Camcorder vs Camera

Some customers want the best of both worlds. They want to make movies as well as take still pictures. So the question often surfaces, which is better, a camcorder that can take still pictures, or a camera that can record movies.

To answer that first let's consider an analogy. A restaurant in a bar or a bar in a restaurant. If you go to a bar and order food you get chicken wings. If you go to a restaurant and order alcohol you get wine (ok, you can get more but your choices are usually more limited than in a bar).

A camcorder that can also take still pictures takes low quality pictures (usually 2 megapixel or less) and doesn't have all the features of the still camera. Attempt to set your shutter speed and aperture on a camcorder, forget it. Where is the portrait, landscape, and sports setting on a camcorder? Nonexistent. The list of features on a still camera that is NOT on a camcorder is pretty lengthy.

Now let's consider still cameras that can make movies. How long of a movie do you want to make? Some cameras limit the movie length to a half a minute. Those that let you record to the end of the card still can only put about 20 minutes of movie on a 512 card. Camcorder dvc tapes allow you to record an hour or two of high quality movie. Here is another issue with recording movies on a still camera's memory card, most people don't realize that will eat up most, or all, of the card. Customers frequently come into the store and say, "my card is full but the camera (or computer) only shows 5 pictures on it." There are 5 pictures and one (or more) movies. Some computers can only see the still pictures (like those in camera store lobbies specifically made for printing still pictures). What about the quality of the still camera's movie? Most of them display on a tiny screen on your computer (a couple inches by a couple inches). Camcorders play back on a tv or computer screen full sized.

There are some exceptions to the above overview, but I have yet to see a camcorder that is feature rich when it comes to making still pictures. So the best solution for someone who wants to do still pics sometimes and make movies sometimes is to buy both and use the right tool for the right job. If you usually want to take still pics and once in a great while want to make a short movie, sure get a still camera that can make movies. If you usually want to make movies and once in a great while want a still pic, buy both. Still cameras are pretty reasonable and even an inexpensive still camera will give you better pics than a camcorder. Besides, who only wants still pics once in a great while?

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