Lab

Camcorders

Websites such as YouTube have reignited enthusiasm for amateur movie-making. You can shoot something in the afternoon, edit it in the evening and have it online for the world to see before bedtime. It's an incredible idea, and all you need is a basic video camera and a PC.

Most people use their camcorders to record once-in-a-lifetime occasions such as exotic holidays, weddings or children's birthdays. These are priceless memories and you'll only get one shot at capturing them. Thankfully, modern camcorders are simple to operate, so you shouldn't miss that special moment.

In this month's Labs we have 12 camcorders, costing from just £140 including VAT and ranging from tape-based budget models to camcorders with hard disks capable of shooting high-definition video. Whether you're an internet video pioneer or just a doting parent, there's a camcorder here for you.

All camcorders are designed to record video, but there's still an amazing variety of models available. This buying guide will explain all the terminology you need to know, and help you choose the right model for your needs.

High standards

Most camcorders can shoot video compatible with the PAL TV format. This has a resolution of 720x576 pixels, and consists of 50 interlaced frames per second. Interlacing is when each whole frame is recorded and stored as two fields, each of which is made up of only half the picture, so there are actually only 25 full frames captured per second. This standard-definition video will play on any TV with an appropriate video input.

Many of us have now upgraded to high-definition (HD) TVs, and if you haven't got one yet, then the chances are that your next TV will be high definition. HD camcorders have been available for a number of years now, but they're still relatively expensive compared to standard definition models. Resolutions and frame rates vary from model to model, but 1,920x1,080 pixels is a common standard, and gives the user five times the resolution of a standard definition camcorder's image.

It is worth noting that a higher resolution doesn't necessarily mean higher-quality video. However, you'll certainly appreciate the extra pixels when watching your recording on a large HD TV - which is almost certain to be the case when you're viewing your recordings in years to come.

Sensor sensibility

Whether you're after a standard-definition or HD camcorder, it's the sensor behind the lens that makes it all possible. This detects the light coming through the lens, which the camcorder processes into video for storage. Physical size, not the number of megapixels, is the most important specification for a camcorder sensor. A bigger sensor can capture more light and use it to generate an image with good detail and more accurate colours.

Most camcorders use a single CCD or CMOS sensor, which has an RGB filter to determine colour. However, some camcorders have a prism that splits the incoming light so it falls on three separate sensors, one each for red, green and blue. These three-CCD camcorders generally have superior colour accuracy and perform better in low light than single-sensor models.

Store cupboard

Though an HD camcorder with a big sensor is undoubtedly a good thing, storage formats can be more a matter of personal taste. Until recently, the vast majority of camcorders used MiniDV tapes to store video, but now the choices are far wider.

A MiniDV tape can store 60 minutes of footage, regardless of whether it's standard or high definition. Standard-definition video is stored in the DV format, which uses minimal video compression for great results. HD video is stored using the MPEG2-based High Definition Video (HDV) standard, which is much easier to edit than the more highly compressed Advanced Video Compression High Definition (AVCHD) format. However, the downside to tapes is that they are rather bulky, you can transfer video to a PC only in real time and you need to fast-forward and rewind them to find the parts you want.

DVD camcorders store MPEG2 video on 8cm DVD media. It's a very convenient storage method for those who want to shoot video and then play it back on a DVD player without editing. However, the small DVDs hold only 20 minutes of footage at the highest quality settings, so you'll need a bagful if you're keen to video your entire holiday. All the DVD camcorders we've seen record only standard-definition video using MPEG2 compression.

The increasing size of memory cards has made them ideal for use in compact camcorders. After recording video to a memory card, you can simply slot it into a PC's memory card reader, extract the files, edit the footage or burn it straight to DVD for long-term archiving. Both standard-definition and HD models are available, usually using MPEG2 and AVCHD compression respectively.

If you plan on shooting a lot of video, or don't want the hassle of removable media, then a hard disk is ideal. It can hold many hours of footage, even if it's high-quality HD video. Then you simply connect the camcorder to your PC via USB to archive or edit your footage. Both standard and high-definition models are available.

Ports and cables

All the models here have USB Hi-Speed ports to connect to a PC. MiniDV camcorders often have FireWire ports as well. We're happy to say we didn't have any problems transferring files from any of our test camcorders.

Sometimes you simply want to play back video you've just shot. In this case, it can be easier to hook up your camcorder to a TV using its video and audio outputs. All camcorders have AV outputs, which combine composite video and phono stereo, and these can be connected to the red, white and yellow inputs on most TVs. Some camcorders also have S-video outputs, which give a clearer picture. The HD camcorders use HDMI and component outputs for connecting to HD TVs.

Audio check

We tested each of the camcorders for audio quality. None of them was particularly outstanding, though all managed to capture speech and music clearly enough. If you want high-quality sound then you should invest in an external microphone, but make sure your chosen camcorder has a microphone input. The table shows which connections each camcorder has.

Alternatively, you can use a specially designed microphone that is compatible with your camcorder's accessory shoe. Both Sony and Canon make these.

Assault and battery

There's nothing more frustrating than running out of power at a crucial moment. We've tested all the supplied batteries by leaving the camcorders filming continuously. However, in real-world use, when you're using the zoom and autofocus, you can expect to get about two-thirds of this figure. A wide range of spare batteries, both official and third party, are available for most of the models here. We've indicated in the reviews where it's possible to fit a larger replacement.