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