Lights. Camera. Action! If you've been dying to utter those words, take heart. These days, you don't have to run off to Hollywood to make movies. You just need a video camera! Over the last several years, video camera technology has not only gotten better, it's also become more user-friendly. Automated functions mean less fiddling around with controls and more time for shooting the action. So while you may not win an Oscar, at least you don't have to sell your soul - or your house - to become a producer.

Because prices have been decreasing steadily and continue to do so, buying a video camera - or camcorder as they're often called - is no longer a bank-breaking decision. It has also become a virtually painless task, thanks to online resources. To get a clear picture of what's new and what's available in video cameras, check out Henry's, Future Shop, Radio Shack, Micro Warehouse and Sony Canada. Brands to look for include Sony, JVC, Panasonic and Canon. So just kick back and do some pressure-free comparison shopping. But don't take too long, because we're ready for our close-up, Mr. De Mille!

The toss-up: analog versus digital

Although it seems destined to be outstripped by its digital counterpart, the analog camcorder continues to be popular among consumers. Price is certainly one reason for this; analog camcorders cost around 40 to 50 percent less than digital models. And if you'll be using your camcorder only to take videotapes of the baby learning to crawl or the family gathering for Granny's 70th birthday - in other words, you won't be sending the footage off to Cannes - then an analog unit will certainly do the job.

With analog camcorders, however, picture quality inevitably deteriorates when copies are made. This deterioration, referred to as "generational loss," occurs each time you make a copy of a copy. To avoid this, you can dump your analog video into your computer, which will then convert it into a digital file. "You can certainly edit analog tape on your computer," says Raffi Mahseredjian, a sales associate at Henry's in Toronto. "But you have to have an analog capture card."

The flip side: digital versus analog

If you're hankering to produce professional-quality videos, then a digital camcorder is probably in your future. The digital video format makes it possible for consumers to add more special effects or edit video to near-professional quality without causing a home computer to implode from data overload. To load your video into your PC, you'll need a high-speed digital interface, that is, a way to get the data from the camera into your computer. Most digital camcorders use an interface called "FireWire," also referred to as IEEE 1394.

Some digital camcorders allow you to convert your analog videos to digital, and to archive them in digital format. And as if digital camcorders weren't versatile enough, a number of manufacturers have recently launched models that combine a camcorder with a digital-still - meaning an old-fashioned picture - function. "The resolution on those is only 640 by 480, which is really where every digital camera starts," says Mahseredjian. "It's not printable quality but certainly e-mailable." Eventually, predicts Mahseredjian, these combination models will not only improve, but will be the way of the future. "Down the line, you'll have one camcorder to take both stills and videos," he says.

Deciding on features

Once you've made the big decision - digital or analog - you'll need to tackle the smaller ones concerning features and formats. And be warned: there are plenty of small decisions to make. Do you want high-speed recording, optical and digital zoom control, dual video and audio output? Is character generator capability, which allows you to add titles to your tapes, important to you? Will you be using special effects like fades, wipes, dissolves and dropouts? And what about all those auto features - autofocus and macrofocus, autodub and autoexposure? Some camcorders even come with a built-in colour printer!

The array of features available on both analog and digital camcorders is so vast it's mind-boggling. But take a minute - or 2 or more - to list what you need and want. If you plan to do wedding videos as a part-time hobby, then you'll probably need special effects and character generator capability. If your needs are more basic, then these features can go under your "want" or "nice to have" column. As with anything else, make sure you know what it is and what it does before you pay extra for it.

If you're taking the digital path, you'll also have to decide between 2 video formats: Digital8, which is proprietary to Sony, and mini digital video or mini-DV. A Digital8 tape will run out at 60 minutes while a mini-DV can go as long as 80 minutes. Digital8 tapes are also cheaper. The most significant difference between the 2 formats is that a Digital8 camcorder will play back those high-band 8 millimetre tapes used in older model analog camcorders. So you can revisit those videos showing you and your friends with fewer wrinkles and, in some cases, more hair.

Glossary

Backlighting occurs when your subject is lit from behind by a light source or a reflective surface. This results in your subject appearing as a silhouette or an entirely dark frame.

Freeze frame refers to an action frozen on-screen. In essence, this special effect creates a still and soundless image.

Lux is the measure of light sensitivity, which determines whether or not your camera can take pictures in dim light. The lower the lux rating, the more sensitive a video camera is to light, and the better images it will take in dim light.

Quirks

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