Camcorders

Camcorders enable you to record both video and audio by using a built-in recorder. Camcorders enclose both a video camera and a video recorder and the earliest versions of this two- in- one device were developed by companies like JVC, Sony and Kodak. The initial camcorders used analog video tape but now with VCR technology becoming obsolete these camcorders have moved on to digital tape (MiniDvs) and even tape free solutions like flash memory devices, memory cards, and small hard disks.

All camcorders contain three major components that include the lens, the imager and the recorder. The lens is the first component of the camera section of the camcorder which gathers and focuses light on the imager. The optics of the lens has adjustments like aperture which controls the amount of light, zoom which controls the field- of- view and shutter speed which enables the capture of continuous motion. Many of these controls are automatic in a consumer camcorder while they are manual in camcorders used by professionals.

The imager is the eye of the camcorder which contains photosensitive devices that convert light into an electronic video signal through an elaborate process. The recorder then gets to work by writing this video signal onto a recording medium. This recording process sometimes introduces outside sounds and noise into the stored format as well. All camcorders come equipped with recording controls which allow the user to control the camcorder and switch it into playback mode and also control images by controlling exposure, focus and white balance.

The least expensive digital camcorders available on the market today are those that use Hi-8mm tapes. These cameras record these tapes digitally. However these cameras are often of low resolution and as of the end of 2007 they are being phased out. Sony had introduced this technology in 1985 when it had launched its Handycam range of camcorders.

Most camcorders now use MiniDV tapes and the camcorders that use these MiniDV tapes come equipped with Fire Wire port with which you can load the video on to your computer easily and rapidly. Most consumer camcorders come equipped with a one mega pixel CCD which enables the camera to record good quality images. Consumer camcorders now go up to 1.5 mega pixel CCDs.

Entry level professional camcorders are equipped with three CCDs and these cameras which record on to a DV cam or MiniDv tapes produce broadcast quality images. Whatever camcorder you choose you must make sure it has to have a FireWire port so that you can easily connect it to your computer.

Companies like Canon, Sony, Panasonic all make a wide range of consumer camcorders.