On the Road with Your Camcorder

At least 40% of all U.S. households own some type of camcorder according to Consumer Electronics Association. Used primarily for recording special events and family trips, camcorders have become a must-pack item whether it’s for a weekend of skiing an hour from home or ten days on a warm beach halfway across the world.

Your camcorder is a sensitive piece of equipment, subject to impact, changes in temperature and other effects of nature like sand and water when you take it on the road. Here are TopTenREVIEWS’ most effective safety precautions to ensure your camcorder makes it safely back home.

• Buy a padded travel bag and be sure it fits your camera providing protection from jostling in busy airports, off road bumps and inadvertent drops.
• Keep little hands away from the camcorder, it’s not a toy.
• Put the lens cap on when you are not using your camcorder, and keep the screen and lens out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
• Watch for the safety mode to appear on your camcorder; you may see a “Remove the Cassette” message indicating the safety mode has been activated. Activation occurs when the camera is dropped, when condensation is detected, when sand or grit penetrates the camcorder’s tape drive mechanism, and other potentially damaging events occur. If safety mode is activated, see your user’s manual to clear the problem; you will not be able to use the camera while it is in safety mode.
• Double bag: If you’re going by air, always pack your camcorder in its case in your carry-on bag. When you go through security, you’ll save time if you remove the camcorder and put it in a bin as you would with your laptop. Inevitably, security will want to check the camcorder.

Plan to edit your video on the road? Some hotels now offer a variety of plug-ins for a variety of electronic devices. Marriott offers a Plug-It-All-In room compatible with your laptop, MP3 player, digital cameras and camcorders. You’ll have a finished movie to share before you get home.