What is an "LCD'" and what kind do I need for my camcorder?

What is an "LCD'" and what kind do I need for my camcorder?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: How do I decide which camcorder to buy?; What factors should I consider when comparing one camcorder to another?; What camcorder features are unnecessary? and more...

When you go shopping for a camcorder, everybody's going to tell you the size of the LCD meaning the liquid crystal display. And when they say LCD they mean the little viewfinder or the little television that flips out from the side of your camcorder. Bigger is better but it tends to make the camera bigger and harder to carry around. So it's really a matter of how big a camera do you want, you'll get a bigger screen. One thing to know about LCDs is sometimes they're a little difficult to see outside in bright sunlight. You're fooling yourself if you think in a bright sunlight you can actually see all that information. That's a good time to flip the side back in and default back to the standard LCS viewfinder.