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by Christine Peppler
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Do you know the
anatomy of a camcorder? If you don't, talking to sales people can be confusing at
times and make the process of selecting a camcorder much more difficult. |
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We will help
you though with a brief lesson on the anatomy of these devices to help you shop with
confidence. |
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Camcorders are
ingenious tools that allow us to record images of the events that make up our
lives or to get creative and produce unique and interesting films that previously only
professional videographers could craft. For beginners, it is important to understand a
little bit about the basic anatomy of a camcorder in order to be better equipped to make a
selection when shopping.
Although every camcorder model is a bit different and may offer unique features there are
basic components that are common to them all.
The Image Sensor:
A camcorder uses either a CCD, charge-coupled device, or CMOS, complimentary metal-oxide
semiconductor, to convert light into electrical signals and record the resulting images.
They basically perform the same function as film in a traditional camera or camcorder.
A CCD consumes much more power than a CMOS chip but tends to produce a higher quality
image. Images produced via a camcorder with CMOS tend to have more "noise" due
to lower resolution and less light sensitivity. As with most technologies however, CMOS as
the newer development is gradually gaining ground. The primary advantage of CMOS at this
time is it's affordability versus the more expensive CCD sensors.
The Lens:
The lens of a camcorder provides the opening for light to pass through onto the CCD/CMOS
and focuses it so that the image is sharp. By adjusting the lens users can alter what
items within a scene are in focus as well as how much light is entering to control the
look and quality of the resulting images. Lens controllers are sometimes purchased to
allow a user to adjust the lens from the handle of the tripod.
Add on lenses and filters can be used. For instance a telephoto lens allows subjects at a
distance to be magnified, a wide angle lens broadens the horizontal field, and a fisheye
lens allows for an extreme wide-angle view. Common filters include polarizing filters to
reduce glare and UV filters to protect the lens from harmful rays.
An important feature with camcorder lenses is optical zoom which allows the lens to
magnify images; a function that allows users to obtain better pictures of subjects at a
distance. Optical image stabilizers help to detect and reduce unwanted movement of the
camcorder to produce a smoother, more stable film. Digital versions of zoom and
stabilization are available on camcorders but do tend to produce a somewhat lower quality
image. Digital stabilization however is sometimes preferred by some consumers as
camcorders with optical stabilization are often larger. |
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The Microphone:
The average camcorder has a built-in multi-directional microphone. These microphones tend
to pick up audio from any direction; from behind, in front of, and at the sides of the
camcorder. Thus many home movies end up difficult to hear due to undesired
"background noise".
A camcorder also often has a microphone jack. If the camcorder has such a jack, purchasing
an external microphone to attach to it can greatly improve the audio captured. External
microphones can be moved closer to the sound source in some instances and in others they
can focus on the sound that is desired versus any background noise.
Wireless microphones and lapel microphones are useful when recording individual speakers.
Shotgun microphones pick up sound from in front of the microphone at a distance while
cardioid microphones pick up sound from in front which is nearby. Each option helps to
reduce the intrusion of unwanted sound that distorts the audio desired.
The View Finder and LCD Panels:
The viewfinder on a camcorder allows users to see what they are filming. They can be black
and white or color. Size varies as does resolution. Some users select a larger viewfinder
with higher resolution to aid their visibility but others simply use the LCD screen for
this purpose. LCD screen sizes vary as well, and are selected based on personal
preference. Viewfinders can often provide greater visibility when filming in sunlight
while use of an LCD screen that swivels allows greater visibility if filming overhead.
Inputs and Outputs:
A camcorder will have AV sockets and ports to allow connectivity to other devices such as
a television or computer. These sockets allow film to be downloaded, played back, or
copied. To allow the camcorder to hook up with a TV or other device it is important that
the inputs and outputs coincide. These may be composite video or S-video for analog
signals or DVI/HDMI for digital signals.
Most camcorders will hook up with a PC via a USB 2 or FireWire port which allows much
faster transfer than a USB 1.1 port. Again, the camcorder must be compatible with the
computer to allow hook up.
Although the construction of a camcorder can be much more complex and there is variability
in features from device to device, if beginners understand these basic parts they will be
well on their way to being able to make a knowledgeable selection when shopping. |
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