Technology is changing so fast these days that the new camcorder you bought only a year ago has now become obsolete. Utterly confused by this rapid technological progress, the most you can do is rely heavily on product reviews to make a decision as to which brand and model of camcorder you are going to buy. But unfortunately, all of them cannot be trusted, as not all sources of information for consumers to make a choice between, say a Sony and a Panasonic digital camcorder are unbiased.

Most companies dealing in electronic goods rely heavily on their products getting good reviews so that they record a brisk sale. But the newspaper article may be based on the information sent by the manufacturer; the retailer may push a product that earns them better margins; and the online site may work on a commission basis from a particular brand. What you need is an unbiased review, which can be found in consumer camcorder magazines or web sites that discuss in detail each camcorder's relative merits and demerits. You will find plenty of them; just extract the truth from them.

As analog camcorders are now an almost extinct species, you have to choose from the selection of digital camcorders that are available. For making the right choice from so many fiercely competing brands, you should closely consider the following things: price, charge couple device (CCD), media choice, LCDs and playback.

Be prepared to pay a few hundred dollars for entry-level digital camcorders, and thousands for top-of-the-line versions. If the size of a CCD is large and they are more in number, the camcorder will be more costly. You must decide whether you need a camcorder that records onto tape. You need a camcorder with an LCD screen if you want to view your recording straightaway. Once you have considered these things, choose the brand accordingly.