What should I look for in a digital camera/ video camera?

Video camera - what specs and brand should i look for when buying a video camera?

• i want to get a video camera as i have alot of festival and events coming up this summer. i havent brought a video camera in a very long time, the last i had was a samsung but it was very poor and kept dying. i want a reliable video camera, but im not to sure about specs and which 1 to get? any ideas of what main specs i should look for in video camera? what are good brands? is toshiba good? ps. are video cameras going to be dissapeared from shelves next year? as i dont know many stores who are selling video cameras anymore as to which that use to.

• Answer:

  1) Set a budget. This includes the camcorder, archive storage media, tripod or other steadying device, external mics (if your budget can handle them), video light (if needed), case, optional high capacity rechargeable battery from the camcorder manufacturer (maybe 2 - while 1 recharges, the other is in use). Does the budget include computer hardware and video editing software? 2) Once you set a budget, see what camcorders fits. Sony, Canon, Panasonic and JVC are the usual suspects. Samsung makes camcorders - whether they are good or not is something you can research. 3) Specs will depend on your budget and requirements. MiniDV tape based camcorder capture the least compressed video (DV and HDV format); Consumer flash memory and hard disc drive camcorders compress the video a lot. Consumer DVD based camcorders compress the standard definition video at an extremely high amount - and generally should be avoided (they barely make useful doorstops). Large lenses and imaging chips are expensive - but allow better low-light behavior. Mic jacks are very handy - but only part of the "solution" to handling loud audio (and an external mic) - the camcorder must have manual audio control to deal with very loud audio effectively. 4) "are video cameras going to be dissapeared from shelves next year?" My crystal ball cannot see into the future. That decision is up to the retailers. The camcorders I get are generally not available at electronics brick/mortar stores... And it depends where you are - Since we don't know that, we have no way to know what the retailers carry in your area. Fry's Electronics, BH Photo Video, Best Buy and many others carry various camcorders... They will keep carrying them for as long as they can make money by selling them.