Shutter speed refers to the duration of image scanning. At slower shutter speeds, more light is allowed in through the aperture; at faster speeds, less light is allowed in. Slow shutter speeds are important for low-light shooting, whereas fast shutter speeds will help you get the best shots in bright light and fast-action situations. If you plan on shooting a lot of sports or other fast-moving events, you should opt for the highest shutter speed you can afford (some cameras are listed with maximum shutter speeds of 1/10,000). If you don't need the super-high shutter speeds, save your money-speeds of 1/4000 to 1/8000 are perfectly acceptable for average usage.
Most digital camcorders come with pre-programmed shutter speed settings for various low-light, bright-light, and action settings. For a little more money you can find a camcorder with a manual override option so you can adjust the shutter speed at your own discretion.
