The Sound and Picture Quality

You must get value for your money and therefore you should choose a
camera with best sound and picture quality. Go on, read some reviews,
ask question in forums and then decide.

The shape and size

It is usually though that a smaller size is better but you need to know
the purpose of your camera to decide on the size and shape. If you are a
frequent traveler, a compact HD video camera would suit you best but if
you are going to use it at home, then a larger and more stable camera
will work for you. Visit a store and try out a few cameras, check the
positioning of controls and how comfortable they are before deciding.

Recording Format

This is one of the most important factors and depends on how you intend
to use your camcorder. If you are going to post video online, you
should opt for a model with flash memory card. But if you do not plan to
edit your video – you should prefer a DVD camcorder. For an amateur
filmmaker a MiniDV with HD would be best. The digital format should be
chose carefully according to your needs.

Lighting

The better the light, the better the video. However, lighting
conditions for beginners at home may not be ideal all the time. You
should make sure that the camcorder you buy has a good low light
performance.

The screen size

A large enough display is always best for beginners. Try to buy a video camera with a large LCD size.

Zoom and focus

Most digital video cameras have both digital as well as optical zoom.
But beginners do not always know that optical zoom is a better
technology that helps in capturing clearer video. If you are a beginner,
you may not really need manual focus. Auto-focus would work fine for
you and you would not have to worry about mastering focus if you are a
starter. However, if you plan on professional photography, getting a
camera with a manual focus is a plus.

CCD

One CCD is great and you can get a good picture but if you want a truly amazing pictured try getting 3CCDs.

Now these are just a few points, you should consider when buying a
professional video camera. What is more important is, the purpose for
which you are going to use the camera. All other features need to be
decided based on this purpose only. You should read as many customer
reviews as you can so as to get the best deal. Try going to a store so
as to check out the models yourself. Do not worry about the major high
end cameras; select one that would be easy to use for you.

Panasonic has some great range of digital video cameras for beginners; you can check them out too.