Digital Camcorders for Teens
When picking a digital camcorder for a teenager, think compact, easy to use, easy to share. Digital camcorders fit these requirements perfectly. Your teenager can shoot the video, edit it right on the camcorder and instantly share with his friends. Of course, editing on a computer is an option too, but ease of use and short time from production to release is important. Another option worth considering, is a waterproof digital camcorder. If your teen is into snowboarding or swimming – you definitely want a camcorder that can handle moisture.
What makes camcorders a great gift is that they combine video recording and shooting still images. Video is everywhere now – just look at how much time your teenager spends on YouTube. Give them some tools to express themselves an try producing videos on their own.
Surprisingly, giving a camcorder as a gift is not going to break your budget. There are several fantastic options on the market. Let’s go down Amazon’s bestselling list.
First, products from Flip Video. There are two models worth considering, Flip Ultra and Flip Mino. Mino is smaller. Both have High Definition video models and regular definition. If the final product will be on YouTube only, consider regular definition model if you would like to save money: when uploading video to YouTube, it will be processed down to high quality.
Both Ultra and Mino is on their second generation model, so here is the breakdown.
Flip Ultra
Flip UltraHD Camcorder has been the best seller for a while. It produces excellent HD video and fantastic still pictures. It is easy to use and share with a push of a button. 2 hours of record time is usually enough for a small production video. With the 2nd generation camcorder released recently, the prices on this model are coming down. It sells for $159.95 (black). White model is very slightly cheaper: $159.00
Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation is another great camcorder. It does not shoot video in HD, but has all the same features as the HD model. If your teen plans to share videos on YouTube mostly, this is a great choice for a gift. When uploading to YouTube, the video does not get saved in high definition, just high quality. The price of this camcorder is very attractive – $128.00 for 2 hours of VGA-quality video recorded on 4GB of memory. And just for fashion-conscious girl, you have your choice of a pink, white or yellow camcorder.
Flip Mino
Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation is the second best selling camcorder on the market. It is the second generation Flip MinoHD camcorder and boasts some upgrades and improved features. We reviewed Flip MinoHD Camcorder (second generation) recently. It has better movie processing software, better battery life, larger LCD screen and double memory. It will set you back $223.98 but if you can swing it and your teen is very much into video, this camcorder will be the nicest gift you can ever give a teenager.
Flip MinoHD Camcorder is the older model. It can record 1 hour of video ( compared to 2 hours if you get 2nd generation ). Frankly, the second generation is definitely worth upgrading to. If you are trying to stay on budget, consider buying second generation Flip Camcorder that fits your budget. The improvements are really worth the money. This camcorder sells for $169.00. Another attractive feature is that it has all kinds of funky skins.
Wearable Camcorder
ContourHD – HD Helmet Camera by VholdR is a mind-blowing gift for a teen who is into active sports. Bikers, snowboarders, climbers – all will benefit from this camcorder that mounts on a helmet. Read the review of VholdR ContourHD 1080p Full HD Wearable Camera on this site. It is super easy to operate, produces great quality video and it is durable. It is pricey – $279.99.
The non-HD model is still $249.99. Record 2 hours of TV quality video on a removable microSD memory card. VholdR includes camera-integrated software for easy downloading, organizing, and uploading your video. Connects to your PC through a USB port. Alternatively, eject the tiny MicroSD card and download your video through a card reader. For $30 more you get HD and an upgraded model. I think, it is worth it if you are already forking up big bucks for the camcorder.
Waterproof Camcorder
Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2 Digital Camcorder and 8 MP Digital Camera is my personal favorite. I have used it on the slopes for a couple of years and it delivered fabulous results. Xacti VPC-E2 Records full 640×480 resolution video and 8 megapixel still images. It has an SD card expansion slot and will record up to 8 hours of video on an 8 GB card. It has a “sleep” mode to save the battery but when you need to capture some action, it is ready to go instantly.
It is easy to edit video right on the camcorder, upload it to Facebook – and you are all set. Xacti VPC-E2 connects to your computer and television. It is waterproof, compact, durable, and easy to use. Currently the price is $175.90 down from $399.00 – great deal!
No matter what camcorder your choose, your teen will be thrilled. Just watch them take their camera on trips and share the video with you. You might have to sign up for Facebook or join the YouTube community. Seeing a smiling face of your teenager when they open their gift will make it all worthwhile.
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