Team-BHP - The Camcorder thread : Tech, deals and specs

When I got my Camcorder last year I did some research. Here are some points; I would like to share with you.

1> Most digital camcorders use a digital format videotape called MiniDV. Some older models (still available in stores) use analog format VHS, VHS Compact, Hi-8. *VHS, VHS Compact, Hi-8 based camcorders are bulky and heavy, while miniDV based camcorders are compact and light weight. MiniDV gives higher resolution and clean recording (however some what less in *quality as compared to DVD format) and as the recording is digital, you can then edit it on a computer, a far easier task than editing an analog tape. And there's more: You can easily output your masterwork to tape or DVD. To do all this, you'll need a digital camcorder, a FireWire (IEEE 1394) interface on your PC, and a video-editing program.

2> You can also see camcorders that store video on memory cards: Several manufacturers have launched camcorders that can record video to memory cards. Although these camcorders are smaller than their MiniDV cousins, the recorded video is lower quality than MiniDV, and the memory cards are still much more expensive than videotape, so it will be some time before memory cards start supplanting videotapes as the most convenient way to record video.

3> Another recent development is camcorders that can record video directly onto DVD discs, which you can then play back in a DVD player. These camcorders use small 8-centimeter recordable DVD discs that can hold up to an hour of video. Although quality is better than MiniDV camcorders, the 8-centimeter DVD discs are more expensive than MiniDV tapes, and you can't just pop the DVD disc out and play it in a DVD player. Before a DVD player or PC DVD-ROM drive can read the disc, you have to set the camcorder to finish it--a process that can take up to ten minutes.

4> While selecting your camcorder check for some key features:

A>Screen: Having a large LCD screen built into the camcorder lets you more easily see what you're recording and facilitates playback previews. Be careful--some screens don't work well in bright sunlight. Most camcorders come with both an LCD screen and a (Black-n-white / color) viewfinder, and it's nice to have the option to use either. The viewfinder can be useful if you can't see the screen in bright daylight; it also uses less power than the screen, extending the camcorder battery's life. Check out the LCD screen in daylight, if possible. Some screens will wash out in bright sunlight, and you'll want to make sure you can easily see what you're recording in any conditions. If you can't see the screen in bright daylight, try using the viewfinder: It can help get the job done without eating up a lot of battery power.

B> Lens: Every camcorder comes with a zoom lens that allows you to get close-ups of your subject. Camcorder manufacturers tend to advertise their products' incredible zoom capabilities, but they don't always distinguish clearly between digital and optical zoom. With a digital zoom, the camcorder enlarges part of the image to fill the screen, leading to grainy, pixelated, and generally unpleasant-looking images. At higher digital zoom settings, the quality is so poor you often can't see what you are taping. The spec for maximum optical zoom is the more interesting figure: It denotes the maximum zoom that the lens itself can achieve without enhancement. Most modern camcorders have at least a 10X optical zoom, which should be more than adequate for general purposes.

C> Optical Image Stabilization: Check for this feature. When you zoom, the picture becomes shaky, as a slightest movement gets magnified by the zoom ratio. Optical zoom stabilizes this motion. Beware, some manufacturer provide Digital Image Stabilization but it won't help.

D>Batteries: The amount of recording and playback time you get out of a battery varies, but most camcorders should be able to record for at least an hour with the included battery. Additional higher-capacity batteries typically cost $50 to $100.

E> Microphones: Sound is as important to a video as the images. A camcorders with microphones mounted in the front tend to produce better sound than those with microphones on the top; in particular, top-mounted microphones can pick up the voice of the person using the camera, drowning out everything else. Some camcorders offer zoom microphones that can emphasize the subject's voice when the zoom lens is used, and some also come with a socket to plug in an external microphone. Either type of microphone can be very useful when you're recording presentations or speeches.
(However you can always record sound using a separate device and later merge the sound track with the footage using suitable video editing software)

F> Video Light: Just like external microphone some camcorders have a provision to mount a small lamp to help in low light conditions. This is similar to flash used in a camera only difference is this video light remains continuously on till you put it off.

G> Ability to take still images: Many digital camcorders can serve as digital cameras, saving still images to a memory card. However, check the resolution, many camcorders have poor still picture taking capabilities as the resolution is often less than 1 megapixel.

H> Controls: Owning the fanciest camcorder in the world won't do you any good if you can't use it. *

I> Ability to shoot in the dark: Many camcorders have the ability to film in very low light, either with the help of an infrared light (which you can't see, but the camcorder can), a special slow shutter mode that makes the most of ambient lighting, or built-in illumination from one or more LEDs. Some offer all three, and these can be very useful in poorly illuminated settings, such as when you're recording a camping trip or capturing on tape the creatures that wander into your yard after nightfall.

J> Format: Most camcorders use the MiniDV videotape format, but a few other options are available, such as Sony's Digital 8 and MicroMV formats. A Digital 8 camcorder uses Hi-8 videotapes and can also play back videotapes recorded on analog camcorders. MicroMV camcorders use a type of tape that is smaller than MiniDV tapes. On a MicroMV camcorder, however, the digital video is compressed much more than on MiniDV camcorders, so most digital video-editing programs are unable to edit the video without using another program to convert it into a format that they can understand. There are two programs that can import video directly from a MicroMV camcorder, though: Pinnacle Studio 9 and Sony's own ScreenBlast.

K> Number of CCDs: The camcorder's CCD device captures your image information. The more the CCD count the better the picture. With three CCDs, each captures a different color, resulting in greater color accuracy and a sharper image. But more of CCD comes at a cost!

L> Input/Output ports: *Must have port: *FireWire port to get recording from Camcorder to PC for editing. Some Camcorders offer Firewire In only which means you can not send data back to tape. *If it is Firewire In/Out then the same port can be used to send the data back to tape or any other recording device. S-Video in/out, composite in/out S-Video are used to connect the camcorder to either TV or VCR like Firewire port this could be either Out only or IN/Out in the later case you can record from TV, VCR or another Camcorder ( means you can convert old VHS recording into MiniDV format).

M> PAL/NTSC: In India we use PAL format for TV while in US it is NTSC. So models sold in US are NTSC based and those available in India are PAL based. But most modern (1995 onwards) TVs sold in India do have PAL/NTSC switch facility so PAL / NTSC is not at all an issue. In US there are some stores which sell PAL format Camcorders (imported from Gulf countries) at an exorbitant cost.

N> 110/230V, 50/60 Hz: Camcorders work on Battery so nothing to worry about it. Battery chargers supplied with the camcorders are 110 to 240 V type so it will work in India, however you need a plug adapter (costs around Rs 5 and ypu can find it at any electrical goods store).

In addition to the basic Camcorder you will also need: Tripod, Video Editing Software, and Firewire Card for your PC, Blank media. *Better buy the video editing software in US and rest can be purchased in Mumbai (somewhat cheaper)

Hope this helps.

Vipul Gandhi