Four reasons you should buy a camcorder

— -- Chances are, even if you don't own a camcorder, you already possess some kind of video recording device. Smartphones, iPods, and digital cameras all record video, and the quality of the video they record isn't terrible. If you already have one of these "video" products, why would you need another device that is solely dedicated to capturing video?

You care about quality

The debate about what products record the best video is a contentious one, and there are plenty of people who have abandoned camcorders and jumped onto the video-capable DSLR bandwagon because of their "superior video quality." At Reviewed.com, we've tested hundreds of camcorders, but we also test cameras that record video. What we've found is this: DSLRs and other interchangeable lens cameras have their benefits, but a high-end camcorder will still get you better video performance overall.

Comparing cheap camcorders to cheap cameras is a slightly different story. If you're spending under $200 on a camcorder, the video quality you get usually isn't that great, and we've often found it to be on par with the performance of similarly-priced digital cameras. Even at this price range, however, camcorders usually include more video recording options, and they almost always provide video editing software that can help you upload your clips to Facebook or YouTube.

You care about audio

Consumer camcorders may not record perfectly crisp audio, but the built-in mics on most models are far better than what you'll find on a digital camera or smartphone. In fact, some consumer camcorders go to great lengths to bring good audio recording to the masses. Nearly all traditional camcorders will include built-in stereo microphones, but there are some that go above and beyond by including 5.1-channel Dolby Digital microphones instead. Compare this to the tiny monaural mics you find on most cell phones or compact digital cameras, and you're looking at a significant boost in audio quality on camcorders.

You care about comfort

The professional filmmaking world may be going gaga over these new video-capable DSLRs, but when it comes to shooting handheld documentary-style video, a traditional camcorder is still your best bet. If you're shooting anything for more than a couple minutes, camcorders are far more comfortable to hold than anything else on the market.

Camcorders also have the best autofocus features for video and can handle auto exposure with ease. That's something we can't say about DSLRs that record video — let alone video captured by a point-and-shoot camera or smartphone. When you're shooting on the run, you may not have time to focus manually or make sure your scene is bright enough.

You care about internal memory

Most camcorders come with some kind of internal memory in the form of flash memory or a built-in hard drive, in addition to a memory card slot that can be used to record additional video content. If you're accustomed to digital cameras, internal memory may seem like an odd feature, but that's because photos are easy to transfer quickly and don't take up much space.

When you're working with large amounts of HD video, internal memory can be a life saver. Most people have (at most) a 32GB memory card, which will only store about three hours of the highest quality HD video. Record just one high school football game and you'll have to swap cards or transfer your video to a computer. In reality, most people prefer to shoot their home movies, leave them on the camcorder, and show them off by connecting to an HDTV. They just don't have the time or energy to transfer footage and edit everything into a polished Blu-ray movie.

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To read about the best options in the camcorder market this year, check out Reviewed.com's 2011 CamcorderInfo Select Awards. Reviewed.com is a division of USA TODAY.