Basic needs for a good video camera.?

Go to an electronics store and ask the specialists for the best quality in their opinion for your own price range, and test a few out. They usually have sample hand-helds so that you can get an idea for quality and screen size etc

Mega pixels have nothing to do with video!! A budget would have helped but in order of quality, 1 Mini-dv still the best for quality, 2 flash drive 3 HDD Something that Will record in low light look for 0 LUX, people want a good zoom, no point as after you use say more then 10x you cannot keep the camera steady enough unless you use a tripod. Effect on the camera are useless, its always better to add any effect via software there is more control. Decide on your budget, and features you require, then talk to the sales people, remember using cameras 2&3 need a high end computer as the video is compressed, and requires your computer to work very hard to edit the video. If you plan on putting the video onto a standard dvd then there is no real point in going for HD, as the only way to do this is VIA Blue Ray. standard DVDs will not play HD, and any software will down grade the video. Good luck RR Size of camera is a personal thing, if you have large hands then you are better off getting a lsomethingmera, somthing with a little weight, helps to steady the camera, and absorb any camera shake.

The only thing that matters with a camera is the lens quality - megapixel count and optical zoom are marketing hype! Rugratzzz is right, as ever. As well as your budget, it would help to know what you want to do with the camcorder. MiniDV is a good general purpose choice, but a flash drive one would be better if you want something you can carry in a pocket or a handbag.