By
eHow Electronics Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Understand the importance of stabilization. Nobody wants to watch a shaky video. Invest in a tripod or consider image stabilization features.
Step2
Consider ease of use. Get a lightweight camera that isn't bulky or hard to handle. The heavier a camera is, the harder it will be to hold it steady.
Step3
Look into low-light performance. This is extremely important for shooting indoors. Camcorders don't have a flash like a still camera does, so make sure your camcorder can perform well in dimly lit settings.
Step4
Look for a camera with a decent CCD. Generally, bigger CCDs with fewer pixels perform better in low-light than smaller CCDs with many pixels. However, there is a bit of a tradeoff. More pixels means better sharpness, but if the CCD is too small to handle many pixels it will perform poorly in low-light.
Step5
Consider infrared or nightvision features. You may recognize the effect from surveillance cams: the picture will appear with a greenish tint. This is intended for use with very dark scenes, like concerts or clubs.
Step6
Understand how lux ratings are obtained. Lux ratings show how much light is needed for the camcorder to perform. Lower is better, but be wary. Some companies will use “night mode” or high gain and slow shutter speeds to achieve low ratings to print on the box. Technically, the camcorder will perform at very low lights but the picture may be blurry and unwatchable.
Step7
Make sure the camera has a white balance feature. A camera that can white balance according to different lightings will perform better indoors.
Step8
Read reviews. Specifications can only tell you so much about how a camera will perform. Research the model you are thinking about buying on the Internet. Be sure to read user reviews and pay attention to low light and indoor filming testimonials.