Camcorders are getting so small that the benefits of tiny easy, to use cameras are being outweighed by the drawbacks of poor video results. So, yes you can take a video record of you backpacking adventure or get some real-life action without calling attention to the camera, but techniques need to be adjusted so the video you actually capture is watchable.

Here are some things users of mini DV or hard drive camcorders need to know and practice for great results.

Keep the lens clean – This seems obvious, but like most eyeglass wearers know, you can see through a lot of gunk. In fact it is usually someone else that reminds you there is a pound of dirt on your specs. If you are in a dusty environment, look at the lens from the front and have a soft cloth designed for lenses to keep it free of dirt. This keeps the out of the picture when you turn the camera to a light source or towards the sun.

Don’t shoot the Sun – Try to keep the sun at your back when shooting. Plan your shot and check the sun. Your subject will benefit from the light and colors will be more saturated. If you need to shoot to the sun or it is low in the sky, either stand in the shade of a tree or hold a hat up to shade the lens.

Use a polarizing filter – These filters get rid of uneven reflections caused by the light hitting the object you are shooting or reflecting off of water. This is a must have for anyone shooting outdoors. Your colors will be less washed out and sky and water will look fantastic.

Inside/Outside – Try to avoid shooting video outside to inside and vice-versa. Depending on the camera, you will get various degrees of washout or total darkness, which can be unpleasant to view. In most cases it is better to take a shot of the outside, stop, move inside and shoot again.

Short shots – Keep most of your shots short. 5 seconds is a good standard. Take a shot, move to a different angle and shoot the same thing again. Take an establishing shot from a distance, then a medium shot and a close up, stopping the camera between shots.

Zoom Doom – Be careful of digital zoom. In most cameras they advertise a huge 360x zoom, etc. Do your viewers a favor and turn it off. The quality drops dramatically when you go beyond the optical range of your camcorder and unless you have a tripod on a perfectly windless day you will have a lot of shake. It is best to use the zoom to get more or less of a scene in the frame. When you want to get close to an object, zoom in, set up your shot and then start rolling and don’t pan the camera when you are zoomed in. Going from a zoomed in shot slowly to a wide angle can be very effective and dramatic, but practice a couple of times to get the desired effect, before you record. If you really pay attention you will notice in movies any zooming is very subtle and slow. In short, you are best to get the lens on the subject then shoot.

Wide Angle Lens – This is another must have for any videographer. Great for indoors; you will need less side-to-side motion and you can hold the camera steadier. For outdoors you can get more of the scenery in. You will lose a bit of your overall zoom capabilities, but these can be spun off in a hurry if you need to get closer.

More Gear – A tripod will give you the best results when shooting scenery and wildlife, especially if you are trying to get close with the zoom. There are a number of gadgets that can be used to steady a camera. Where size and weight matters, a monopod can be light and compact and give great results.

Slow and Steady – If you can’t bring a tripod or monopod use your body. Rest the camera on your knee or lean up against a rock or tree. Another great trick is to use the flip out screen to your advantage. Hold the camera in your right hand at a comfortable position in front of your chest, and cradle the viewfinder in your left, tilting the viewfinder slightly upward. You can try other variations of this – the key is to use both hands and “float” the camera. If you can fashion a hood for the viewfinder to block the ambient light for better viewing, or use the eyepiece to set your shot up first.

Pops and Clicks – Another reason to not zoom as you are shooting is that most cameras will make a clicking noise as you move the zoom control. The built in microphones are very sensitive to hand noises. If your camera has a wind-cut filter use it if you are in a windy environment or even cup your hand slightly over the microphone without touching it. This will block the wind without muting other sounds. External or wireless microphones are great as they disconnect the on-camera mic. Keep in mind, if you are close to the camera, heavy breathing, coughing, etc., are picked up.

Work Your Angles – When shooting your subject, look at it like you are seeing it on TV. Try to visualize what the viewer will see. Does it make sense or will people be turning their heads sideways to try and figure out what it is.

Know your gear – Bring the manual along. Once you start using the camera more the manual will help you unlock features, and solve problems that you have experienced. If you try to read the entire manual before using the camera, chances are good it won’t make much sense until you actually get your ands on it.

Check your settings- Make sure your settings have not changed or you have not accidentally switched something that alters the functions you expect. Were you experimenting with exposure settings and forgot to switch back to auto? Before you head out for he day check your tape has lots of room and the battery is charged fully.

Watch Your Feet – A common problem with camcorder users is the foot shot. You stop the camera after a shot, but you either press the button too lightly or double pressed it. Now you are recording when you don’t want to (usually a nice shot of your hiking boots) and when camera is raised to take the shot – you stop the recording! This happens to all of us. The best remedy is to always be aware of the record mode.

Edit on the fly – If you have taken a shot that is washed out or just seems redundant, delete it by using the record edit button on the camera. The camera should be in the record standby mode. Press the edit search button on the minus or plus side to go backward or forward. You will see the video in the viewfinder of screen. Stop and adjust forward or back until you have hit the spot you want to star recording at, then release the edit search button and the camera will be ready to start recording from that point. This method is great if you have a DVD camera or plan on going direct to DVD without editing afterwards.

Save the sound – Many times the picture may not be any good, but the sound at the time is fantastic. Be aware of the sights and sounds as you record. Just because a head has popped up in front of your view as you video your child’s piano recital, the sound keeps recording. Don’t stop the camera and get another angle. The sound will have a gap. You can always edit out the heads by overlaying some “B-roll”(see next tip) or put some photos of little Suzie getting her blue ribbon, or still of her playing piano. Think of your camera as a high quality digital audio recorder. The sound is really good, so even if you are in total darkness, but the sound is good, get close to the sound source (especially if it is someone speaking) and try to not fidget with the camera. If the sound is very loud, you may want to get away from the sound or turn the cameraaway from the sound.

B-Roll – This is the background stuff, crowd scenes, and shots of awards, trophies or scenery that is inserted when you have a video of a person talking. It jazzes he scene up and can be used to emphasize what the talking head is talking about. It is a good idea to take some static shots, or slow pans of scenery or objects that can be inserted afterward.