Camcorders Buying Guide
Camcorders capture life's memories and should be thought of as an investment when shopping for one. With the advent of technology, digital camcorders and
DVD camcorders now permit you to interact with your computer and share your memories with others. Learn the camcorders basics.
Which category is best for you?
Select the category that best describes your needs, or choose the best camcorders by price range.
Choose the type of user that best describes you : Home Movie Enthusiast, Budding Filmmaker or Sports Videographer.
Buy the best you can reasonably afford, but be sure to get at least 10X Optical zOOm so you can see those pearly whites. Go from wide-angle to right-in-the-
action with Digital zOOm. Don't forget image stabilization so your movies make you look like a 'PRO'. See every drop of sweat and painful grimace at the
game. Go for maximum digital zOOm and the ability to snap still shots.
Glossary of technical terms for Camcorders
1. Camcorder Type
2. Recording Media
3. Sensor Type
4. Optical zOOm
5. Digital zOOm
6. LCD Screen Size
7. Viewfinder
8. Power Source
9. Remote Control
10.Audio Inputs
11.Audio Outputs
12.Image Stabilization
13.Still Image Function
14.Still Image Resolution
15.Video Outputs
1. Camcorder Type
There are many types of camcorders available on the market today. Choosing the right one to suit your needs is key. See the guide below that defines some of
the main types of camcorders so you can make an informed purchase.
■ Digital8 Camcorders
Digital8 camcorders use Hi8 and 8mm tape in addition to the Digital8 format. Digital8 camcorders are larger and less expensive than Mini DV camcorders. The
lenses of a Digital8 camcorder are a little less sophisticated than the Mini DV, but Digital8 camcorders are popular since they record high quality digital video
at an affordable price.
■ DVD Camcorders
DVD camcorders are small, fairly portable, and share some of the same features as Digital8 and Mini DV camcorders. Most DVD camcorders use recordable
DVD media like DVD-R or DVD-RW. The DVD camcorders are not as compact as the Mini DV camcorders, but they are really versatile.
■ MiniDV Camcorders
Mini DV camcorders are similar to Digital8 and DVD camcorders but they are generally more compact, feature more advanced technology, and have better
lenses and special effects. Mini DV cameras are more expensive, but they are the most portable camcorder and they record onto a high quality Mini DV tape.
You get the best selection with Mini DV camcorders since they are the most popular choice.
■ Micro MV Camcorders
Micro MV camcorders are the smallest camcorders on the market. The quality of recording is comparable to other formats, but you can store 16x more on a
MicroMV than a MiniDV cassette. MicroMV camcorders are typically higher priced than other types of camcorders.
2. Recording Media
There are many types of recording media for camcorders, see the list below to view the main types of media.
■ MiniDV Format
Mini DV cassettes record DV video with most at more than 500 lines of horizontal resolution. Mini DV cassettes are widely supported with video editing and
special effects software. Mini DV cassettes are more compact but also more expensive than Digital8 and DVD formats. Right now, the Mini DV is the most
popular format on the market.
■ Digital8 Format
The Digital8 format records DV format video on Hi8 and 8mm as well as Digital8 tapes. Digital8 tapes are larger than the Mini DV format, but they are less
expensive.
■ DVD Format
Most DVD camcorders use recordable mini DVD media like 8cm DVD-R or DVD-RW. This format can be played on most new home DVD players so you
can go directly from your camera to the DVD player.
■ Micro MV Format
The Micro MV is the smallest cassette available recording media on the market and stores 16x more than your Mini DV format. The Micro MV cassettes have
a built in memory chip for thumbnail indexing, buy this format is not currently compatible with most video editing and special effects software. The Micro
MV format is the most expensive on the market right now.
■ HDD Format
HardDisk Drive.
■ Flash-Memory Format
3. Sensor Type
■ CCD Sensor
A CCD (charge coupled device) uses a small piece of silicon instead of film to receive light. CCDs are sensitive to heat from the camera and incoming light
from an object. A CCD sensor converts light into an electric charge and processes it into electronic signals. A CCD sensor transfers every pixel’s charge
through a number of outputs and converts it to voltage.
■ CMOS Sensor
In a CMOS sensor (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) each pixel has an individual charge that is converted into voltage.
4. Optical zOOm
With optical zOOm you can easily switch between near and far away points to capture any subject. Optical zOOm measures the ability of a camera’s lens, and
captures more detail and light from subjects that are far away. The result is better picture quality taken from a distance.
5. Digital zOOm
Digital zOOm uses a magnifying process called interpolation. Interpolation uses artificial enhancements by adding pixels that enlarge the image but decreases
the quality. This basically means digital zOOm is like a cropping tool that captures the central portion of an entire image.
6. LCD Screen Size
LCD screen size is the size (measured 'diagonally' from top corner to opposite bottom corner) of the fold out viewscreen attached to the side of the
camcorder.
7. Viewfinder
■ Optical: The optical viewfinder is the simplest type of viewfinder, a simple optical path which runs in parallel to the cameras main lens, this simple system
zooms at the time as the main lens. These viewfinders are often small and inaccurate, because of their offset from the main lens they suffer from a 'parallax
error' which simply means that at relatively small subject distances the viewfinder sees a different frame than the main lens, sometimes optical viewfinders
have parallax error lines on them which indicate where the top corner of the main lenses frame would be.
■ Electronic: An electronic viewfinder simply repeats the live image which would be seen on the rear LCD on a smaller (0.556") LCD, viewed in the same way
as an optical viewfinder this electronic image is often more accurate than an optical viewfinder and doesn't suffer from parallax errors.
■ TTL Optical: Obviously, the best type of viewfinder is the same we find on SLR cameras, that is a TTL viewfinder, it relays the image from the cameras
lens through a prism or mirror system directly up to a focus screen which can be seen through the viewfinder. This type of viewfinder is only found on
higher-end digital SLR's due to it's complexity and expense. Cameras withTTL viewfinders often also cannot provide a live preview on the rear LCD (except
for the Olympus E-10 which uses a prism instead of a mirror to split the image). These also normally feature an LCD 'status bar' along the bottom of the
viewfinder relaying exposure and camera setting information.
8. Power Source
■ NiMH: Nickel metal hydride: High-capacity rechargeable batteries.
■ NiCd: Nickel cadmium: Common rechargeable batteries. Have roughly half the capacity of NiMH cells.
■ Lithium-ion are rechargeable batteries roughly 2,100 mAh, or better. Long shelf life up to three years.
■ Alkaline: The most common types of non-rechargeable batteries.
■ Rechargeable alkaline: An 1,800 mAh alkaline battery that can be recharged, 12 to 25 times.
9. Remote Control
The remote control allows you to operate your camcorder from a distance.
10. Audio Inputs
Composite Video Also called baseband video or RCA video, is the analog waveform that conveys the image data in a conventional National Television
Standards Committee (NTSC) television signal. Composite video contains chrominance (hue and saturation) and luminance (brightness) information, along
with synchronization and blanking pulses, all together in a single signal.
1/8 in. Stereo Mini: A mini stero plug similar to 1/4 in. Most common in portable audio devices and computer sound cards.
11. Audio Outputs
Composite Video Also called baseband video or RCA video, is the analog waveform that conveys the image data in a conventional National Television
Standards Committee (NTSC) television signal. Composite video contains chrominance (hue and saturation) and luminance (brightness) information, along
with synchronization and blanking pulses, all together in a single signal.
1/8 in. Stereo Mini: A mini stereo plug similar to 1/4 in. Most common in portable audio devices and computer sound cards.
12. Image Stabilization
Image stabilization is a feature designed to eliminate shakiness from holding the camera when filming. It uses pre-programmed points to average the
movements made to make the images appear stable. With an image stabilizer you get a clear shot even with shaky hands.
13. Still Image Function
Still image function is a feature that allows you to take still pictures just like a digital camera.
14. Still Image Resolution
Still image resolution is the same as the resolution in digital cameras and measure in megapixels. A photograph, whether in print form or viewed on a screen is
made up of megapixels. These tiny dots are measured by how many can fit into a one inch space. One megapixel is comprised of one million pixels or dots.
15. Video Outputs
■ Composite Video also called baseband video or RCA video, is the analog waveform that conveys the image data in a conventional National Television
Standards Committee (NTSC) television signal. Composite video contains chrominance (hue and saturation) and luminance (brightness) information, along
with synchronization and blanking pulses, all together in a single signal.
■ S-Video (Super-Video, sometimes referred to as Y/C Video) S-video uses a special 5-pin connector in which the luminance signal and the chrominance
signal are transmitted separately to achieve superior picture clarity. The luminance signal (Y) carries brightness information, which defines the black and white
portion, and the chrominance signal (C) carries color information, which defines hue and saturation.
■ Component Video each color is maintained in a separate channel. As with RGB (red, green, and blue) Levels of R, G, and B can each range from 0 to 100%
of full intensity. Each level is represented by the range of decimal numbers from 0 to 255 (256 levels for each color) and converted to YUV (Y, Cr, Cb) to
obtain any color in the visible spectrum.
■ Coaxial Cable one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along
the same axis. The outer channel serves as a ground. Many of these cables or pairs of coaxial tubes can be placed in a single outer sheathing and, with
repeaters, can carry information for a great distance. Depending on the carrier technology used and other factors, twisted pair copper wire and optical fiber
are alternatives to coaxial cable.
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