Best Camcorders for Beginner Filmmakers

Many camcorders on the market are designed for home movies of babies' first steps. If you're a beginning filmmaker, it's critical to pay attention to the features a camcorder offers so you get the high degree of performance you need.

Because picture quality will be important to you, you'll want to invest in a camcorder with a MiniDV format. It will provide a better picture quality and make the editing process infinitely easier.

You'll also want a camera that features 3 CCDs, or "charge-coupled device" - the part of the camcorder that converts light into electric signals. The average camcorder only has one, but 3 CCDs will provide brighter, cleaner pictures.

Check to make sure there's an input jack for a microphone; a built-in camcorder microphone won't quite do the trick. And look for a device with plenty of manual controls, which will give you more control over the filmmaking process -- and the more control you have, the more satisfied you'll ultimately be with your completed project. Whether you're just starting out as a filmmaker or just starting to get great at it, the right camcorder is going to make a world's worth of difference.