Can my digital still camera capture high-quality video?

Can my digital still camera capture high-quality video?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: How do types of camcorders differ?; What are the pros and cons of camcorders that record directly to mini-dv?; What are the pros and cons of camcorders that record directly to DVD? and more...

When you go shopping for a video camera you may be tempted to stop by the still camera counter as well to see what it can do in terms of video. Most all video cameras are now recording stills and most all still cameras are also recording some sort of motion as well onto whatever media they choose. But look at the way a camera is designed. A camcorder is designed to shoot video, with kind of the added bonus of taking stills. A still camera is designed to shoot stills, with kind of the added bonus of shooting motion video as well. If your primary focus for buying a camera is to be shooting video, then that should be the focus when your selecting a camera. If your out there looking to shoot stills and you want that little extra plus of recording video to a card, they can do that, but that's always secondary. So really, you've got to buy the right camera for the right tool, even though some of these are starting to cross over these days.