Digital effects, image quality, and easier editing options are only a few of the enhanced features that come with most entry-level digital video cameras.

These technologies are available to consumers at present as everyone becomes more digitally aware and involved. Many of the DV cameras also allow you to take still images and photographs, but do not expect the same quality as you would a digital still camera.

"Look around, see what is available and in your price range. Most importantly, find a DV camera that suits your needs."

For someone who just wants to have a bit of fun but also wants the capabilities to use it for work purposes, an entry level DV camera is a great place to start. The main thing you need to make sure of is that you get a camera that suits your needs. Some cameras may come with a bag full of extras, which you may never use, while if you settle for a cheap camera you may not receive the quality or video results you expected. All entry level DV cameras are priced around $1000 or less and there is no better time to jump right in and get started. The best feature in DV cameras is that you get a video and a still camera in one.

However, do not think that all DV cameras have great quality and are easy to use. Limitations in some of the DV cameras include poor quality in digital still images, difficulty downloading your video onto your computer, even if you are using a USB connection and the editing software that accompanies the cameras can vary from being useful and easy to use to just being average. The first feature I am sure most buyers will look for above all else is the image quality it produces and how many megapixels it has.

Image Quality and Megapixels

For those who are not familiar with the term megapixels, I will briefly explain what it is. A pixel is what they call a "picture element" or simply a dot on your screen or in a picture. One megapixel is 1 million pixels, 2 megapixels is 2 million pixels etc... The more pixels, all other things being equal (such as the lens, the sensor and the electronics in the camera) the finer the resolution and the bigger you can blow your picture up. The enlarged picture looks richer and contains more detail than if you were to take the same picture from a camera with a lower pixel count.

Megapixels range from -1 to 6+ megapixels, so how do you know which one is right for you?

The amount of pixels / megapixels you need depends on what you want to use it for. If you just want to take photographs for printing or emailing, the minimum you should aim for is a camera with 1.3 megapixels or 1,280 x 960 dpi (dots per inch). It is also a big advantage if you can find a DV camera that records your photos onto a memory card, rather than the traditional tape. With this in mind you can also avoid cameras that produce low resolution still images.

Some of the higher range, more expensive cameras offer a still image resolution that are as high or equal to some digital still cameras. Unfortunately, the highest resolution for most entry level DV cameras is 640 x 480 (VGA), which is only good if you want to email or post them up on a website, but not good enough for printing.

Entry level DV cameras also have limitations in the image quality they provide. Most people believe that the image quality provided by the digital video will be better than VHS quality, and once again this is true in the higher range, more expensive cameras, but not always the case with your entry level cameras. VHS quality is about standard in a DV camera.

When you are out looking for the DV camera that suits you, do not fall into the trap or hype that is the digital zoom. Ask most professional photographers and they will all agree that digital zoom is probably the most useless feature in cameras and yet never before has something so useless sold so many cameras, mainly because consumers just get caught up in the hype of it all.

The digital zoon is used to add pixels to an image in a software editing program, which enables it to magnify the image. It works reasonably well to the power of 2x or 3x but any higher and it just becomes a blur. So when you are shopping around just keep in mind that the digital zoom feature is for the most part useless because you can always crop and enlarge your picture with the editing software on your computer.

What once cost $3000 or more a few years ago has now dramatically been reduced in price, therefore allowing more people interested in filming and photography to take an active role and purchase a DV camera to see what they can do.

Look around, see what is available and in your price range. Most importantly, find a DV camera that suits your needs. You may spend a little more than you wanted in the end but remember that whatever you choose you are willing to make the investment and will not have to settle for average or ordinary video quality again. Plus the high quality footage you capture will definitely put your old analog camera to shame.