The following are features I would look for and suggest to any videographer in the making. These features were once only available on high end video cameras but are slowing becoming available on more and more consumer video cameras.
24P Cinema Mode
24P & 30P
What makes 24P or 30P so special? The short version is that it looks cool. It looks different than ordinary home video. 24P is also the same frame rate that many movies are shot at and it help to create a unique look. This is a look that most people don’t expect from home video and a look that other video camera companies have yet to put into their consumer camcorders. This is exciting because it used to previously be a pro only features.
For more technical information on 24P and 30P, visit Is 24P for me?
Microphone External
Microphone Input Jack
Audio is just as important as video. That doesn’t mean however that all manufacturers include audio jacks. This often overlooked features allows you to plug in your own microphones. This comes in extremely handy when your subject is not directly in front of you. Every wedding video I’ve recorded has utilized professional microphones, both wired and wireless, and I could not have obtained those precious “I do’s” without this important feature.
For more information about the importance of audio, visit The Importance of Audio
Headphones
Headphone Input Jack
Plugging in a great microphone into your video camera is useless unless you can actually monitor it and make sure you’re in fact recording audio. Again, those “I do’s” only happen in one take so you have to be sure you’re getting it right the first time. Normally, on a crew larger than one of course, one person monitors incoming audio while another focuses on video. If you can find a video camera with this feature (a little hard within the consumer market) then that camera should go up a notch on your list.
External Battery Compartment
External Battery Compartment
Some great looking and functioning video cameras are a clear “no, no” if the battery compartment is internal. External battery compartments however allow you to utilize batteries with much larger powering time. Most new camcorders come with a 60 minute battery but the manufacturer does usually have an upgraded battery model. I’d highly recommend a camcorder that allows you to pop in a 2, 4, 6, or more hour batter. Having an external battery compartment also means that you do not have to physically open up the camera to replace the battery…saving time and not forcing you to disconnect a camcorder from a tripod.
1920x1080 Recording, Full HD
1920×1080 Recording, Full HD
What makes these numbers so special? First off, they are the highest resolution you can record and playback on your home theater system. Of course, you’d have to have a Blu-Ray player or a Playstation 3 in order to actually see this quality. Notice I mentioned Blu-Ray players…that’s because this is the same quality that Blu-Ray movies can play at. Basically, you can’t get any higher this these numbers when it comes to recording and playing back HD at home.
USB Transfer
USB Tranfer
USB transfer rocks because you don’t have to capture your video. Remember the days of capture cards and compatibility? Well, I do…and those days were not pretty. You’d have to spend hours either logging a tape and capturing your logged footage or capture the entire tape and then separate it into small scenes. You’d have to do this all manually. USB transfer eliminates the manual part of this process and automatically separates every single clip for you. Oh - and there is no capture process at all since you are only transferring files! Awesome!
