The line separating digital cameras and camcorders is getting blurry.
While digital cameras and camcorders are two entirely different consumer devices, the line separating the two has started to get blurry. Whereas once you would buy a camcorder for video and a camera for pictures, now you can buy cameras that shoot video and camcorders that can also take pictures. Despite their growing similarities, there are a few things that separate digital cameras from camcorders.
Features
Many camcorders and cameras have built-in features that are unique to the particular device. For instance, a camcorder may allow you adjust your shutter speed or field of view for shooting video. However, on a digital camera, your video option will be to simply point and shoot. Likewise, many digital cameras offer options that allow you to change the ISO (similar to changing film speeds in a traditional camera), aperture and other functions that are simply not available on their camcorder counterparts.
Lenses
Digital cameras and camcorders take entirely different types of lenses. If you have a digital SLR, then there are a variety of zoom lenses, wide-angle lenses and creative lenses available for your camera. Most camcorders do not offer much in the way of additional lenses. Camcorders that do have interchangeable lenses are typically high-end professional models with options limited to wide-angle and telephoto lenses.
Storage Capacity
Most digital cameras save both video and photos onto memory cards. Those memory cards will have a maximum storage capacity of a few GB (gigabytes), which is only enough to hold a small amount of video. On the other hand, a hard-drive digital camcorder can have a built-in hard drive of 160+ GB, making it possible for hold substantially more video at a time than its still camera counterparts.
Audio Quality
Many camcorders offer the ability to connect an external microphone to the camcorder to record audio, resulting in a much higher-quality audio experience. Camcorders can also often record in stereo sound. Digital cameras, however, typically do not offer the option to connect an external microphone, and will record only one audio track rather than stereo sound.
Structure
Ultimately, digital cameras and camcorders are built for the particular jobs they are meant to do. It is often a lot easier to take a still picture with a digital camera than it is with a camcorder. Likewise, it is more intuitive for many to hold a camcorder and shoot a video than it is to do the same thing with a still camera. The body design of both devices is made for the optimal experience while using each specific device.
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