one features an integrated
hard drive, and three use MiniDV tape.
Manufacturers certainly don’t seem interested
in making your decision any easier. Considerthe often bizarre trademarks they use to identify
seemingly common features: We don’t mean to pick
on Sony, but exactly how does its “Advanced Hole
Accumulation Diode” CCD deliver better performance
than other manufacturers’ image sensors?
On the bright side, the huge selection of camcord-
ers on the market means there’s a model to fi t everyone’s
requirements, and you won’t have to pay a bundle for it.
The intense competition helps keep prices in check. We’re
going to provide you with some basic knowledge about the
most important DV-cam specs, conduct hands-on reviews of fi ve
mid-priced consumer DV cams, and then compare these consumer
cams to one very high-end prosumer digital camcorder.
Once you understand the fundamentals and are aware of what’s avail-
able in today’s digital-camcorder market, you’ll stand a much better chance
of buying the model that’s exactly right for you.JANUARY 2006 MA XIMUMPC
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA BERG AND MARK MADEOBY MICHAEL BROWN