"I see many digital cameras that say they can take digital stills as well as digital video footage. I see digital camcorders that boost they can take digital video (obviously) as well as digital stills. Can someone explain the difference between the two? Is it better to have a camcorder for video footage only and a separate digital camera for photos only? I'm confused about what sets the two apart. Thanks for taking the time out to answer."
While digital cameras and camcorders are two entirely different consumer devices, the line separating the two has started to get blurry. Whereas once you would buy a camcorder for video and a camera for pictures, now you can buy cameras that shoot video and camcorders that can also take pictures. Despite their growing similarities, there are a few things that separate digital cameras from camcorders.
Features
Many camcorders and cameras have built-in features that are unique to the particular device. For instance, a camcorder may allow you adjust your shutter speed or field of view for shooting video. However, on a digital camera, your video option will be to simply point and shoot. Likewise, many digital cameras offer options that allow you to change the ISO (similar to changing film speeds in a traditional camera), aperture and other functions that are simply not available on their camcorder counterparts.
Video Quality
Though some digital cameras are offering 720p video recording, very few compact can match the higher quality 1080p video recorded by even mid-level camcorders. Even in standard definition, the gulf in quality can be significant. Standard definition camcorders will capture video at a higher bit rate than a digital still camera.
Audio Quality
Many camcorders offer the ability to connect an external microphone to the camcorder to record audio, resulting in a much higher-quality audio experience. Camcorders can also often record in stereo sound. Digital cameras, however, typically do not offer the option to connect an external microphone, and will record only one audio track rather than stereo sound.
Lenses
Digital cameras and camcorders take entirely different types of lenses. A camcorder lens will typically offer a far more robust zoom, giving you greater magnification. While there are a number of long zoom still cameras on the market, they still can’t touch the 30x or 60x lenses available on some camcorders.
Storage Capacity
Most digital cameras save both video and photos onto memory cards. Those memory cards will have a maximum storage capacity of a few GB (gigabytes), which is only enough to hold a small amount of video. On the other hand, a hard-drive digital camcorder can have a built-in hard drive of 160+ GB, making it possible for hold substantially more video at a time than its still camera counterparts.
Ergonomics
Ultimately, digital cameras and camcorders are built for the particular jobs they are meant to do. Camcorders are designed to be held aloft and steady for longer periods of time. While cameras are not. Camcorder LCD displays can be rotated to give you a multitude of angles. Most still cameras have fixed displays that can't be moved. And the body design of both devices is made for the optimal experience while using each specific device.
Coming to the comparison between camcorders and digital cameras, one thing is for sure. No one can comment on the usability or effectiveness of one over the other. Both have their own pros and cons and it depends on the user's preference as to which one he chooses. Now I think those people who are wandering between digital camcorder and camera can make their decisions easily. Here are the top 10 best camcorders for you as a reference.
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Many cameras and digital camcorders use AVCHD and MP4 to store recorded videos. While AVCHD videos offer high quality and high resolution, AVCHD as a file format is not as widely supported as MP4 and other popular video formats. To upload your videos to YouTube and other websites or to edit them using editing software, you may need to convert AVCHD files to MP4. iFunia Video Converter for Mac can work as a powerful AVCHD converter. It supports tons of input and output formats. Using it, you can easily convert AVCHD videos to MP4 or other desired video/audio formats on Mac with ease and quality.
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