Q. I am looking for a camcorder that I can use for family functions. I don't need it to do anything fancy, and I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. I don't really understand the differences in most of these, and see some for under a hundred dollars, and some costing over four hundred. But I don't understand the difference! Any help would be appreciated...
A. A basic MiniDV camcorder should do the job just fine. Like a Canon ZR800 (or ZR500 if there's any still on the shelves). MiniDV is cheaper than either DVD or hard drive recorders, and has several advantages over those formats: the tapes are reusable, you can buy more if you run out while on vacation, and they record in the DV format which can be accurately edited frame-by-frame.
Some camcorders have 3 CCD sensors instead of one; that costs more, and should give a higher quality picture. Some camcorders may have better light sensitivity, which would pay off in better performance indoors or at night.
Now that HDTVs are becoming common, I think standard-definition camcorders are becoming obsolete, so I wouldn't spend any more money on one than you absolutely need to. There's some decent HD camcorders that record to MiniDV starting at around $800 (Canon HV20).
Some camcorders have 3 CCD sensors instead of one; that costs more, and should give a higher quality picture. Some camcorders may have better light sensitivity, which would pay off in better performance indoors or at night.
Now that HDTVs are becoming common, I think standard-definition camcorders are becoming obsolete, so I wouldn't spend any more money on one than you absolutely need to. There's some decent HD camcorders that record to MiniDV starting at around $800 (Canon HV20).
What is the best camcorder/camera for low light situations?
Q. I plan on doing some YouTube videos in the future, but the problem is that my room is kinda dark, and my cellphone is terrible when it comes to dark areas. Are there any cameras for $200 or under for low light situations?
If not in my price range, anything not too expensive is fine.
If not in my price range, anything not too expensive is fine.
A. Your question #1: What is the best camcorder/camera for low light situations?
Response: Any camcorder with a large lens diameter (to let light in to the camcorder/camera) and large imaging chip (to process what little light comes in through the lens when it is dark.
Your question #2: "Are there any cameras for $200 or under for low light situations?"
Response: No.
"not too expensive" means different things to different people.
Consumer grade camcorders start at the low end with small (less than 30mm) diameter lenses and small (less than 1/6") single imaging chip. As the price goes up, the lens diameters and imaging chips get larger. At around $400, the lens diameter is around 37mm and the imaging chips can get as large as 1/4". At around $800 the lens diameter is around 43mm and the imaging chips approach 1/3". At around $1,200 the lens diameter is around 58mm and the imaging chips are around 1/3". As you continue up the price spectrum to high-end consumer (sometimes called "prosumer") camcorders, $3,000 finds 72mm lens diameter with 3CCD or 3CMOS 1/3" imaging chip arrays - these do quite well under low-light conditions.
So... what can you do if you can't afford a camcorder/camera that can behave well under low light conditions? It depends what you are capturing to video, but one relatively easy way (assuming you will be editing the video with a half decent editor) is to add LOTS of light so your room is no longer dark - then, using your editor, make it look dark... This is call shooting "day for night".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MaC44MU4iw
When you go this route, use whatever camera/camcorder you want - and make the investment in lighting and a decent video editor - not a camera/camcorder. For $200, assuming your computer has a fast CPU, 4 gig RAM or more and lots of hard drive space - Sony Vegas is affordable and a couple or three worklights from the hardware store like
http://www.amazon.com/Voltec-08-00210-500-Watt-Portable-Worklight/dp/B004ZMUHBG
would be plenty.
Learn about 3-point lighting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_point_lighting
Response: Any camcorder with a large lens diameter (to let light in to the camcorder/camera) and large imaging chip (to process what little light comes in through the lens when it is dark.
Your question #2: "Are there any cameras for $200 or under for low light situations?"
Response: No.
"not too expensive" means different things to different people.
Consumer grade camcorders start at the low end with small (less than 30mm) diameter lenses and small (less than 1/6") single imaging chip. As the price goes up, the lens diameters and imaging chips get larger. At around $400, the lens diameter is around 37mm and the imaging chips can get as large as 1/4". At around $800 the lens diameter is around 43mm and the imaging chips approach 1/3". At around $1,200 the lens diameter is around 58mm and the imaging chips are around 1/3". As you continue up the price spectrum to high-end consumer (sometimes called "prosumer") camcorders, $3,000 finds 72mm lens diameter with 3CCD or 3CMOS 1/3" imaging chip arrays - these do quite well under low-light conditions.
So... what can you do if you can't afford a camcorder/camera that can behave well under low light conditions? It depends what you are capturing to video, but one relatively easy way (assuming you will be editing the video with a half decent editor) is to add LOTS of light so your room is no longer dark - then, using your editor, make it look dark... This is call shooting "day for night".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MaC44MU4iw
When you go this route, use whatever camera/camcorder you want - and make the investment in lighting and a decent video editor - not a camera/camcorder. For $200, assuming your computer has a fast CPU, 4 gig RAM or more and lots of hard drive space - Sony Vegas is affordable and a couple or three worklights from the hardware store like
http://www.amazon.com/Voltec-08-00210-500-Watt-Portable-Worklight/dp/B004ZMUHBG
would be plenty.
Learn about 3-point lighting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_point_lighting
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