| Buying a Mini DV camcorder is like buying a car: though | | | | Because you'll be using more accessories at this level, |
| the priciest models cost eight times as much as the | | | | you'll want an accessory shoe to hold a movie light or |
| cheapest, they all have essentially the same parts and | | | | an external microphone. The Sony DCR-TRV17 and |
| they kook similar to the uninitiated. So why spring | | | | the Canon Elura 10 both have this desirable feature. A |
| $4,995 for a JVC GY-DV500U when a Samsung | | | | headphone jack is indispensable for any serious sound |
| SCD67 has an MSRP of $600? | | | | recording: think of headphones as a viewfinder for |
| Or, to go even further, why not just get a nice analog | | | | your ears. Most models in this range include them but a |
| camcorder for $300 on the street? The short answer | | | | few omit this basic accessory. |
| is, if you don't plan to copy or edit your tapes, go right | | | | In the $1,000 to $2,000 range, look for two very |
| ahead: the quality of Hi8 camcorders is quite good. | | | | desirable editing features: remote controls anddocking |
| Otherwise, Mini DV is an overwhelmingly superior | | | | stations. The JVC GR-DVM55 has both. In shooting, a |
| format because you can make exact digital copies, | | | | remote is useful for wildlife photography and other |
| you can make edits without loosing quality and (with | | | | special applications. In editing, however, it is essential, |
| some maintenance) you can make your precious | | | | because you can set your camcorder safely aside |
| videos last forever. Also, the ability to connect with a | | | | and run all its controls from the remote. |
| single cable and edit digital footage with an up-to-date | | | | A docking station works just like the same animal on a |
| desktop computer is amazingly powerful, even with | | | | laptop. Instead of wrangling spaghetti cords and tiny |
| software you canlearn in an hour. | | | | plugs and sockets every time you lash up your edit rig, |
| So let's make a quick survey of the Mini DV format, to | | | | just plug everything permanently into the docking base |
| help you decide how much camcorder to buy and | | | | and then attach the camcorder when you are ready |
| how much to pay for it. | | | | to edit. |
| For the Casual Shooter | | | | For the Budding Professional |
| Today, you can find many fine DV camcorders for | | | | Camcorders between $2,000 and $5,000 are intended |
| $1,000 or less, all chocka-block with nifty features. | | | | for the dedicated amateur, for education, corporate |
| Models like the Panasonic PV-DV101, the RCA | | | | and government applications and even broadcasting. |
| CC9360 and several others use imaging chips (CCDs) | | | | The quality imaging of many of these camcorders |
| with a generous 680,000 pixels, which produce very | | | | comes from a three-chip design. By directing each |
| high-quality video images. | | | | primary color of white light to its own dedicated CCD, |
| A few entry-level cameras lack some useful features | | | | they obtain better color and higher resolution than |
| that might be found in a more expensivecamcorder. If | | | | single-CCD camcorders. |
| you just want to point and push, you may not miss the | | | | High-end camcorders also add key professional |
| lack of manual shutter, iris, focus or white balance; but | | | | features. The Canon XL1S for example, offers |
| you can't take control of your camcorder without | | | | interchangeable professional-grade lenses, including |
| them. Many models lack analog (S-video and/or | | | | several designed for it, in particular. |
| composite) inputs, which means you cannot copy your | | | | Another major improvement is in professional XLR |
| old tapes to the camera in order to convert them to | | | | microphone inputs, which are far superior to amateur |
| the DV format for archiving. | | | | mini-plugs for many reasons. In addition, one model, the |
| The Canon ZR20 is one of several models with a | | | | JVC JY-VS200U, includes an audio level meter built |
| color viewfinder, which is better than black and white | | | | right into the viewfinder. |
| because it shows a truer picture of what you're | | | | Finally, some high-end models use optical image |
| getting (external screens are not as accurate | | | | stabilization instead of electronic. Though bothsystems |
| asinternal finders.) | | | | work well, the optical approach generally results in |
| Finally, a couple of camcorders in the under-S1000 | | | | higher resolution and higher video quality. |
| category, like the Sharp VL-WD450U, can capture stills | | | | Last but far from least, the best Mini DV camcorders |
| on memory sticks that can be inserted in card readers | | | | are engineered and built with satisfying ruggedness |
| and uploaded into your computer. Models with | | | | and precision. To return to our auto metaphor, the |
| tape-only stills record each as a several-second | | | | controls work with the elegant,positive feel of a BMW |
| freeze frame, which must be located andtransferred | | | | or Jaguar -- with what the French like to call |
| like any other video shot, and that's a far less | | | | "exactitude." |
| convenient process. | | | | How (and Where) to Buy |
| For the Serious Hobbyist | | | | Like car shopping, buying a camcorder should involve |
| And what do you get if you move up to the $1,000 to | | | | judicious test drives; but how are you supposed to do |
| $2,000 price range? Part of the answer'seasy: all the | | | | this? Most local camera stores have dropped |
| desirable features mentioned previously that are often | | | | camcorders completely; though if you live in a |
| missing from low-end camcorders. If you consult the | | | | megacity, you could get it easily. |
| matrix, you'll see that these models are loaded. | | | | |