Camcorder Protection
What does a "head-cleaning tape" do and how do I use it?
What is a "UV filter" and why would I put it on my camcorder?
UV filters, sometimes called skylight filters, are there just to protect the front lens. There are a couple of things you want to think about. Does your camcorder have a built in lens cover? That's a fairly common feature on newer cameras these days. Even though we've always recommended UV filters in the past, it is not as necessary as it used to be. You're going to find that some of the lower priced camcorders don't even offer that as a feature because they are no longer threaded; they don't take filters. So, take a look, find out if you need a UV filter. If you do, it's good protection, they're not expensive, and if you ever scratch a filter, it's time to consider yourself lucky because that would've been the lens you had just scratched. So, you might want to consider it. Talk to your saleperson a little bit about it, see if a UV filter is a good idea for you.
What accessory will help me protect my camcorder?
A camcorder is a pretty major investment, and you need to protect that investment in some way, so I would suggest at the very least, you'll want a camcorder case for protection. Now, those cases come in all sizes and shapes. Are you just keeping the camera in it; or all your tapes in it; do you keep all your batteries in it; maybe you want one big enough to even hold your still camera; anything from a fanny pack to something the size of a piece of luggage. So it really depends on what you're going to do with this camera as to how you protect it. Whatever you do, you need to protect it, so look for a good case - something sturdy, something to keep the elements away from your camera, depending on what your particular needs are.
How do I protect my camcorder from water?
The cases designed to protect cameras go from something very simple as a protective bag that looks no more than a ziplock bag, to more elaborate housings that you could even dive with. Really it's always a good idea to have at least something with you to protect your camera from water. If you have to shoot in the rain, cover it somehow, but otherwise I would suggest you put the camera away in hazardous (wet) environments.
