Considering the LCD Panel When Purchasing a Digital Video Camera

The LCD panel is a vital part of your camera, and should be one of the things you consider when making camera purchasing decisions. Here are a few things to keep in mind when checking out the LCD.

Buying a Camera

When you are considering the purchase of a new digital video camera you have a lot to consider. The quality of the image it produces, the size and versatility of the camera, and the number of options are all important things to consider. One very important element of a digital video camera that tends to get overlooked is the quality of the LCD panel where you view the image. Though you usually have the ability to actually look in the viewfinder, the LCD gives you more detail about what will actually end up on the screen and how the framing is balanced. When looking at the LCD panel there is a number of things to consider.

Colors

There is no real consensus on which is better: black and white or color. It may seem natural that color is the correct answer, and it may be for many home digital video producers. Color images will give you a better idea of what will be on the screen, but black and white helps the videographer pay closer attention to exposure. The black and white preference is usually for professionals, so unless you are doing high-end commercial productions it may be best to just go with the color display.

Pixels

The resolution and clarity of the image, measured by the number of pixels, is also very important in the LCD. The higher the pixel number, the clearer and more vibrant the LCD image will be. That will then give you a better idea of what kid of image you are looking at. Most consumer cameras run from 110,000 pixels to 185,000 pixels, but it is not advisable to buy anything with fewer than 150,000.

Mobility

Make sure that the camera does not have a fixed LCD panel, and that it has a nice range of motion. This is important when you are getting a variety of different angles and perspectives. If the LCD panel does not move around then it will be hard to see when you are in creative locations. This is a common feature on most camcorders so you really should not even consider one with a fixed position.

Diopter

The viewfinder and LCD both are hard to see for most people, and that’s why a focus diopter is also a great addition. This is a wheel that helps focus the image of the LCD or viewfinder, and is good for people that do not have the best eyesight.

Feel It

The most important thing to consider when looking at a home or professional digital video camera is how you will feel using it. If you can imagine capturing compelling imagery with the LCD panel you are looking at, then you should be pretty safe.