Choosing which digital video camera to purchase can seem mind boggling with those hard to understand specifications. In most cases the specifications are not all vital but they can help you narrow your choices. More often than not, cost is the deciding factor when it comes to purchasing cameras. However, before allowing the cost to be your deciding factor, it is important to understand what some of the specifications mean and how important they\'re to your personal requirements. \n

The most essential factors for evaluating the best digital video camera are price, overall size and ease of use. The price of a digital video camera ranges from $300 upwards. It is important to determine if you\'re paying for extra features you may not need.In considering size, remember that the lightest camera won\'t be useful if controls are too small for your fingers. It is necessary to always try the digital video camera out prior to buying it. Its not a good idea to buy your digital camera on the web unless you\'ve seen and handled that particular camera previously. \n

The optical zoom and digital specifications are usually fairly similar in most cameras. Most digital video cameras come with at least a 10x optical zoom. The lens of a higher priced digital video camera will have higher quality optics than lower priced cameras, but the zoom factor remains the same. The digital zoom simply enlarges the image captured in the lens and is therefore, much less important. There are a number of specifications that are worth considering. However, the two most important are the LCD screen and weight. \n

The LCD screen can vary in size from 2 to 3.5 inches. A bigger screen not only makes it easier to view what you\'re recording but a larger screen is also helpful when viewing the playback on the digital video camera. \n

The weight of a digital video camera can vary from 15 to 23 ounces and is also an important consideration. Cameras with lots of features will obviously be heavier but you need to take into account how portable you want your digital video camera to be.
\n\nBeverly Kane\n

Beverly Kane is a staff writer at The Shoping Gazette and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including Entertainment Digest.