What makes a camcorder hd

So, without further ado, here is our list — tailored to your specific needs — of the best HD camcorders. I feel like that should get a drum roll. Feel free to tap your desk…. Our number one HD camcorder is one of the most popular products out there, and we are by no stretch of the imagination busting the lid on a big secret by making it our first pick. To start things off, this camera boasts an HD CMOS image sensor that not only delivers a beautiful HD image but even does so regardless of the lighting situation.

Next, you have an incredible 57x optical zoom that will let you record your videos from all the way nosebleed section with this high-powered video camera. No more squinting and cupping your hands around the screen.

Thanks to the folks at Canon, you can film comfortably no matter what the weather is like. And to cap everything off, our first-choice HD camcorder has a fantastic feature that lets you connect it to your computer with an HDMI cable and use it as a webcam.

Finally, you can even lock certain files to make sure nothing happens to your most precious videos. Besides being featured on multiple lists of the best video cameras, this Canon product has been reviewed almost 2, times on Amazon, and the customers praised it for its solid battery life as well as its amazing zoom.

Customers also loved the image stabilization. The fact that this video camera is so cheap makes it just about the best value out there. Of course, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. This is thanks to its BIONZ X image processing engine and advanced new movie AF algorithm, so you can be sure you have the best of modern technology helping you out.

If you needed any more evidence that this Sony HD camcorder is for really budding professionals, look no further than its incredible dual media SD card slot. This Sony camera also comes with a 3.

The only real drawback of this camera is that its zoom only goes up to 12x optical zoom and 24x clear image zoom. Experiment with everything from the silent movie effect to the time-lapse effect to make your masterpiece. Plus, this camera provides you with 5-axis optical image stabilization, so no more shakes in your videos. Sometimes you just need something cheap.

HDV technology still has its benefits, though. In addition, video editing software and other applications are just beginning to use the maximum potential of AVCHD. Check out some of the cool capabilities of HD digital video cameras on the next page. Advancements in technology never cease to amaze, and the newest HD camcorders are no exception. With options that can fit in your pocket and take professional quality still photos, you may find yourself ditching your still camera altogether.

Who needs a camera when a high-def camcorder will do just as well? Some of them may even take up less space in your pocket than the wad of cash you use to purchase them. If you desire a small, lightweight piece of equipment, you're in luck.

As you learned earlier, flash memory allows camcorders to come in small packages but perform just as well as their larger counterparts. Some of the HD video camcorders are so light you might forget you're holding them.

Sanyo's Xacti HD is the lightest of the bunch at a mere 9. Its vertical design allows you to hold it with only one hand. Don't let its small stature fool you: This little device is capable of full HD recording. Not only do HD video camcorders take excellent quality video, but many of them can take impressive still photos as well.

Sony, for example, offers a pair of HD camcorders that can take megapixel photos. These two camcorders both take 3. HD video camcorders have several other interesting abilities as well. This standard claims to produce 1. This feature supplies hints to the photographer to help make better videos; it's like having your own personal photo instructor in your back pocket.

All digital video cameras use CCD -- charge-coupled device -- processors to capture light and produce the resulting image, but using three processors one for each primary color is new. HD video camcorders with three processors produce images with even richer colors and more vivid detail. When it comes time to watch your creations, there's really not much to it.

If you want your videos to pop even more, you can edit your HD video footage as well. Learn about viewing and editing basics on the next page. There's nothing like reliving life's greatest moments in high definition. Before you can watch your life in astonishing detail on that giant screen, you'll want to transfer the video from the camcorder to your television or your computer. Sometimes the cables aren't supplied, so you may have to buy one at the electronics store.

Just connect and play. You can usually hook the camcorder up to a standard television set as well, typically using the same cable. If you're an aspiring Spielberg, though, you may want to tweak your video footage before displaying it.

Editing high-definition video is actually similar to editing standard definition video, which you can learn about in How Video Editing Works. The main difference you'll encounter when editing HD video is the size of the files. They're mammoth. Some higher-priced camcorders include touch-screen LCDs. LCDs are useful for reviewing video and can be easier to use than an eyepiece viewfinder.

But LCDs are difficult to use in sunlight—a drawback of models that have only a display and no eyepiece. This feature automatically reduces most of the shaking that occurs while you hold the camcorder. Most stabilizers are either electronic or optical, although some models have both. Either type is effective; though mounting the camcorder on a tripod is the surest way to get steady images.

Full-auto switch: This control, which goes by different names depending on the manufacturer, provides you with point-and-shoot simplicity. Autofocus: Adjusts for maximum sharpness. Some models include a manual-focus override that can be helpful in problem situations, such as low light.

Zoom: This is typically a finger control—press one way to zoom in, the other to widen the view. The rate at which the zoom changes depends on how hard you press the switch.

Optical zoom: Typical optical-zoom ratios range from to about —or are described as having 10x optical zoom or 50x optical zoom. Digital zoom: Many camcorders also include a digital zoom to extend the range to or more, but at a lower picture quality than optical zoom gives. Some camcorders can capture 3D photos or video, or both. To do this, the camcorder may capture two different images or use software to create them , representing the different perspectives of the left and right eye.

The differences between those two images create a sense of depth. Some models include built-in projectors also known as pico projectors.

The feature is now incorporated into some HD camcorder models from Sony. Each includes a tiny projector embedded on the back of the flip-out LCD, which Sony claims will be able to project a inch diagonal image. Although most newer camcorders do not have this feature, some higher-priced models will have an electronic viewfinder that lets you compose a shot without needing to use the display.

This conserves battery life and is helpful in bright-light situations that wash out the LCD. The number of camcorders with WiFi is growing. It allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and video to your computer, quickly back them up on a hard drive, or upload them directly to a social networking website. Some models even also allow you to wirelessly connect and transfer video and photos to mobile devices or control the camcorder remotely from an app on a smartphone or tablet.

Some camcorders also include near field communication NFC , which makes connecting to mobile devices quick and easy. Models that are rugged and waterproof have bodies that are claimed to resist moisture and withstand falls. A camcorder with 4K resolution x pixels offers four times the resolution of a full HD camcorder x pixels.

Because of the higher resolution, these new types of camcorders can provide finer detail, but you need an Ultra High Definition 4K TV to see that detail. Consider the type, size, weight, controls, and features: In the store, try different camcorders to make sure they fit your hand and are comfortable to use. Most are designed so that the most frequently used controls—the switch to zoom in and out, the record button, and the button for still photos—are readily at hand. Make sure that the controls are convenient and that you can change recording media and remove the battery without any trouble.

More models are also including WiFi features. Check the LCD. Most measure about 3 inches on the diagonal, but some are larger. However, few action cams have any type of display. Some displays on full-sized models suffer from too much glare, making them difficult to use outdoors in bright sun. But note that most LCDs look fine indoors. In full, midday sunlight, viewing performance will vary greatly from model to model. Think about lighting. Using the default mode, we found that models varied in quality when shooting in dim light.

Most full-sized HD camcorders captured at least good-quality video in low light, but some had excellent quality. Note that many camcorders have settings that can improve performance but can be a challenge to use. Consider audio quality. We look at how accurately the built-in microphone records and whether the sound file is free from noise or hiss.

Action cams often lack decent audio quality.