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Camcorder buying guide
Not sure which type of camcorder will suit you best? In this video guide, the Which? camcorder experts offer tips to help you buy with confidence.
Which? video guide to buying a camcorder
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Choosing the best type of camcorder for you
Recording formats: Mini-DV, DVD or HDD?
One of the first things you’ll need to decide when buying a camcorder is which recording format to go for.
If you don’t want to carry blank Mini-DV tapes or DVDs around with you, a hard-disk (HDD) camcorder might be the right choice for you. You can also buy camcorders that record to memory card – use our memory use calculator to figure out how many GB you'll need. No one recording format offers better video quality than any other, so check the Which? ratings.
HD camcorders – what to consider
Which? tests have found that HD camcorders offer much better image quality than you can get with a standard-definition camcorder.
However, HD camcorders are much more expensive and can be bulkier, too. The footage will take up more room on your PC, and you’ll need an HD-ready TV to watch it at full quality. Our reviews reveal the best HD camcorder models.
The best camcorders give top-notch image quality in all light conditions
The difference between a good camcorder and a mediocre one is very apparent, especially in dim light or artificial light. In our independent Which? tests, each camcorder’s video quality is thoroughly examined by experts under different light conditions and different camcorder settings.
So you can be sure that Which? Best Buy camcorders have what it takes to produce great-quality video. But because Which? is completely independent, we can also tell you which camcorders performed poorly in our tests – these are the Which? Don't Buy camcorders that we think you should avoid.
Some compact camcorders compromise on sound quality
The latest generation of digital camcorders are smaller than ever. But Which? tests found that these compact camcorders don’t always guarantee great-quality videos.
This is because compact camcorders rely on tiny internal microphones for picking up sound, which means they compromise on audio quality. We test every camcorder for sound quality, so check the Which? ratings if this is important to you.
Essential features to look out for on a camcorder
Camcorders have many different features, from night modes to zooms, but which ones do you really need?
Which? HD camcorder reviews talk you through the best camcorder features to look out for, such as a good image stabilisation system, which limits the effects of shaky hands. The best camcorders have this built in – check our ratings for models that score highly for this.
Which? tests more thoroughly than any other organisation
All the camcorders in the Which? camcorder reviews are precision-tested with state-of-the-art equipment to bring you the best camcorder.
Which? tests camcorders in real-life situations
Our exhaustive and independent camcorder tests assess how effectively digital camcorders record video in a range of real-life situations. We also determine how well their image stabilisation systems work by using a special camcorder shaker, which is sensitive enough to emulate the smallest movements a hand makes.
