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Understanding Advanced Camcorder Features

heyu — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:39:45 +0000

Understanding Advanced Camcorder Features

Your coffee table can look like a branch of Currys; fortuitously some brands’ remote can control a range of equiment.

Hard Disc Drive (HDD)

Although usually associated with computers, some camcorders also feature hard disc drivers(HDDs) as their method of recording video. The benefit of hard disc is a larger capacity enabling greater amounts of video and still images to be saved which can then be archived or edited ( in – camcorder sometimes ) before tranferring to a blank DVD for off cameras storage. Some camcorders offer both DVD or Blu -ray disc and HDD recording in one Unit, so you never need to use a PC or DVD recorder to Transfer material from your camcorder to a permanent home !

Fader

A feature used for professional looking transitions between filming scenes. Press the button and your image and sound fade down to a plain color and silence; press it again and both sound and image will bit by bit come back to normal.

HDTV

An acronym for High Definition Tevevision. It has up to twice the vertical and horizontal picture resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) of analogue or standard definition TV. HDTV has widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9.

HDV

A high definitiom recording format used for MiniDV (tape) camcorders.

High – speed Dubbing

A Feature that gives you the ability to transfer subject area from HDD to DVD very fast. For example, one hour of content can be tranferred from HDD to DVD in under a minute !

Intelligent Accessory Shoe

This just means that thecamcorder and accessories can understand each other, they can also use more advanced functions, such as turning off a light or microphone when not recording

PAL

Phase Alternate Line : a commonly used colour TV system and is the standard for all TV and video equipment used in the UK. The PAL System uses 625 lines to make up a video or TV picture And Scans at 50Hz PAL video equipment is usually only cmpatible with PAL software and TV broadcast

Standard Definition

Not to be confused with secure digital (SD) memory cards is the traditional format used for analogue TV and video .It’s made up of 576 horizontal line across the screen, or 720×576 pixels.

Time Code

An automatic numbering reference system on video to help you edit sound and pictures more acurately.

USB Streaming

A method for using a camcorder as a webcam for streaming live footage over the internet. USB streaming requires suitable software and a USB streaming – enabled camcorder.

Optical image stabiliser / super steady shot

A clever optical or electronic menchanism that detects movement in the camcorder and tries to smooth it out. It’s particularly utilitarian in low light and when using high mafnification zooming – up to about 50x. Any higher than that and image quality is so poor that it doesn’t really matter how smooth it looks!

Confused About Cables ?

A / V : An analogue connection for basic sound and video

Component Video : An analogue output that send the signals for the picture ( made up of red,green,blue) and the sound (left and right) down separate cables into your TV, DVD or Blu-ray, some can take an HD signal.

Composite video An analogue output cable for picture only.

DV / Fire Wire / IEEE1394/ I.Link

A method for high -speed data transfer between PCs and peripheral devices, allowing speeds between 50 – 100MB/ second.

HDMI

High Definition Multmedia interface your HD – ready camcorders, TVs,DVDs and Blu -ray disc players. It carries both digital audio and video, so theres no need for other cables.

S-video An analogue cable for picture only.

USB 2.0 A connection cable for transferring digital data, with speeds of up to 60MB/second

Shoot and share all your favorite memories as they happen with the silken and fun to use video camcorders Capture high quality videos anytime and anywhere with cheap dvd camcorder

Learn Advanced Camcorder Techniques

heyu — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:39:41 +0000

WOW your audience amd make you feel like a pro by taking the next step and using advanced techniques

To support this new found breadth of purpose, camcorder design has undergone a huge array of changes in recent years. While you still have the basic combination of lens, CCD, processor and storage medium, you now get all sorts of tools ranging from a diversity of video encoding options designed to maximize image quality or size, sockets to cover every option from playing footage on a TV to copying it onto a memory card, and handy tools designed to do everything from smoothing out your shots to capturing radiant smiles.

high definition camcorders have imported the best features from your computer and DSLR

Focus Peaking / focus assist

Combine professional skills with hi-tech functions and you’ll banish unwanted focus foul ups

Most professional camera operators will tend to zoom in, set their focus then zoom back out again , as this makes it easier to get the image nice and sharp and it won’t soften as you return to your intended shot length. Focus Peaking and Focus Assist functions on your camcorder take this professional trick and give it a high tech slant , like Zebra patterning modes that help you get your vulnerability correct, In recent years we’ve seen more and more camcorders offer a similar function to help you get your focus right Focus Peaking modes increase the contrast of the image displayed on your camcorder’s LCD screen without increasing the contrast of the footage being recorded to your tape or card, The increased contrast •on your screen will allow you to see the edges of the objects you’re shooting far more clearly, making it easier to detect if they’re a little fuzzy and unfocused.
Some camcorders will even mark suspiciously soft edges within the shot with a glowing fringe to make sure you can’t miss them The ultimate step in focus peaking is the focus assist mode, which zooms the image as well as turning on focus peaking, so you can’t miss a thing. Focus Peaking can be used as you shoot to help keep the action sharp, while Focus Assist will help you set up your shots before hitting the red button.

Optical Zoom
Another example of a mechanical solution that is better than its digital counterpart optical zooms should be at the top of your shopping list

As long as Optical Image Stabilisation is an example of an old method being subtly better than its modern counterpart , This cannot be said about optical zoom which is head and shoulders above older counterpart

Mic Attenuation
Improving the quality of camcorder microphones has created new challenges

In the past microphone seemed come across to be an afterthought. Even the big names in camcorder manufacturers , the microphone were poor , constructed from trashy, unshielded components and prone to hissing and spitting as if every bit of footage you recorded came across as bad.

The voices of ambitious videomakers were heard over time, and manufacturers slowly began improving the quality ot camcorder mics until we reached the point today where camcorders can record in pseudo-surround sound, or zoom the pick-up pattern of their shotgun mic to record better long distance audio, You can even forego the onboard mic entirely and plug in a high quality external Unfortunately, the upshot of all this is that while we can now record significantly better sound, it has also become much harder to do so.

Camcorder microphones have gone from being the weakest link in the chain to one of the strongest picking up a range and volume of noise far greater than the camcorder’s circuitry can process without overloading; fortunately, there are all sorts of features that will help out, most notably in the form of Mic Attenuation. In the simplest terms, Mic Attenuation just seems to turn down the volume of your camcorder, but in actual fact switching your Nic Attenuation on is dropping the microphone’s sensitivity by as much as 30Db. Where a volume pickup reduction would get rid of the quietest of noises, Mic Attenuation works by making sure that the loudest of noises recorded stay within the tolerance of the camcorder’s circuitry, meaning that you avoid distortion or complete audio blackouts from massive audio peaks, Mic Attenuation is handy in situations where you want the effect of Audio Gain Control without the bother of monitoring the audio, but it really comes into its own at concerts and stage shows where you’ll be recording your audio from a particularly powerful source such as an external microphone or by cable from a mixing desk.

Advanced Features Mini Buyers’ Guide

When it comes to optical zoom ratios, there are some camcorders that by going that extra millimeters.

lOx is the usual magnification on a camcorder, and the most common extent of an optical zoom by a landslide,.Until recently, it wasn’t uncommon to find the occasional camcorder with a 22x or 25x zoom as its strongest selling point, and even in these days of ultra-compact camcorder chassis you can still find the odd model that goes a little bit further than lOx. Camera operators use their zoom as a composition device, an aid to concentrate, for dramatic effect or simply just to close the distance between them and their subject Whether you’re filming play from the back row, doing a bit of long distance wildlife photography or simply trying to crash zoom for effect, here is our pick of the five camcorders that go that little bit further.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-TH1

While the VPC-TH1 has the lowest genera score of all the models in this round up, it offers far and away the most power for your pound when it comes to choosing a camcorder or it’s zoom ratio. The TH1 will set you back £18O/ $260 quid, for which you’ll get a market leading 30x optical zoom,

Canon Legria HF200

Next up is the HFZOO, a Canon cam that earned itself an awards for it’s excellent design and image quality, but which also offers you a very impressive 15x optical zoom,

Sony HDR- XRS2O

One of Sony’s flagship models, the XR25O is jammed to hilt with high end features and it also has a 1 2x optical zoom.

Sony HDR-CX520

The CX520 complements it’s excellent video and stills image quality with an array of useful features, not least of which is a 2x zoom.

Panasonic HOC H5300
A 12 x zoom is just one of the reasons why the HS300 earned top scores for features, handling and execution,

A guide to best buy hd camcorders on the market , Including the new flip slide hd camera

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera

Heru Wijayanto — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:30:23 +0000

Product Description
For photography with point-and-shoot ease, look no further than Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, and a 12.2-megapixel CMOS Sensor with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSi’s refined, ergonomic design includes a 3.0″ LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC Memory cards and accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience. Image Format – 22.2mm x 14.8mm 3 – 2 Horizontal – Vertical Aspect Ratio Color Filter System – RGB primary color filter Low-pass Filter – Located in front of the image sensor, non-removable Recording Format – Design rule for Camera File System 2.0 Image Format – JPEG, RAW (14-bit Canon original) RAW+JPEG White Balance Settings – Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, and Custom Focusing Modes – One-Shot AF, AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF) Metering Range – EV 1-20 (with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100) Exposure Compensation – Manual 2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments and AEB 2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments AE Lock – Automatic when focus achieved with evaluative metering and One-Shot AF, and Manual by AE lock button Shutter Type – Electronically controlled and focal-plane shutter Shutter Speeds – 1/4000 seconds to 1/60 seconds, X-sync at 1/200 seconds, 1/4000 sec. to 30 seconds, bulb Self-timer – 10-seconds, 2-seconds delay or 10-seconds delay plus continuous shooting Brightness Control – 7 levels provided Body Dimensions – 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 (128.8×97.5×61.9mm) Weight – 16.8 ounces (475 grams) body only Lens Dimension – 2.7 x 2.6 (69×66.2mm) Weight – 6 ounces (190 grams).

Manufacturer Description
For stunning photography with point and shoot ease, look no further than Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and is available in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSi’s refined, ergonomic design includes a new 3.0-inch LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC memory cards and new accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience.

The Digital Rebel XSi (EOS 450D in Europe) represents Canon’s response to the increasingly crowded and competitive nature of the entry-level DSLR market. Where the original ‘people’s DLSR’, the EOS 300D, owed at least some of its success to the simple paucity of competitors, the market in 2008 is a very different place indeed, and one that’s seen Nikon (with the D40/D40x/D60) carve a sizeable slice of the action, and where Olympus, Sony and Pentax have strong offerings at price points unthinkable just couple of years ago.