Analog Camcorder: Research your needs

In order to end up with the analog camcorder best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of analog camcorders are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in an analog camcorder.

Research the Market: Analog Camcorder essentials

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the analog camcorder market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Format: The available formats are VHS, VHS-C, Super VHS, 8mm and Hi8. Full size VHS camcorders use a tape format that is compatible with any VCR. VHS tapes are cheap, widely available and will play in any VCR. VHS tapes have up to four hours of recording time but the audio and video quality is inferior to Super VHS and Hi8 recording.

Super VHS (SVHS) is a high quality VHS recorder and is often used by professionals. They are more expensive than regular VHS. SVHS camcorders can also use VHS tapes but you will not get the same quality as you can with SVHS tapes. You will also need to have cables to connect your camcorder to your standard VCR player, or a Super VHS VCR, to play Super VHS tapes.

VHS-C is a VHS tape in a smaller cassette. The cassette fits into a VHS adapter and allows it to be played in a standard VCR player. The playing time for these cassettes is 30 minutes, but they are much lighter than the full size tapes, making them perfect for travel.

The 8mm and Hi8 camcorders are more compact than VHS but you have to hook the recorder to the TV or VCR to play the tapes. Hi8 is a superior format to 8mm tapes in terms of recording at a higher resolution. In fact, the Hi8 format is the highest quality that you can get without going digital. It is small, lightweight and more expensive than VHS or regular 8mm.

Viewfinder: Camcorders have eyepieces that are black and white or color. Some models also have an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen which allows you to see what you're recording without using the viewfinder.

Optical and Digital Zoom: Many camcorders are equipped with zoom capability. Zoom allows you to magnify your subject and is great for filming sporting games, weddings and similar events. The camcorder may have optical zoom, digital zoom or both. Optical zoom provides higher quality but is typically not higher than 24x. Digital zoom degrades the quality of the image at high magnification. But some camcorders have high powered digital zoom ranging from 150x up to 1000x.

Power Source: Most camcorders run on rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries. They typically run for two hours. Some camcorders include chargers, A/C adapters and even car adapters.

Image Stabilization: This feature helps to reduce most of the shaking from “camera shake” when holding the camcorder to record. You can get electronic, optical or digital stabilization. An optical stabilizer uses the camcorder's lens to compensate for external movement, and is typically found on higher end or professional camcorders as it is expensive and it adds to the camera's weight. Electronic and digital image stabilization electronically adjusts to compensate for shaking and digital also senses when you pan or tilt the camcorder so it does not overcompensate.

Exposure Modes: Most camcorders automatically adjust exposure modes, but some models have special settings such as backlight adjustment. Some also allow you to manually adjust focus and exposure.

Microphones: Microphones are built into the camera but some more expensive models provide the ability to connect external microphones.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in an analog camcorder. For example, will you use the analog camcorder only for recording those special occasions or is it a hobby? Do you want special editing features such as flying erase head? Do you want the ability to dub audio? What tape format do you prefer?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have you used an analog camcorder before?
	If you have used an analog camcorder, work out what you did or didn't like about the camcorder. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

What tape format do you prefer?
	Full size VHS will play in any VCR, VHS Compact requires an adapter.

How will you be using the camcorder?
	Casual users may not need special editing functions.

Will you travel with your camcorder?
	The VHS-C is much lighter than the full size, but the tapes require an adapter for playback. Camcorders can weigh from as little as several ounces up to as much as three pounds (1.4kg).

Do you want dual viewing screens?
	Some camcorders have the traditional flip up screen on top and a larger flip open view screen on the side.

Do you want connectivity for an external microphone?
	Most cameras come with an inbuilt microphone, but some allow for a detached microphone.

Do you want to take still photos?
	The still photos remain on the tape, but some users find this a fun feature.

Do you want security recording?
	Recording is triggered by audio or motion.

Do you want manual override controls?
	You might want to be able to adjust the focus and exposure, or to change the white balance or color settings.

How much do you want to spend?
	You may want connectivity for an external microphone, the ability to manually adjust the focus and exposure or to take still photos. Fancy features and extras can cost you more.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of analog camcorders and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Analog Sony camcorder - User Review
This is a Sony CCD-TRV67 Analog Camcorder. This is a camcorder that has the best features and the best price. (1m .31s)