is 10x Optical/80x digital good for a camcorder?

Question

I don't understand the megapixels and optical zoom numbers for a camcorder, can someone please tell me what is the best? Thank you.

Would a 2.1 megapixel with 10x Optical/80x digital be better than a 1.0 megapixel and 25X Optical/2000X Digital Zoom camcorder. This will be my first purchase of a camcorder.

Sony is coming out with 2 new hard disk camcorders that I am interestered in. I need one for filming my child's basketball games and I don't know if the -2.1 Megapixel (Gross) ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor
10X Optical/80X Digital Zoom or - 3.0 Megapixel (Gross) ClearVid™ CMOS Sensor
10X Optical/20X Digital Zoom. I also know that they both take still pictures too, but I am not sure which one would be the best for recording video. Any idea's?

Everyone is really helping me a great deal. I am learning so much about this stuff and I really thank all of you for your help.

Answer 1

Here's a helpful guide for camcorders:
http://www.easycamcorders.com/content/Beginners-Guide.htm

About half-way down the page, under "Key Features You Need to Understand", it has a good explanation for "CCDs: Size and Pixels", and "Zoom"

Answer 2

I think the first answer makes sense to me, but in some ways.

The difference between an optical zoom and a digital zoom:
Optical zoom is the actual lens zooming in, where a digital zoom is blowing up the picture to appear to be zooming in. I was always under the impressing that a higher optical zoom was better, because it actually got you closer to the object before it was blown up. Once it starts blowing up, mega pixels is important. The higher the better.

Thinking about the lower the optical zoom with higher price, the better the lens, makes sense: I suppose it would be a better quality lens (in theory), and thus more crisp picture. That is something to look into (as I will not that my curiosity has gotten to me).

Answer 3

10x is fine for a camcorder, but you will find yourself wanting more. I bought one with 10x optical/700x digital and I wanted more optical zoom, so I ended up getting an add on lens that allows me to now have 20x optical and 1400x digital. You must realize that the higher the optical zoom, the better...once you start using the digital zoom you will notice a significant loss of quality. And you will probably never use the digital zoom over 100-200x (it is just way to blury). The difference between optical and digital zooms are like having basic tv with a rabbit ear antenna compared to HDTV with cable/dsl/etc.

Check out anything that carries the Panasonic name. They are the best.

Answer 4

I would go with the 25x optical. Still images are better with a camera, exclusively for taking still images. The mega-pixels are not that impressive with camcorders yet. 2.1 MP is hardly anything to brag about.

When I set my camcorder for Picture/Video movie mode (SD card installed), I notice a lagging "boot up" time when starting the camcorder. I have missed a few on-the-spot moments because of this.

Also, I notice when zoomed in at 25x, the camcorder is "shaky", unless you have a tripod handy. This is expected.

If buying a camcorder. Buy it based on the quality of what movies it can churn out, especially low lighting. Beware of "low lighting modes" on some advertised camcorders. You want REAL low lighting without the choppy and grainy effect.

Buy a camcorder based on quality, not the amount of extra gadgets that it features.
------------
Here's what I would do....
The 10x optical will be a better lens, but find one with good low-lighting. If it take still images, then that's a bonus.

Answer 5

10x Optical zoom is average and good for a camcorder. 80x optical zoom is also good and almost a little bit over average depending what type of camera it is. That seems like a good camcorder to buy but htere are some out there that have a little bit better optical zoom.

Answer 6

A little low by today's standards. Most or 20, 25, 30 and 32x optical.

Standard rez for SD videos is 400,000 pixels and HD is 2 MP

Most have 640,000 chips so you can get a 2/3 MB still picture.

The 2.1 MP you are talking about MAY NOT BE HD, but simply has overkill chip for sitll pictures.

If you WANT still pictures as well as video the 2.1 is best

If yo uwant video and don't the other one, UNLESS the 2.1 is HD

Answer 7

Generally, the lower the optical zoom and the higher the price the better the lens.

Answer 8

Mega pixels: 1 mil. pixels
If there is a low optical zoom, it generally means better lens.
Digital zoom is C-R-A-P, it makes you lose ALL quality.