The staff of Videomaker Magazine will teach you the basics of great video production - from selecting the best camcorder for your needs to framing a shot perfectly. There are currently seven consumer camcorder formats on the market. You should understand their advantages and disadvantages before committing to a video camera. You'll want to consider tape length requirements, VCR compatibility and camera size for starters. Camcorders in all formats are available with image stabilization, which can be an important advantage when shooting without a tripod.
Prices range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on format and options.
VHS and 8-millimeter cameras are the most affordable, followed by VHS compact, super VHS, super VHS compact, high 8 and digital. The disadvantages are poor edit control, and the camera is big and awkward to carry around. These cameras offer compact size and long recording times. Most have a control L jack for edit control. They do, however, have higher tape cost and are not VHS VCR compatible.