Camcorders: Are they right for you?

With the prevalence of DSLR cameras at video shoots, you might wonder why camcorders even still exist. Yes, camcorders. Remember those? Camcorders are still around, and they're still around for a reason. Despite their (fictitious) dip in popularity, they still serve a purpose. For those whose goals fit that purpose, their popularity never waned. Why else would manufacturers still be selling them? For aspiring videographers, learn to better discern your shooting purpose and whether a DSLR or camcorder is best for you.

So, what exactly does a camcorder do? A camcorder shoots video. Simple. Unlike their DLSR counterparts, camcorders are made for that specific purpose. There may be some confusion because DSLRs also shoot video, but camcorders are specifically made for shooting video. Being made for video gives camcorders some great advantages over DSLR cameras, but they inevitably come with some disadvantages as well.

Camcorders are great for videographers doing long shoots. Sometimes what we're shooting requires us to keep our camera recording for longer than a DSLR will allow. You could be shooting a long documentary interview, a concert, or a live news broadcast – only a camcorder is capable recording such long videos. A DSLR just can’t shoot for so long. With those long shoots comes the need for a lot of power. Unlike most DSLRs, equipped for mainly shooting stills, camcorders provide long battery life for long recording. There’s hardly any need to worry about carrying extra batteries when the batteries you already have will last as long as the shoot. Less worry allows you to focus on shooting, instead of on the shots you could be missing. 

You may enjoy changing lenses for different shots with your DSLR, but camcorders do not have that option. A fixed lens isn’t all bad, though. The fixed lens on a camcorder makes picking up and shooting much faster. No detaching the lens. No attaching another lens. No wasting time fiddling with the lens and camera mount. You just get up and shoot. Two other great advantages to the fixed lens are changing focal distance on the fly, and shooting in different lighting. A huge advantage over DSLRs is not having to change your lens every time you change your shot. Yes, DSLRs use lenses with long focal ranges, but that still adds to the gear you have to keep with you when shooting. A camcorder definitely reduces the weight of your kit. 

The main benefit of camcorders is their build. A camcorder body is built for the rigors of video. They all have on-body stabilization, with some form of stabilizing the camera by hand. They all also have an on-body display, allowing you to see what you’re recording without the need to buy an external monitor. Camcorders, especially the more expensive models, record audio much better than DSLRs, and they do it without the need for different attachments. As well as recording audio, some camcorders have great on-body attachments for recording audio with any microphone you choose. Clearly, there are some significant advantages to using a camcorder.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that camcorders are better than DSLRs for video. Even though DSLRs can only shoot short clips, on a limited battery, they are better for more complicated shots that require a larger depth of field, or when you want your videos to look cinematic. Unfortunately, camcorders struggle to produce the cinematic quality of DSLRs. When you want to make more creative, film-like video, the DSLR is the option to choose. With more lens choice, filter choice, and smaller sizes, DSLRs are great for videographers whose are going the artistic route, instead of the documentary route.

So, which do you choose? If you don’t already have a better idea, your choice will depend on what you’re shooting. If your goal is to shoot short, cinematic clips that you’ll then piece together into a video, a DSLR is the choice for you. If your goal is shoot long interviews, news broadcasts, concerts, or other long-shot videos, the camcorder is what you need. With this information you can confidently choose which camera setup is best for you and what will serve you best. Enjoy shooting. 

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