Do you and your family love outdoor activities and sports? Or are you a frequent traveler who loves taking footage of the places that you visit?
If your lifestyle means that you take more videos in the outdoors then you should consider getting a video camera that is more appropriate for outdoor use.
It may surprise you that there actually some features that are better for outdoor use. Here are some tips on how to choose a camcorder for the outdoors.
The screen
There are some screens that are very reflective, this means that you won’t be able to see much if you look at it in strong sunlight. Look for a non-reflective screen, which will allow you view the screen more easily outdoors.
Weight
Going outdoors means that you will want to keep any extraneous weight to a minimum. Choose a camera that is lightweight and is not too bulky. This is an especially important factor to consider if your preferred outdoor activity is trekking or mountain climbing.
Look at the zoom levels
Being in the outdoors means you’ll have expansive views of your environment. To really get stunning footage you’ll want a camcorder that has superb zoom capabilities. A good zoom will mean you can zoom in and focus on objects at a far distance. The higher the zoom the farther away it can zoom. Go for a camcorder that has a high optical zoom as opposed to digital zoom. Optical zoom means the optics do the zooming function, which produces more clarity in videos. Digital zoom pixelizes when you zoom to much. Also look for a camcorder that has a higher CCD as it also produces better color and sharpness.
Front-facing mic
You’ll want to get a camcorder with the mic located in front. You want to get the sounds that are coming from the direction you’re pointing the camera and not anywhere else. A mic located at the top will usually pick up the sounds from the videographer too, which is not really a good thing especially if you’re trying to zoom in on some beautiful birds on a tree in front of you. Better yet, get a camcorder with zoom mics. This feature means that the camcorder will also zoom in on the audio of the scene you’re zooming in.
Noise reduction is important
The outdoors is beautiful but one thing that may annoy you when shooting videos is the noise. Being in the outdoors means you’ll pick up noise from practically everywhere. To reduce all of the unwanted noise, get a camcorder with noise reduction features. A camcorder with a windscreen will reduce the ‘whooshing’ sound, which is the wind rushing through your camcorder’s microphone. Another noise reduction feature that you can look out for is one that reduces the noise of the camcorder itself.
Battery life
Being outdoors means you won’t have ready access to an electrical outlet. You need to find a camcorder that has a long battery life. A good alternative is to find solar batteries that fit the camcorder you plan to buy.
Ready to shop for a camera? Read our article on camera features, then get the most out of your new gadget with tips on how to take good video footage.
Photo from abouttheimage.com