Digital Camcorder Video Basics -
Getting to Know Your
New Digital Video Camera
Congratulations! You have just purchased a
new digital camcorder. Although you may have used a
camcorder before, technology has evolved and the
new features of a digital video camera can be
overwhelming. StashSpace believes it’s a good
idea to get to know your camcorder a little bit
before you do the fun part -- record video! Some
of the terms may not be familiar to you, but
reviewing them will help you to become a skilled videographer in no time!
|
- a d v e r t i s e m e n t -
| As you know, there are many different digital
camcorder models out there. Your
camcorder may not have some of the functions or features
mentioned here. For those of you who are familiar with
digital video cameras, some of these terms may be an
overview, but for those of you that are not, now is the
time to learn!
Zoom
This function moves your point of view closer to, or
further away from, the subject. Be sure to read our
comparison between optical and digital zoom.
Focus / Auto-Focus
This is the process of adjusting the lens in order to
obtain a sharp, clear picture. Most entry-level Digital
Camcorders handle focus for you automatically.
White Balance
When you “white balance” your camcorder, you are
giving it the correct calibration
of a camcorder to record and display true white. All
other colors are then calibrated based on that balanced
white image. To check a white balance function, first
point your camcorder at an object that is
non-reflective. Set your focus, and then press the
“white balance” button. There should be an indicator
that tells you when the white balance is completed. This
function is often done automatically by consumer-level
camcorders, but not with professional.
Recording Audio
New camcorder models are often set by default to
record at only 12-bit audio. Fire up your
camcorder and make sure that it is set to
16-bit
audio instead, and don’t change it back.
Sixteen-bit audio is higher quality and won’t
cause problems later on when you want to capture
it to your computer.
Buying Tape Stock
Consumer digital videotape
(such as Mini-DV or MicroMV) is smaller and has
a longer shelf life than VHS tape. When
purchasing tapes, look for the ME marking on the
tape wrappers. ME signifies metal evaporated
tape, which is a process that coats the tape
with a hard layer of carbon to protect it from
wear and tear.
Shoot in SP Mode vs. LP Mode
In SP (standard play) mode, data from your video
is recorded on a longer section of your digital
videotape than in LP (long play) mode. The data is spread out along enough distance
so that there's plenty of room for all the
information. In long-play format, the same data gets
squeezed together into a smaller length, sometimes
causing errors and noise during playback. We do
not recommend (nor accept for transfer) LP mode for
recording video.
CCD
A CCD is a "charge coupled device" - the part of the
camera that accepts light from the outside world and
translates it into the ones and zeros that form a
digital picture or video. The size and number of CCDs in
your digital camcorder (more and larger are better), the
better your picture quality will be.
FireWire Cable
After you choose which digital format to use,
the next step is to purchase a FireWire cable.
This device is a connection or cable used
between the camcorder and a special board on
your computer. This device is one of the major
factors in the development of the digital video
industry because it keeps digital video
“digital”. Without this device, the video signal
would degrade into another format such as VHS or
S-VHS.
Key FireWire Benefits include:
- Mac and PC Compatibility
Although FireWire is
an Apple product, it is implemented into the PC
world as well, making it possible for both Mac
and PC users to utilize the same equipment for
their demanding technology needs.
- Speed
Because digital video contains a lot of
data that must be transferred quickly, FireWire
is an ideal format with rates of up to 800Mbps
plug-and-play connectivity. With today's
plug-and play camera detection on most
computers, you can connect your
camera to your computer and it is
automatically detected, giving you a stress-free
setup so you can start making movies and
sharing video with stashBox in just
minutes!
Battery Charger
Using an AC power/battery recharge jack lets you
deliver AC power to your camcorder. In most
models, the same line will recharge a
camcorder battery
installed in the camcorder. This is a very
important part of having a digital video camera
if you are planning a family vacation or road
trip that will include more than 15 or 20 hours
of footage.
|
How to Shoot Good Home Video Tips
Understanding Digital Video
Getting to know your New Digital Camcorder
Shooting a Family Video Interview
Shooting a Family Reunion
Shoot Video with your Digital Camera
Recording Video in LP vs. SP Mode
Storing your Video Tapes
Storing your 8mm and 16mm film
How to White Balance Your Camcorder
>>> Back to Video Articles
|