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You're probably going to need to do some basic editing before dumping the results to DVD or VHS; so in a way it doesn't matter which recording format you go for.

What's more important is the quality of the picture and sound as you record and how long the batteries last. Once you've missed the moment you can't get it back.

The essentials when choosing a camera are:
- Good low light performance
- A lens capable of a decent wide angle shot
- A good clear viewfinder or monitor screen
- Manual focus control
- Either a very good directional built-in mic, or a mic socket & hot shoe for adding something better
- Hi-capacity batteries

Stuff they'll try to sell you but you really don't need:
- 200x digital zoom
- Digital effects
- digital photo camera functions (they only work well on the best digital camcorders)
- high speed shutter

Usefull accessories:
- a lightweight tripod with a quick release plate (check the camera has a tripod thread, of course )
- A skylight filter and a circular polariser filter
- more batteries
- a better cary bag

New digital camcorders are incredibly cheap for what they are, but there's also a good selection of s/h stuff available too.

Regards

200 Words

<blockquote data-quote="Hex Spurt" data-source="post: 628948" data-attributes="member: 1135">You're probably going to need to do some basic editing before dumping the results to DVD or VHS; so in a way it doesn't matter which recording format you go for. What's more important is the quality of the picture and sound as you record and how long the batteries last. Once you've missed the moment you can't get it back.&nbsp; The essentials when choosing a camera are:- Good low light performance- A lens capable of a decent wide angle shot- A good clear viewfinder or monitor screen- Manual focus control- Either a very good directional built-in mic, or a mic socket &amp; hot shoe for adding something better- Hi-capacity batteriesStuff they'll try to sell you but you really don't need:- 200x digital zoom- Digital effects- digital photo camera functions (they only work well on the best digital camcorders)- high speed shutterUsefull accessories:- a lightweight tripod with a quick release plate (check the camera has a tripod thread, of course&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> )- A skylight filter and a circular polariser filter- more batteries- a better cary bagNew digital camcorders are incredibly cheap for what they are, but there's also a good selection of s/h stuff available too.Regards</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hex Spurt, post: 628948, member: 1135"] You're probably going to need to do some basic editing before dumping the results to DVD or VHS; so in a way it doesn't matter which recording format you go for. What's more important is the quality of the picture and sound as you record and how long the batteries last. Once you've missed the moment you can't get it back. The essentials when choosing a camera are: - Good low light performance - A lens capable of a decent wide angle shot - A good clear viewfinder or monitor screen - Manual focus control - Either a very good directional built-in mic, or a mic socket & hot shoe for adding something better - Hi-capacity batteries Stuff they'll try to sell you but you really don't need: - 200x digital zoom - Digital effects - digital photo camera functions (they only work well on the best digital camcorders) - high speed shutter Usefull accessories: - a lightweight tripod with a quick release plate (check the camera has a tripod thread, of course :) ) - A skylight filter and a circular polariser filter - more batteries - a better cary bag New digital camcorders are incredibly cheap for what they are, but there's also a good selection of s/h stuff available too. Regards [/QUOTE]

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