Capture memories without hassle
Elegant high-definition Flip is an easy favorite; fancier videocams deliver a wealth of options
In the 1970s, people gathered in their living rooms to watch grainy home movies filmed on Super 8 cameras. In the 1980s, they carried clunky video cameras on their shoulders and popped cassettes into VCR machines. In the 1990s, they burned DVDs with rudimentary digital recorders.
Today, they're using HD, or high-definition, camcorders to upload videos to YouTube.
Affordable, hand-held digital camcorders are now common, giving almost everyone a chance to easily capture Christmas morning memories or play Hollywood director in the backyard. But the variety of options with camcorders is intimidating. Different ways of storing videos, picture quality, and other things might lead some to believe they aren't sophisticated enough to understand the devices.
In truth, camcorders are easy to use. Even the most complicated sport buttons that put them on autopilot, taking care of focus, color, and light for you. Transferring video files from the camera to one's television or computer is easy, too. Even the most technologically challenged can learn after a few attempts.
Jeffrey Kalloo, customer experience manager at Best Buy in Framingham, said camcorders are popular among divergent groups who take advantage of the devices' portability, from new mothers documenting their children's lives to college students posting videos on Facebook. "Almost any camcorder these days will fit into a very small bag, including a purse," he said.
Prospective buyers should determine what they want to record and whether they intend to store and edit videos on their computers, Kalloo said. That determines whether they should purchase a simple or a fancy device. "It's really based on where they are at in their life," he said. "They might not want to have all the bells and whistles."
We tested four camcorders that can be purchased from Best Buy: Pure Digital's Flip Video MinoHD, for $229.99; JVC's Everio G, for $479.99; Samsung's High-Definition Digital Camcorder, for $722.49; and Sony's Handycam, at $809.99.
All are high-definition cameras except the Everio G, which is SD, or standard definition. HD cameras shoot images of at least 720 lines of resolution, a measure of detail on a television screen. But many can produce streams of 1,080 lines. An SD camera like the Everio G, meanwhile, records at 480 lines of resolution, the same amount as most regular, non-HD televisions.
We chose Pure Digital's Flip Video MinoHD as the best in our test. First, it was downright affordable, compared to its competitors. Second, it was a breeze to use, both for making videos and for organizing files on a computer. Lastly, its design was major selling point. Sleek and tiny, the Flip fits nicely into spaces that accommodate mobile phones or other personal electronic devices.
PURE DIGITAL FLIP VIDEO MINOHD
Cost: $229.99
Pros: We loved this one. It's elegantly simple, with a single big red button on the back that starts the camera rolling. It's also the size of mobile phone and light, weighing only 3.3 ounces. Its battery lasts for around two hours, too, so it's no slouch. Slide a switch and a USB plug pops out of the top. You plug it directly into your computer and the editing and organizing software appears, including applications that allow for direct transfer of files to YouTube, AOL, and other Internet platforms.
Cons: The Flip shoots in 720 lines of resolution, enough to qualify as HD but less than the Samsung's 1,080 lines. Its screen is a thumbnail that might have some users squinting. It can record no more than one hour of video, and other than zooming in and out, you can't tweak the video.
Final word: Cheap. Easy to use. Great, if you don't want to be too ambitious.
SAMSUNG HIGH-DEFINITION DIGITAL CAMCORDER
Cost: $722.49
Pros: This HD camera can be converted to SD quality, giving users more video footage (because SD takes up less space than HD). Its battery lasts for about 85 minutes, and it carries 8 GB of memory, which accommodates movies that can be as long as 70 minutes in HD format and four hours in SD. It also has the best perks of other camcorders: Its screen swivels, it takes still photos, can accommodate a memory card, and can be hooked up to a television and controlled with a remote. Its menu provides plenty of options, like adjustments for filming on a bright or cloudy day, but not enough to be overwhelming.
Cons: While the camera has a flash, it doesn't have a light for filming in the dark. We also suspect its Velcro strap won't last as long as the rest of the camcorder.
Final word: An excellent option for those seeking a top-of-the-line camcorder that isn't too complicated.
JVC'S EVERIO G
Cost: $479.99
Pros: We found the Everio to have the most intuitive screen menu, which is navigated by an easy-to-use scroll bar. It also has a powerful light for nighttime filming. But its greatest asset was its 80 GB of memory, enough for 100 hours of video at its economy setting. Its best-quality setting allowed for around 20 hours of video. Like the Flip, it comes with software that allows for easy YouTube uploads.
Cons: The Everio is SD, so videos filmed on it won't maximize the quality of HD televisions.
Final word: If you're seeking endurance, you've come to the right place.
SONY HANDYCAM
Cost: $809.99
Pros: The Handycam is comfortable. It's held like a gun. One literally points and shoots, a position that's easier on the wrist than the sideways grip of the other camcorders (besides the Flip, which shoots images like a mobile phone camera). It can also be set to HD with 1,080 lines of resolution or SD for 95 minutes to two hours of recording time, respectively. Its touch-screen menu also has nifty options the others lack, like shooting in sepia.
Cons: Unless it's always left on "easy" mode, the Handycam has myriad video options that might be lost on the technically challenged. Also, to hook it up to a computer, one needs to first plug it into a stand that in turn has a USB cable. That could be a hassle for anyone seeking to shoot video and transfer files on the go.
Final word: A solid machine that's good for the more serious amateur filmmaker.
