What camcorder features do I need for sports?

What camcorder features do I need for sports?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What camcorder features do I need for making video blogs?; What camcorder features do I need for sports?; What camcorder features do I need for family events? and more...

If your primary reason for buying a camcorder is to shoot sports, the features I would look for first are: The longest optical zoom you can buy. Optical zoom is going to give you the best image quality and when you're looking for zooms, typically, manufacturers put on there the total zoom, which is the combination of optical and digital zooming. Although digital zooming will get you closer, it will cost you in picture quality. So, look for the longest optical zoom you can find when shooting sports. Also, look for the best stabilization system you can get. You might want to consider the low-light properties of the camera as well; you're shooting under all sorts of conditions when you're shooting sports. But for sports, zoom is your biggest issue.