How to choose a camcorder?

The first steps of the child, his first school bell, victory in competitions and trips to the resort - all this is an integral part of the home video archive. But in order to shoot such unforgettable moments and then enjoy watching them with a cup of coffee on the couch, you need to have a good video camera, because the quality of your emotions will depend on the quality of the recording. How to choose a video camera equipped with the necessary characteristics, among the variety of equipment, we will tell today.

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What type of camcorder to choose?

Technology does not stand still and every year there are more and more new models of technology, and competition between manufacturers is constantly growing. Modern technology allows you to shoot on many devices, for example, cameras or mobile phones. But you must remember that all these functions are just a marketing ploy of manufacturers. Of course, many consumers are satisfied with such cameras, but if you want to have high-quality video, you should think about buying a modern video camera.

Getting to the choice of device, it is necessary, first of all, to decide on the video recording format. Analog devices are a thing of the past and we will bypass them, due to the unconditional advantage of digital analogs.

Important! Everyone knows that the quality of the video depends not only on the quality of the shooting, but also on the device on which the video is viewed. Therefore, the quality standard of the camcorder must be chosen, focusing on the TV, with which you will view the material.

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Which standard should I prefer?

The most popular video standards, among which you have to choose a video camera suitable for you:

• SD (Standart Definition). The standard has a resolution of 720x576 pixels. This setting is only suitable for older cathode ray tube televisions. The only plus of camcorders with this standard is the low price. However, if your house has a TV with a large diagonal, then such a camera will not suit you.
• HD (High Definition). This standard allows you to shoot in two formats 1080i and 720p. The main advantage of HD is image compression, which can significantly reduce the “weight” of the file. High-resolution cameras are currently the most popular due to the optimal price-quality ratio.

Important! The HD technique allows you to record videos in all the smallest details and is suitable for viewing on HD Ready TVs. However, watching video on a Full HD TV does not give a full picture.

• AVCHD. The modern standard allows you to record video with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels for Full HD TVs. These are the best camcorders that are of very high quality. But because of the high price, they have not yet received wide distribution among buyers. Yes, and such a high-quality shooting requires a modern TV.

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Types of digital media for camcorders

When choosing a technique, it is very important to determine the type of medium, because the type of device itself and the maximum recording time depend on this.

When compared with digital cameras, where the image is recorded only on a flash drive, information in digital video cameras is recorded in various ways.

The main types of storage media:

• Magnetic tape.
• HDD.
• Replaceable (optical) disk.
• Rewritable memory (flash memory).

Important! The recording method does not affect image quality; media differ only in the comfort of use and the duration of the recording.

Let's look at each medium briefly to find out which camcorder is better.

Magnetic tape cassette:

• A tape cassette can hold no more than an hour of video recording.
• Camcorders, with this type of media are quite bulky, are large.
• The resource of information storage is limited in time, and this may affect the quality of the recording.
• Difficulties may arise when transferring video to a personal computer, since for this purpose it is necessary to use special software.

Summing up the above, we recommend abandoning this type of technique, since this is not the best option.

DVD media:

• Camcorders with such media are large and record video on mini DVD.
• The recording is saved in MPEG -2 format with a resolution of 720x576 pixels.
• The presence of removable media allows you to use multiple disks and change them as they fill up.
• The advantage of cameras with DVD media is that it is possible to immediately view the footage on virtually any DVD player or personal computer that has a DVD drive.

Important! The disadvantages of this medium include the fear of mechanical damage. Even one small scratch on the disc can ruin the recording.

HDD:

• Camcorders with a hard drive as a media are suitable for those users who will shoot no more than 25 hours of video.
• Just like in a DVD camera, recording is in MPEG-2 format.
• Due to the high capacity of the medium, you can store a large amount of information (depending on the size of the disk) in the most affordable quality without the need to often free up space.

Important! The disadvantages of cameras with a hard drive include:

1. Sensitivity to shock and shock.
2. To make room for the following recordings, you must record the captured video on a computer.

One of the contenders for the title of “good video camera” may be a technique with the presence of HDD.

Flash media

To date, cameras with this type of media have received maximum distribution, as:

• they are very comfortable;
• you can control them with one hand;
• they are small in size and do not take up much space in a suitcase.

Important! They are rightly called pocket cameras. The size of the device is not created by disks and cassettes, but by the dimensions of the optics and the liquid crystal display.

Camcorders of this type use flash memory: ordinary sd, compact flash, micro sd, etc. cards. This is very convenient, since it allows you to take several media with you to change them almost without interruption from shooting.

Important! Finished material is easily transferred from memory cards to any PC or laptop (using card readers). For the price of such cameras will cost a little more expensive than the HDD model.

In order to choose the best video camera, knowledge of the types of storage media alone is not enough, you need to get acquainted with its functionality.

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Matrix

A matrix is ​​installed in the video camera, which acts as the retina of the human eye. The matrix not only collects light signals, but also processes them, turning them into electrical impulses, which form the image.

Important! Modern markets offer multi-matrix devices, such as a three-matrix 3CDD camera. The advantage of this technique is the high color depth of the picture. Light is divided into green, red and blue components, and each such component is recorded on a separate matrix.All professional cameras have a minimum of three matrices.

The matrix has three main parameters, based on which you need to choose a video camera.

The size

This indicator is very simple to determine - just look at the diagonal. Modern technology offers the following sizes: ⅙ ¼, ⅓.

Important! The smaller the second digit in the fraction, the more light the sensor can collect without loss of quality, which means 0 the picture will be more voluminous and “lively”.

Resolution

This parameter indicates the number of active pixels in the photosensitive sector. For example, an indicator such as 1.3 megapixels reports the presence of 1300000 pixels.

Important! The best camera has a resolution in the range of 1.3-3 MP.

Sensitivity

This parameter is usually indicated in the characteristics of the device. The minimum degree of illumination at which the shooting process makes sense depends on this ability. The higher the sensitivity, and the lower the indicator, the better. The parameter is measured in lux (lx).

Important! An excellent model of a video camera should shoot with a minimum of light, that is, have an indicator of 0.1 lux.

Advice:

1. If you want to use such equipment for domestic needs, shooting a home “movie”, then it is more advisable to choose a camcorder with a single matrix, and not overpay the extra money.
2. The ability to capture more light is affected not only by the quality of the photosensitive element of the CCD, but also by the quality of the optics. Therefore, if you plan to shoot in poor lighting conditions, purchase special illuminators that can improve video quality.

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Optical Camera System

Some manufacturers are developing their optics for cameras, for example, JVC, because the quality of the optical system is an essential element of the device. It is optics that are responsible for the saturation and color rendition of the image. Of course, here you can not do without trial filming.

But still, when evaluating the lens, you need to pay attention to two parameters:

• The smallest focal length, that is, the largest viewing angle.
• Minimum viewing angle.

Important! These two parameters determine the ability to shoot in small rooms where it is impossible to step back to capture as many objects as possible. It is the focal length that is responsible for what enters the frame and what remains behind the scenes.

The value of the focal length can be viewed on the lens, then based on the indicators to conclude about the viewing angle: the smaller the focal length - the larger the viewing angle.

Optical Zoom (ZOOM)

ZOOM is optical and digital:

• with optical ZOOM, the focus distance changes;
• Digital zoom occurs due to software, and image quality is lost.

To choose a good camcorder:

• Pay attention to the presence of the optical zoom function. This function will allow you to bring distant objects closer to the ZOOM ratio (8x, 10x, 15x, etc.).
• On any camcorder, an increase of at least 10 times. This will be enough for you in almost 99% of the shooting.
• Do not overpay for an extreme ZOOM (more than 20-30x) if you do not use this feature everyday. In addition, such an increase will require shooting from a tripod, as any vibrations of the device will be amplified many times and will negatively affect the quality of the video.

Important! Forget about the numbers 50 and 100, since this is a digital increase. You can always digitally zoom in later using the computer video editor. However, the image quality will not be affected.

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Electronic image stabilizer

Almost all camcorders today are equipped with an image stabilizer.

Important! This feature helps minimize device shake when shooting without a tripod.

There are two types of stabilizers:

1. Optic. This is the most high-quality stabilizer that acts on the principle of a gyroscope.The optical stabilizer picks up the vibration range and compensates for the slightest jitter.

Important! This stabilizer can also fail if you hold your hand with the camera uncertainly. It is always better to use a special hand strap.

2. Electronic (digital). Free megapixels are used for the operation of this image stabilizer. Additional pixels in this case act as a kind of buffer: when the camera shakes, the image glides along the matrix, and the electronic filling of the device takes into account these vibrations and corrects the picture. It is very important that the picture itself is always within the CCD matrix, otherwise the system will not be able to make the necessary corrections.

Important! The most important disadvantage of this electronic stabilizer is its dependence on illumination. In a dark room, this type of stabilization will most likely not work.

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White balance setting

You probably noticed that in rooms with incandescent lamps, warm yellow tones prevail, and in rooms with fluorescent lamps, everything becomes cold and bluish. To eliminate this defect in the video, a color standard has been introduced with which you can compare. This color is white.

Important! In different rooms, the camera will see a different white color due to artificial lighting. It is for this that the white balance is needed to eliminate defects.

There are two types of settings:

• Automatic.
• Manual

Automatic cameras, without difficulty, determine the white balance, and some models need manual adjustment. To adjust the setting, point the camera at a white sheet of paper and adjust the balance.

Important! It’s better to choose a good camcorder with manual white balance adjustment, as the automatic function can switch if someone passes the lens. Manual adjustment will always let you indicate to the camera under what conditions the shooting is being conducted.

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Viewfinder

This element allows you to monitor the shooting process, quickly change the angle and correctly build the frame.

Operating principle

When choosing a camcorder, pay attention to the type of viewfinder. He can be:

• Optic. This type of viewfinder is slightly offset from the axis of the lens, so it will not allow you to see the real picture. In this case, the operator and the camera look at what is happening from different angles.
• Mirrored. Clearly and accurately transfers the picture to the frame. It does not shift the image to the side.

Color rendering

Also, the viewfinder may be:

• Black and white.
• Color.

Each has its pros and cons, for example:

• black and white will quickly adjust the sharpness;
• color - gives you the ability to control colors without interrupting the shooting.

Important! The advantage of color viewfinders is in natural color reproduction, and black-and-white - in image clarity. Dear professional cameras are equipped with black and white viewfinders, and most household cameras are color.

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LCD screen

All modern devices have an LCD display that can also be used as a viewfinder. Such a screen is very convenient, since you can shoot from anywhere, even shoot yourself, because the display can be rotated 180 degrees. After shooting the video, you can immediately view the footage on a small screen and fix what you didn’t like.

Important! When buying a camcorder, be sure to evaluate the display capabilities: size, resolution. Naturally, more is better. On a good large screen, you can view and evaluate the quality of the video. And if the display resolution is from 180 to 200 thousand pixels, then you can evaluate the video to the smallest detail.

Additional features

Many modern device models have screens with additional features:

• Determination of a point of aiming at light.
• Sharpness adjustment.
• Manual indication of the focus point of the lens.
• Display all shooting information.

Advice:

1. Now many camera models are available with touch screens. Of course, they make it easier to control the shooting process. But if you want to buy just such a model, then be especially careful during operation, since touch screens are subject to mechanical damage.
2. When choosing a device with an LCD display, consider a small feature: the larger the screen, the faster the battery runs out. Therefore, for shooting for a long time, stock up on extra batteries.

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Sound recording

Modern devices can record sound both in stereo and in Dolby Digital 5.1 format. Although many claim that this is not entirely true, since the microphones are located very close by, and the sound is simply artificially broken into channels.

When choosing sound functionality, pay attention to our recommendations:

1. A good camcorder should have microphones that are directed forward, not in the sky.
2. Check the sound right in the store. Ask a friend to step back ten steps and say any phrase at the usual volume.
3. The device must have a jack for connecting an external microphone.
4. The camera should be able to write sound on two channels. In the future, this will help you overlay comments or music on an existing record.

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Battery life

The duration of the device depends on the characteristics of the batteries. The operating time of the device can be measured in several modes:

• Time in view mode.
• Camera on time.
• Time in shooting mode.

What to consider here:

• The device’s declared operating time will be less, since it is calculated for the most economical mode.
• In addition, camera manufacturers supply their devices with small batteries to reduce costs.

Therefore, immediately buy a good extra battery. In order not to get into an awkward position due to a dead battery, purchase 1-2 extra batteries. This is especially true when shooting in the cold or when shooting using an energy-intensive recording mode (backlight, ZOOM, LCD, etc.).

Important! Today, lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries are used, but pay attention to the fact that each model has its own unique source of energy.

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Connectors for connection

All footage should be easily and simply transferred to other devices. Therefore, a good camcorder should have a number of connectors:

• HDMI Allows you to view the footage directly from the camera in excellent quality.
• DV. The connector is used to view videos on most electronic devices: PC, projector, other digital camera, laptop.
• USB Simplifies the transfer of videos to a PC.
• S-video. This connector is required to connect to a TV and VCR for analog data transfer.

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Additional functions

In addition to the standard, each model may have additional functions. Some of them may be useful, while others may not be very helpful. For example:

• Manual focus function. The presence of manual settings for shutter speed and aperture can significantly help in the video process.
• Photo mode. Thanks to this feature, you can take photos on your camera. The photography function during video shooting will be very useful - this will allow you to take a photo while recording a video without interrupting it.
• Built-in effects. Digital faders, such as the effect of specular reflection, the effect of crooked mirrors, shooting “antique”, are most likely designed to pump money. Any video editor will be able to do something breathtaking from the captured video and the source material will remain clean. But the video with the captured effect, in a normal form, it is very difficult to bring.
• Night mode. This is another way to spend extra money, since only specially designed cameras can take night shots.In a standard camera, the minimum illumination plus night mode leads to a terrible picture with many artifacts and noise.

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Stock footage

We hope that our information helped you understand the characteristics of the camcorder and you were able to choose the most optimal device for yourself to capture the best moments of life.