Decorating the tree, opening presents and visiting relatives can only mean one thing: It's time to capture memories. Fortunately, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a high-end camcorder. You can find a quality camcorder that delivers crisp, clear videos for $400 or less.

STORAGE FORMAT

There are several types of camcorders. MiniDV camcorders tend to be the least expensive. However, transferring footage to your computer for editing is time-consuming.

DVD camcorders are relatively inexpensive, as are blank DVDs. These camcorders were designed to bypass the computer. So, watching videos on a standalone DVD player is easy.

You'll also find hard-drive camcorders. Transferring footage to a computer is a snap. Also, the hard drives provide plenty of room for recording. But, hard drives aren't very durable. And the storage can't be expanded.

Camcorders that use flash memory are becoming increasingly popular. You can switch the card to add more storage while on vacation. The memory is also sturdy. And transferring video for editing is a snap.

FOCUS ON LENS, SENSOR

Expensive camcorders offer many bells and whistles. When buying a budget camcorder, forget the extras. Instead, focus on what counts: the lens and sensor. Choose a camera with a 1/8-inch sensor or larger. Larger sensors provide better video quality.

You also want the camcorder to be responsive in low light. So, pay attention to minimum illumination, which is measured in lux. Opt for 8 lux or lower; lower numbers indicate greater sensitivity.

Zoom is also important. You want to be able to shoot from afar without distortion. Aim for 35X optical zoom or better. Ignore digital zoom; it degrades video quality.

Image stabilization should also be on your list of must-haves. Optical stabilization is better — and more expensive — than digital or electronic.

Here are some great picks to get you started.

CANON DC330

Canon's DC330 ($380) records to DVD. Each will hold 80 minutes. It has an impressive 48X optical zoom and a 1/6-inch sensor.

Unfortunately, image stabilization is electronic. This isn't as good as optical stabilization.

Minimum illumination is 2 lux. You can record videos in wide-screen format. Photos can be recorded to an optional Secure Digital memory card.

PANASONIC SDR-H40

Panasonic's SDR-H40 ($400) boasts a 40-gigabyte hard drive. The drive will hold about 36 hours of videos. There's a 42X optical zoom and a 1/6-inch sensor.

The SDR-H40 features optical image stabilization. This should eliminate shakiness.

Minimum illumination is 2 lux. You can capture still photos on an SD card. There's also one-touch recording to DVD. It works with most standalone recorders as well as computers.

SAMSUNG SC-MX20

Samsung's SC-MX20 ($250) records to an SD card. One hour of video requires about 2GB of storage.

I have to bend my minimum standards for an inexpensive memory card camcorder. The Samsung has a 34X optical zoom, rather than a 35X, and a 1/6-inch sensor. It also uses digital image stabilization. I prefer optical image stabilization.

Minimum illumination is 3 lux. You can record in wide-screen or full-screen. There's also a mode that optimizes videos for YouTube.