Another issue is digitally editing your tapes. Since your material is digital, you don't lose any quality when you make another copy. Buy the most pixels you can afford. Even the single-chip models have widely varying resolutions, ranging from 380,000 to 680,000 pixels. Focus on optical zoom .
Optical zoom is true zoom - it provides better images than digital zoom.
With optical zoom, you may lose some light-gathering ability as you zero in on your target, but you won't lose any resolution. Big LCDs are convenient but expensive. Many DV camcorders feature both color viewfinders and handy swiveling LCD screens that let you shoot over your head or from the waist while keeping your eye on your subject. LCD sizes range from 2 inches diagonal to a full 4 inches. Progressive scan gives better still images.