- Can the camera zoom in and out optically while filming video?

- Can you use autofocus while shooting video?

- Does your video-editing software support the format your camera records? Most cameras' video output will work with any video-editing program, but the AVCHD format is still incompatible with some software. That said, the AVCHD format will upload directly to YouTube.

- Do you have a Class 4 or Class 6 SDHC card? You'll want to pick one up to make sure it can handle the speed of video capture.

If you're torn between a digital SLR camera and an advanced point-and-shoot model, check to see whether the DSLR you're considering shoots video. A growing number of DSLRs capture high-definition video, and the larger sensors and lenses mean that the video quality is usually phenomenal.