How to Take Still Pictures With a Camcorder

You can get stills out of any digital camcorder, but there are a couple of different methods. The most common is a freeze frame "photo mode." Other camcorders actually have built-in digital cameras. Yet another way is to use editing software to generate a still from a frame of your video. Before you buy a camcorder, be sure you understand its features and how much performance you'll be getting for your money.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Camcorder

Instructions

1. Determine your camcorder's features. Does it have photo mode or a built-in camera?

2. Use the photo mode. Your camcorder should have a separate option for this on the mode selector. Switch to this mode, then point and shoot. This will create a freeze-frame still for about 5 seconds on your tape, which you can display on your television screen or extract later with editing software.

3. Use the camcorder's built-in camera. Some cameras are detachable, while others are activated by a function or mode. Once you have activated your built-in digital camera, it will work as a stand-alone camera, with a memory card to store your digital photos.

4. Use editing software to generate a still photo from your video. First transfer your video onto your computer's hard drive, then open it up with the bundled software. Play the video until you find the point where you want a still. Pause the video. Extract the frame using your editing tools.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider which is more important to you: video or stills. If video is more important, buy a camcorder. If stills are more important, buy a digital still camera. Some digital still cameras are also capable of taking short video clips.

• "Photo mode" and freeze-framed stills produce poorer quality photos than a dedicated digital still camera. For print-quality digital photos, make sure your camera is above 2 megapixels.

• A camcorder that takes excellent quality video won't necessarily take excellent quality stills. Video quality relies on the camcorder's CCD while still quality relies on the camera's megapixels. Make sure the camcorder has good ratings for both stills and video, if both are important to you.

• It may be more cost effective to purchase a camera and a camcorder separately.