Combination camcorder cameras have swamped the market, but is it really smart to double up your camcorder as a camera? Critics disagree. On the one hand, you can save hundreds of dollars on digital photography by getting one piece of equipment for audio and stills. On the other hand, the still pictures taken by most mid-level DVD camcorders leave much to be desired, especially in the way of focus and brightness. What's more, camcorder manufacturers try to play up features like 300 and 400 time zooms to make it seem like you can get photographic quality stills. The reality, however, is that these wide zooms generally sacrifice image integrity. To get the kind of still shot capacity you want in a digital camera camcorder, you may have to spend several thousand dollars. Digital camera camcorders vary widely in price, from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The key to pricing camcorder cameras is to figure out your range of purposes first. Are you an aspiring filmmaker / documentarian? Are you a professor taping guest lecturers for further study? Are you an avid home video enthusiast who wants to document your cat's wildest moments or baby's first words? Each video owner will seek a different set of features. One great way to parse camera camcorder options is to consult with other digital mavens online at designated forums. Learn the terminology, features, and accessories that come with various camera camcorders, and you will make smarter pricing decisions. It may also behoove you to get a microphone attachment to prevent ambient noise from infiltrating your home videos. | 
