What criteria do I look for when buying a Digital Video Camera?

Question

Can anyone list down top 10 criterias I need to look out for when buying a Digital Video Camera?

Answer 1

First you need to decide what you want the camera for. That determines your search criteria.

Do you intend to bring you camera every where you go for quick snaps of candid moments at parties or emergencies? Or do you want to get into serious photography, taking artsy shots?

A quick snap no-fuss point and shoot digital camera is rather affordable these days, and the main thing you might be concerned about is size.

If you're into the artsy stuff, you might want to go with a larger pro-sumer point and shoot or a digital SLR. Those are relatively larger in size, and more pricey.

Other than that, basically what you're looking for is:
1. Resolution: The higher the resolution (the megapixel thing) the larger your prints can be. Anyway, anything from 3mp will be able to give you A4 sized prints.
2. Zoom: You want optical zoom. This is where the lens does the zooming. The larger the number (3x, 6x, 10x) the closer to an object in the distance you can get.

A lot of cameras give you preset options. If you're new to the whole camera thing, invest S$300-400 in a basic model (like a Canon or a Casio) to just give it a test before moving onto something more expensive.

You can also read some reviews at DP Review (www.dpreview.com) or DC Resource (www.dcresource.com).

Good Luck!

Answer 2

1. higher resolution
2. higher optical zoom[not digital]
3. cost [price]
4. battery life
5. internal memory.
6. weight [ heavy or light ]
7. stabilizer quality [only for those who have shaky hands]
8. autofocus[or focus of a better quality]
9. brand name [ example:nikon is better than panasonic]
10. expandable memory [ should have at least 2-4 gb of expandable memory]

Answer 3

1. price - is it in your budget
2. media - MiniDV wins hands down, DVD is a big loser
3. 2.5-3" LCD screen with flip feature
4. well placed controls
5. good optical zoom
6. ability to add/changes lenses - 2X convertor/wide angle/etc
7. good microphone
8. support for remote microphone
9. support for remote control
10. Sony, Sony, Sony

Answer 4

here's an informative guide...