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Smartphones have stolen the spotlight from camcorders in recent years when it comes to capturing content. Their video quality increases with each generation, and they’re always available at an arm’s length away from us – so why invest in a whole separate video camera when you’ve already got one in your pocket?
If the last time you used a camcorder was decades ago, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Camcorders have changed a lot since the big clunkers of the 1980s and pixelation of the early Nineties. They’re mostly all 4K/1080p now, and the high-def recording quality can be exponentially better than taking a video on your phone – some even good enough for journalistic and documentary production. HDR brings out increased colors and contrasts in whatever you’re filming, and there’s no more analog magnetic tape either, as your colorful videos can be saved to multiple SD card slots, or exported right to your PC.
What to Look for in a Video Camera
From a family road trip to creating films with friends, vlogging or recording for your YouTube channel, camcorders bring a different element to recording, giving you more settings to choose from and increasing video possibilities – all with way better production value.
A wide angle lens provides you with an array of options for framing your shots, and can capture your vacation memories exactly as you want to preserve them. You also get powerful zoom capability on modern cameras, with magnification ranges pushing up to 60x, and image stabilization to keep your shot steady as the focal distance gets longer or closes in. You can even adjust the speed of the zoom for that perfect reveal to later sync up with just the right song. Automatic backlight correction is another welcome feature too, as it recognizes the subject of your shot and adjusts the focal lighting onto them instead of the background.
Unless they’re incredibly small, all cameras will usually have a built-in touchscreen. The most obvious benefit to this is using it to frame your shots, so your eye doesn’t need to be squinting into the viewfinder at all times, and to let you record at odd angles without craning your neck into uncomfortable positions. But it’s also instantly handy to change settings fast, and flip around so the person in frame can see themselves.
For more professional users, there are features like color bars, test tones, image sensors, aperture, multi-point auto-focus, and super slow motion. These also pair with mobile devices, sometimes letting you control up to five different cameras from the app, and the ability to view exactly what the camera’s seeing right from your phone’s screen.
For audio, most budget-friendly camcorders will come with a mono mic. But if you’re looking to record sound that’s as rich as your visuals, go for one with a stereo mic.
No matter what climate you’re venturing into, there’s a camera that can handle it. For poolside or beach trips, water-resistant and waterproof models are widely available. There’s even freeze-proof ones for snowy excursions, and cameras that are mountable to bikes, helmets, backpacks and more.
If a camera’s ergonomic design is too heavy or awkward to hold for long periods or time, you’ll find yourself using it less and less. Best to go for something that’s going to fit your needs, as well as your hands and eyes. We’ve selected four here that are ready for you to hit record and start filming, without hitting your budget too hard.
