Camcorders are everywhere and for some, that means an uncontrollable impulse to shoot video of just about anything.  Of all the convenient subject matter, pets seem to be the most obvious.  After all, pets are home all the time, they do silly stuff, and they’re probably not as likely to turn on their camcorder wielding owners as humans are. A filmmaker’s dream!

Pet blogs are springing up by the thousands, with readers providing much of the material to fuel the phenomenon.  Just in case you think this is just fun and games, think again.  Some pet blog owners have even received book deals based on their hilarious pet videos and photos.  How’s that for a doggie treat?

Stuff on My Cat is one such pet blog that includes everything from funny pet videos, to birthday wishes from owners to their pets.  The blog recently released the book Wet Cats, full of, you guessed it- reader’s photos of drenched felines.

Here’s a list of more pet blogs and funny video sites….just beware, they’re oddly addictive.

• Pet Upload
• Wacky Pet Videos
• Funny Animal Videos
• Cat Blogosphere
• Willow’s Cat Blog
• Puppy Dog Video Blog

Since B&H gives the new Canon XH-A1 an extremely positive in this month’s newsletter, I decided to take a closer look at this new HDV camcorder.

“Along with basic image quality, the most important aspect shooters look for in a professional camera is the customizable options available to them. Canon has long been known for providing as much manual control as possible, whether on its basic point-and-shoot digital still cameras or its top-of-the-line video camcorders. The XH A1 is no exception, going far beyond most cameras in its price range.”

The XH A1 can shoot in HDV or DV, NTSC or PAL, and has a 20x zoom! And it also seems to hold up in low-light situations without having to raise the gain to an outrageously high level. The manual settings are easy to understand while the auto-settings don’t box you into fixed situations that you can’t adjust either. You can change color saturation and gamma settings with ease and hook up an SD card to take still pictures or save camera profiles.

You can also add an iris ring to the lens barrel, use the servo zoom and Instant Autofocus to ensure sure and steady video captures despite your camcorder expertise level. All of these features backed by the power of high-resolution digital video. And with the Canon signature of quality, the buyer can feel secure in spending $3200 on a professional yet affordable HD camcorder.

Source: Hands-On with the Canon XH A1

Think your stuck with mediocre sound quality with your camcorder? Think again.

Check out BH Photo for some sound tips. You’ll quickly learn the basics of how to get professional sound quality from whatever consumer camcorder you currently use. The manufacturers market higher costing camcorders as having superior, professional sound.

But if you need (or just want) better sound, these articles will tell you what you need. Most of the camcorder add-ons available aren’t prohibitively expensive and well worth the cost. You’ll also get a few tips that will help you in other ways, e.g., recording directly from the sound board at a wedding or other locations. If you don’t want to settle for the OEM, there are alternatives. Now you know.