Most DV camcorders have folding view screens, helpful for video recording and playback.
DV camcorders are the current evolution of home video recording. Like previous camcorders, they range from bare-bones models that offer modest features at a modest price, to high-end camcorders with a boatload of features and a price-tag to match. As with cell phones, battery life makes a difference -- many DV camcorders offer the option of extended-life batteries, at extra cost.
What is DV?
DV stands for digital video, and DV camcorders are the modern versions of older home video cameras that used analog tapes to record video. MiniDV camcorders, use tapes that are slightly smaller than an audiocassette, while some pocket DV cams record straight to an internal hard drive. Still other DV cams record directly to DVDs, which can then be played in your home DVD player or your computer's DVD drive. Like other DVD devices, these come in -R and +R variations, so check your equipment for compatibility if you plan to purchase this type of DVD camcorder. Manufacturers offer both standard-definition and high-definition models.
Advantages
A key advantage that DV camcorders have over analog models is that there's less loss of sound and video quality when you transfer DV recordings to other media. Since DV camcorders store their recordings as data, the image will be the same in your camera's viewfinder, in the editing software on your computer, or on your TV screen. If you've ever made copies of your old analog home videos for friends or family, you know that the picture degrades with each generation of copies that you make. If you lost the original and had to make copies from a copy, the colors got washed out and the images looked fuzzy -- not the case with DV.
Connectivity
DV camcorders usually have AV jacks so that they can connect directly to your TV. Additionally, they may have either USB or FireWire ports to connect with your computer for editing. Before you purchase a DV camcorder, check your computer to see what connections it supports. If the DV camcorder you've got your heart set on only has a FireWire port and your computer only has a USB port, you can buy a Firewire/USB converter so that your devices can communicate.
Considerations
Some DV camcorders store video on SD or microSD cards, Memory Sticks and other types of flash memory. Many newer computers have slots for these memory types, and you can also purchase external card readers for them as well. Depending on your needs and preferences, you may not even need to connect your DV camcorder to your computer in order to edit your videos. A DV camcorder that records straight to DVD is ideal if you don't plan to do a lot of editing, but offers you little flexibility if you want to edit videos before sharing them with friends and family or a general online audience -- such as YouTube.
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