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Cameras on mobile phones have unleashed in many, the instinct to capture not just a still picture but also moving videos. The downside is, the quality is often grainy and the size only as large as a stamp. So what is a wannabe Speilberg to do ?
If you've been toying with the idea of investing in a camcorder, now is a good time as any. After all, you have the excuse of the mid-year school break and a short holiday to re-live on video over, and over, again - - how's that for a good return on investment ?
If you're worried about the next step, which is editing the video, there really is little to worry about since PC users have access to the free Windows Movie Maker programme both in the XP and Vista platform while Mac users have iMovie. In addition, most cameras come bundled with software so you can edit your creations.
So what will be your best companion as you venture into video-making?
With reputable brand names such as Sony, Sanyo, JVC, Canon and Panasonic offering a range of camcorders in varying sizes and specs, it can get mind-boggling.
Add to that, the choice of recording either to tape, DVD or hard disk, and it can get hard to take the first step.
The name Sony is familiar to many with its strong branding in cameras and a range that can be quite hard to beat, with camcorders that can shoot on either DVD, mini DV tape or hard disk of up to 60 GB.
The option of saving your video on HDD is of course, best if you want to travel light, but you must also be disciplined in shooting and backing up or risk having to delete unsaved footage when you run out of space while out shooting. The flip-side is you can film for up to 11 hours on 30 GB, and unless you leave your camera running non-stop you won't run out of space in a hurry.
While DVDs and mini-DV tapes offer more flexibility, they can be an added bulk and weight. The good news is, you can go quite far with just one or two spares and better yet, tapes can be easily bought in shops should you run out.
What Sony offers consumers which others don't as yet (at least in range), is the ability to shoot in 1080i High Definition. The buzz word at the moment, HD translates into very sharp images, but only when played out on HD screens.
HD quality is more than four times better than what you'd get in Standard Definition (SD) video. It's however important to remember that to record a video in High Definition, you will need to use HD video tapes.
The choice really, is personal, but if you want the video to be clear minus close-ups that show up the large pores and fine wrinkles, you'd choose a camera that shoots in Standard Definition (SD) video, and for clarity make sure it's a camera with a 3CCD image sensor.
Panasonic offers a number of cameras that offer 3CCD, which is the professional broadcast standard, but without the bulk and weight of the professional cameras.
The recording platforms offered by Panasonic is also impressive, from SD, to DVD, hard disk and tape for their e.cam range. In addition, there's also a pair of HD cameras.
It is however not just the range of cameras but their user-friendliness that's key, after all you don't want to be fumbling around when that once-in-a-lifetime moment happens.
The Panasonic is in short a very friendly camera with either the NV-GS320GC-S, NV-GS85GC-S or NV-GS500GC-S probably the best bets. They all come with a fairly good optical zoom (between 10x and 32x ) and an Optical Image Stabiliser (OIS) which is especially handy on the zoom as 'the shakes' become more apparent here.
The zoom function is also linked to the on-board microphone which is sensitive enough to pick up distant sound.
All the essential buttons are well placed so you won't end up with cramped fingers after a while. With a dial and jog key to help users scroll through and choose their different options, space is saved but not compromised.
The overall size can be considered a little large if you choose the NV-GS500GC-S but the trade-off is the Leica Dicomar lens and 4Megapixel still pictures that you can take and save on an SD card.
The best option is probably the NV-GS320GC-S which will nestle quite nicely in the hand (even if it's a child's hand) and doesn't weigh too much (450 grams).
Apart from being able to slip into the pocket of your cargo pants or bag with little bulk, this camcorder also comes with Leica Dicomar lens that will take 3Megapixel still shots.
Taking photos or videos in the evening or with low light won't be much of a problem with the Panasonic camcorder since there is a flash for picture-taking and filming can continue even at 1 lux (but the video might be a little grainy).
The Li-on battery is small and slim, even for the long-life ones. That means carrying a spare battery won't weigh you down too much.
The full kit will include cables and software that will help you transfer and edit what you've taken, so there is little else to worry about, apart from where you point and shoot!
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