Here are more features to consider:

A microphone jack - microphones attached to the camera produce better quality than a built-in mike. Time code numbers that appear on the screen tell exactly where you are on the tape. FireWire-this high-speed digital transfer protocol comes with a 4 or 6 pin cable connector. I like the 4 pin, because the 6 pin still has some bugs when it's used for editing.

How many CCD chips? The chips pick up the optical image in front of the camera. The larger the chip, the better the image quality. A one-chip camera gathers all three colors - red, green and blue - on one chip. The high-end 3-chip camera has one chip for each color, so contrast, visual depth and detail are much better. Because the primary video colors are each gathered on their own chip, color controls are also more sensitive.

Some DV cameras offer sharp digital picture and professional sound and can play high-8 and 8-mm cassettes. Most DV cameras use the Mini DV 60 Min SP tapes. Some take the larger DV SP 120 Min. DVCPRO by Panasonic is excellent, but the cost isn't low enough yet. DV tape will not play back in a VCR, so you must use your camera as a player. Player/recorder DV units are available, but they start at $5000.

Recording time of popular formats:

VHS-C 2 hours at EP speed, 40 minutes at SP
8 mm 4 hours at EP speed, 2 12 hours at SP
Digital 1 hour (standard)

Lines of resolution:
VHS: 230 to 240 lines of resolution
VHS-C: 230 to 240 lines
S-VHS: 400 lines
8 mm: 270 to 290 lines
Hi8: 400+ lines
Digital/Digital8: 500 lines

Still cameras: If you take a lot of digital images, your camera needs an advanced still image function. Some have floppy drives in addition to digital.

Shutter speed: Controls the amount of time each frame of the videotape is exposed to light. Most camcorders offer shutter speeds of between 1/60 to 1/4,000 of a second. Higher-end models reach 1/10,000 of a second. Low light environments require a slow shutter speed. Bright lights and quick action need fast shutter speeds. If you're not shooting the NBA or the Winter Olympics, the extremely fast shutter speeds are not necessary.

Batteries: All camcorders use rechargeable batteries, which have to be completely drained before charging, otherwise, they lose power. This is referred to as "memory effect." Lithium ion (Li) batteries, however, don't suffer from memory effect, they weigh less than standard batteries and they last up to two hours. Be sure the model you chose can use a Li battery. If it cannot, it will use one of two common types of camcorder battery-nickel cadmium (NiCad) or nickel hydride (NiH). Memory effect plagues both of these. NiCad batteries can run for nearly an hour if properly maintained. NiH batteries will run up to two hours. A larger-capacity battery is available for around $60 which will double these running times.