See all Canon Digital Camera items on halfvalue
Thanks to the proliferation of Canon digital camcorders on the market and dozens of Canon attachments, it is no wonder that so many consumers feel overwhelmed. Some popular camera choices include the Elura (50, 60, 80, 85, and 90), the Optura (40, 50, 60, 400, 500, 600, Xi, and S1), and the ZR 300. With those popular lines in mind, here are some ideas for how to make buying your next Canon digital camcorder easier. First and foremost, decide on your price range and your basic needs before scanning cameras.
One factor which many Canon digital camcorder enthusiasts overlook is recording format. The relatively uncommon MicroMV format is uncommon for a reason. When you record directly to tape, you then have to transfer the video to your TV somehow. Even if you have a good adaptive system, this inconvenience may dissuade you from using your camera a lot, and you could end up missing significant moments in your life as a result.
Searching for individual moments on tape can be taxing and frustrating, even if you pay extra for chips to index your tapes. Moreover, these specialty formatted tapes can cost upwards of three times as much as standard MiniDV formatted recorders. It's generally advised to go with the MiniDV format unless your computer or television for some reason is completely incompatible with the technology.
Some Canon camcorders come with optional click-and-shoot capacities, mimicking the effects of digital cameras. While this feature is nice enough, it is certainly not necessary--nor is it worth the hundreds of dollars of markup that the company usually charges. Finally, don't get seduced by promises of extensive digital zooms--more often than not, these zooms sacrifice a huge amount of image clarity and focus.