How to Find the Best Camcorder for Filming Indoors

Filming indoors is problematic for camcorders: poor low-light performance can result in grainy or unwatchable video. When shopping for a digital camcorder to use indoors, be sure to look for these features.

Instructions

1. Understand the importance of stabilization. Nobody wants to watch a shaky video. Invest in a tripod or consider image stabilization features.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Make sure the camera has a white balance feature. A camera that can white balance according to different lightings will perform better indoors.

8. 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.

Tips & Warnings

• Some quick references for lux ratings: 10 lux is about the equivalent of a room lit by a 60-watt lamp; 50 lux is a room lit by a 100-watt ceiling light; 100 lux about the lightness of a restaurant; 150 lux grocery store lighting; 500 lux room lit by sunlight from windows.

• Beware of camcorders that offer still photo features. These usually end up very expensive or lack in performance.

• Automatic camcorder controls may seem like a nice feature, but chances are you'll be able to get a better picture manually. Make sure you have the option to turn off automatic adjustments before you buy.