Issac Brandon asked:


If you are a photography lover, then great technologies are there to help you in clicking awesome quality images. Earlier there were not much opportunities and facilities for capturing best quality images, but nowadays market is full of various high quality cameras, which deliver extremely pleasing photographs with great ease. Whether you are going to a picnic, attending a marriage ceremony, enjoying a birthday, or whatsoever it is, a camera lets you to record all these highly special moments and makes them your cherished memories for life time.

Out of so many innovative camera technologies, one of the most widely accepted and popular creations is the camcorders. This digital technology enriched device has gained high popularity among the customers worldwide. It is highly useful for everyone as you do not know when and which day of your life is memorable and that time you just think about a recording device to record it forever. The devices are highly enriched with various latest and innovative camera technologies as well as camera features, which allow the users to capture some of the very special and most unforgettable moments of life. These extremely fantastic electronic devices come with high resolution power and you can allow the users to edit their memorable recordings, without any hassle.

There are thousands of camcorders of various famous brands, which you can buy for you to capture high quality recordings. Some of the best camcorders hail their origin to Hi-Vision, Umatic, D1-Sony, MiniDV, BRD, XDCAM, HDV, HD-DVD, MICROMV and lots more to mention in this long list. The most preferred one among these is the MiniDV, which comes with an extremely high resolution and delivers great quality recordings to the users.

If you are a prospective buyer then there are some things that you must keep in your mind. Things like price, product quality, warranty, price of substitute goods, offers prevailing in the traditional as well as the online market tend to make a lot of influence in every buyer’s decision-making process. A user, looking for a smart yet cheap camcorder, must make a detailed and exhaustive research before getting into the right mood to understand the market trends. It is always advisable to seek the advice of existing users, who have an in-depth knowledge about the product(thanks to prolonged usage).

The World Wide Web is an exhaustive tool in every way of life and camcorders are no exception by any standards. One can easily get complete information about the latest camcorders in the present day market along with a brief idea about their functionalities and related features as well as price.

Nowadays, with the emergence of new market players, competition has intensified to a great extent. Gone are the days when a prospective buyer had to compromise with sub-standard products and services. Competition in the market has enhanced and the greatest beneficiary of these market trends is none other than the user himself. With product manufacturers trying their level best to woo the user, he is in a better position to derive and optimise “better value” for his hard-earned money.

David Little asked:


When I think about digital signage, I’m sometimes reminded of the perpetually hungry, ever-growing plant from the musical “Little Shop of Horrors.” You might remember that unusual flora. It’s the talking, singing Venus Flytrap on steroids that constantly demands “Feed Me!” I can’t help but think of that giant man-eating plant, because its appetite for flesh was as large and insatiable as that of digital signage for content.

Content is the currency of digital signage. Without it, digital signage would be about as appealing as looking at a dimly lit mirror. So, it’s imperative that digital signage users source, create and schedule enough of the right kinds of content to attract and hold the interest of their audiences till they’ve delivered their intended message.

Not an easy task under normal conditions, the job is even harder when high definition is added to the equation. The appeal of HD content on a digital sign is straightforward. High definition television’s ability to reproduce enough picture detail to convey a previously unattainable sense of realism is powerful. Sports fans who watch their favorite teams in HD never want to go back to their ordinary TVs, and nature buffs who tune into Discovery HD Theater can feel overwhelmed at times by the Mother Nature’s majesty.

Transplant that HD realism to a retail digital signage network, for example, where marketers want to create a specific mood or portray their merchandise in the best possible light. Under those circumstances, understanding the allure of high definition to digital signage marketers is as clear as an HD image itself.

However, the issue of sourcing HD content –particularly video originated in high definition- is significantly less clear. While it seems that every week another press announcement trumpets the arrival of a new TV channel or cable network in HD, the reality is the video production industry is still in a transition period between conventional television and HDTV. HD content can be shot for your digital signage needs, but there is a strong demand for HD production services and limited supply –so be prepared. On a positive note, those content creators who wish to shoot their own HD digital signage content have a broad selection of relatively affordable camcorders from which to choose.

Another source of HD content is your company’s film library. Remember continuous-tone film is a high-resolution –or at the risk of confusing things “high definition”- medium. Film can be transferred to HD video, and depending on your project, doing so might make sense.

Upconverting standard definition television to HDTV is an option as well. Depending on how you intend to use the content, this may be an entirely suitable solution for your HD content needs. While it may not be ideal, upconverting select content has significant advantages over shooting original HD material in terms of cost, speed and opportunity. Remember, many programs you’re ooing and ahhing at today on your HDTV may include sequences that have been upconverted from standard definition footage. That’s especially likely to be the case for historical file footage.

If you’re not looking for original HD content, you’re options are a little broader. Cable, satellite, and even Telco TV services make a variety of channels and networks available in high definition. It is even possible to turn a computer with a USB 2.0 port and a USB device that’s an ATSC tuner along with a loop antenna into an HD receiver/digital video recorder for terrestrial (over-the-air) broadcast HDTV content. While I specifically am not advocating unauthorized use of copyrighted material, the availability of the USB HDTV tuner and recorder does increase your flexibility and options.

Feeding digital signage’s insatiable appetite for content has never been easy, and HD makes the task even more troublesome. But you are not without options. Originating HD content, transferring existing film assets to HD and upconverting ordinary video content to high definition are starting points. With time, HD production capabilities will become so prevalent that creating high definition content will be taken for granted. Until that time point, creative digital signage content pros will assess their resources and employ the options that make sense today.

Thomas Bartlett asked:


4 GB of built-in memory and the ability to record up to 60 minutes of high-quality video, the Flip Mino HD is the world\’s smallest HD camcorder.

It has built-in FlipShare software that allows you to save and organize your videos, create folders to organize your videos, provides the ability to publish your videos online with various video websites, allows you to email your videos to fiends and family, and provides the ability to create custom movies with your favorite music.

At a measly 3.3 ounces, the Flip Mino HD is the world\’s smallest HD camcorder. It\’s super-sleek, super-slim design, allows it to fit into a small spaces, including any pocket or purse. It is powered by an internal lithium ion rechargeable battery which recharges through the USB connection to your computer.

This incredible camera produces HD 720p resolution for video to enjoy on your HDTV. It also records high-quality MP4 files that can be easily dragged and dropped onto iTunes, iPhoto and iMovie. You have the ability to instantly watch videos on your TV with the included connector cable. Camera features include instant playback rewind, fast-forward, cause, zoom, and delete.

Technical Details

The Flip Mino HD holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) on 4 GB of built-in memory

Weighs only 3.3 ounces

Features one-touch recording and digital zoom

Flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare

Built-in FlipShare Software

Organize and Save: Watch your videos on your computer whenever you want, and create your own folders to organize your videos, or simply use the automatic date-stamp system.

Online Video Publishing: Upload your videos instantly to YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video and many other websites, all with the click of a button. It’s never been this easy to publish online!

Email Videos: Send your videos privately to family and/or friends. Select from an assortment of greeting cards to personalize your message.

Edit and Create Movies: Edit individual clips and create custom movies, including with adding your favorite music. FlipShare even allows you to capture snapshots from your videos.

What comes with purchase:

Flip MinoHD Camcorder, with built-in FlipShare software

TV connector cable

Wrist strap

Soft carrying case

Quick start guide

Warranty

Product registration

Antoine Lindz asked:


A professional HD video camera is one of the must-haves of avid filmmakers. These video cameras are the hottest item when it comes to the film-making or documentation industry. There are so many high definition camcorders in the market that are available but only a few are noteworthy. These are the:

- Canon XH-A1 HDV Camcorder, – Sony HDR-FX7 Camcorder, – JVC GYHD110U MiniDV Camcorder, and; – Panasonic AG-HVX200.

The Canon XH-A1 HDV Camcorder

This miniature version of the Canon XL H1 performs like its big brother, the Canon XLH1DV. It has a low light performance which is a good feature for a professional HD video camera. However, being small has its drawbacks. It has no lens interchangeability unlike the bigger version. Customers are somewhat skeptical with the 30F and 24F frame rates too but some are finding it easy to adjust to. It also has a bad eyecup design and is quite heavy for a video camera. Nevertheless, this is still good for ENGs, budget documentarians, student filmmakers.

The Sony HDR-FX7 Camcorder

The Sony FX7 is labeled as the company’s consumer camcorder. It has a clear VID CMOS sensors which make a fantastic impression in bright light. Under low light conditions, the performance disappointingly falls to pieces. It can however, omit XLR inputs and external audio level controls.

The JVC GYHD110U MiniDV Camcorder

This camcorder’s lens interchangeability and size is almost the same with the Canon XH-A1 HDV. It has a standard Fujinon 16x ProHD Lens. It comes with true progressive video at 720p but it doesn’t offer interlaced video recording options. The resolution is close to XH A1′s resolution. If you are the type of shooter who prefers larger camcorders and lens flexibility, buy a JVC GYHD110U.

Panasonic AG-HVX200

This camcorder uses the proprietary P2 tapeless recording system. It is able to record DVCPRO video DV tapes, but can only be recorded using Panasonic’s solid state P2 memory cards or an external DTE drive like non-tape media. By using the P2 Cards, you can record non-stop and reduce the tape transfer time because of the camcorders 2 swappable P2 slots. The camcorder relies on pixel shifting to raise the resolution of its 3 1/3 ” CCDs from 500k gross pixel count to a high definition resolution.

Different filmmakers have different professional HD video camera needs. The decision is yours to make. It is up to the aspiring filmmaker to decide which camera will cater to his or her needs more. Is the camera worth the price? That is for the filmmaker to judge.

adamsean9 asked:


The Sony DCR-SR45 is a lightweight camcorder with a weight of 350g (without battery). Its dimensions are 76mm wide, 77mm high and 113mm deep). Our review unit was in the usual slick silver and black design. The camcorder has a 2.7-inch wide touch screen and a 40x optical zoom. The zoom enabled microphone captures the audio clearly. Plenty of storage space is provided by its 30 GB storage space. This translates to 7 to 20 hours of recording depending on the quality setting. You can also store photos and videos to a memory slot thanks to a "hybrid stick" which offers a secondary recording option with a memory stick slot that can boost its capacity to 16GB.

The four buttons- zoom in, zoom out, home, start/stop recording are versatile when recording at low angles. It has 2 menu systems; a "Home" menu for all feature settings and an "Options" menu for functions available for video and still images like recording mode, focus and white balance. The dead centre record button lets you start off easily and the dial fits in line with the thumb. Power and activity buttons are above this. It also has a "Quick On" button, which moves it from the standby mode. The "stills" button is located on top. And rocker switch for the zooming lens which allows shutter free close-ups.

Good

All features are up to the standard.

It has a responsive auto focus and good white balance.

Clean appearance with sliding door on the side, where you can find a USB port, an AV out with included cable. Another sliding door on top hides the memory card slot.

"Nightshot" capabilities

Compared to SR65, it has a larger optical zoom.

Bad

The video quality is disappointing. It is unlikable if you are used to the clarity of a HD video. It doesn’t look good even at highest quality setting until you scale it down to You Tube size.

It fails to counterpart mobile phones with maximum image size of 0.3 megapixels.

It cannot capture shake free images and for taking close-ups, tripod is always required as it lacks optical image stabilization.

Performance drop in capturing dim light images.

Sometimes the images are blurred even in LCD screen.

Bottom line

The DCR-SR45 is not better than other entry level cams. The image quality is reasonable but not good enough for most people. It is affordable, but there are even cheaper models with better performances. The total package is up to the standard except for the video quality. It is adequate for beginners and budget shoppers interested in MiniDV.

JR Lang asked:


Ten years ago the only video cameras that were available were the analog type that were so big and bulky that they had to be carted around on a trolley while professionals used them to shoot video for television. Camcorders have come a long way, they are smaller, slimmer, user-friendly and have tons of options that are available on many different models. Also with today’s digital technology comes the digital camcorder, which makes shooting and editing a movie a simple and fun activity for many people.

When buying a camcorder it is important to choose one that fits with you. Store counters are filled with a great variety of brands and models each with an array of features and formats. It is important to understand these features when buying a camcorder and buying the right camcorder which fits your purpose and budget.

The following guide to buying a camcorder details these features and will give you the guidance needed to buy the right camcorder the first time.

While analog camcorders still exist, digital camcorders are the camcorders of the day. Digital camcorders provide a superb recording quality by recording audio and video digitally without any loss in quality. In fact the quality far outweighs analog in yielding excellent color and clarity with 500 lines of resolution. And while digital camcorders are more expensive than analog, the price difference has shrunk enough in the past couple of years to make it very worthwhile to purchase the digital type.

Digital camcorders display recorded images by using the fantastic flat LCD screen feature. These screens can be rotated about 290 degrees along the vertical line, and horizontally about 90 degrees. These screens have made digital camcorders very popular with consumers since the recording process becomes so easy and fun when you are able to see what is being recorded on the LCD screen in real time. Also it is important to note that the DVD camcorders LCD displays a list of the recorded scenes for quick, easy searching.

When buying a camcorder you want to get an LCD screen that is as large as you can afford. The larger the screen the more you can see what you are recording in real time. One thing to keep in mind is the larger the screen the more battery power it will draw.

Another feature of LCD screens is the viewfinder, which is intended for shooting in bright sunlight and helps to save power. The panel size of LCD screens is presented in inches ranging from 1.8 to 3.5 inch screens

Camcorders have two types of zoom capabilities, digital and optical, and many camcorders come with both. The digital zoom enlarges images by magnifying the actual pixels. The finished image is thus affected and lacks clear definition. Pixilation is the term that defines this process of blurring. This option can be turned off on most models of camcorders and should be for optimal image quality.

The optical zoom feature actually utilizes the movement of the lens. The focal length is changed and image that passes through the lens is captured with optical zoom. Higher optical zoom ratings give better image quality.

Very often the audio that is recorded with your camcorder is just as important as the video. Mostly camcorders have the same audio quality. Some problems may occur, such as recording of tape motor noise, no sound at all, noise from hand movement and even times when the camcorder will record the wrong thing. The best thing you can do when buying a camcorder is to look for options, and make sure that the camcorder has a microphone jack to which you can attach an external microphone as opposed to relying on the camcorders internal microphone. An external microphone will be of great benefit at those times when you are recording something like a concert, wedding or graduation speech because the external microphone will allow you adjust the channels to fit with the sound levels you are recording.

There are several media formats available with digital camcorders. When buying a camcorder this feature is very important to look at and choose the right format that fits your needs and budget. This is the feature which determines how the video is recorded and what kind of storage device is used.

DVD Camcorders – Before discussing the actual DVD media camcorders, first let’s take a look at the different types of DVD formats of which there are three: DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-RAM. DVD-R is a recordable DVD format with a write-once only capability. DVD-RW is a recordable DVD but it allows rewrites and so provides unlimited writing to same disk. DVD-RAM – DVD Random Access Memory is a DVD disc, which can be recorded with information, erased, and recorded again. DVD-RAM is considered a highly reliable format, as the discs have built-in error control and a defect management system. Therefore, DVD-RAM is perceived to be better than the other DVD technologies.

There are two versions of DVD camcorders. The first one works with rewritable DVD-RAM discs requiring a DVD player with RAM playback or a PC with a DVD-RAM drive. The second works by using the more popular DVD-RW and DVD-R discs that work with most ordinary DVD players and allow for actual recording of images to the DVD disk. A great feature of this recording format is the ability to edit in-camera and with repeated playbacks the disk does not degrade.

MiniDV Camcorders are types of camcorder that store recorded data to MiniDV cassettes. The video and sound quality is exceptionally good. The MiniDV camcorders are small, sleek and stylish because of the small size of MiniDV cassettes.

MicroMV digital camcorders use tapes that are much smaller than MiniDV tapes and also use more of compression technology. The MicroMV is compressed much more that the MiniDV and records very high quality video as well as possess the capability of full digital editing. The MicroMV is also very compact, lightweight and ultra small.

Flash Media Camcorders record images to an internal Flash drive and Flash Memory cards. Flash Memory cards include: SD, Compact Flash, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Duo.

HDD Camcorders, or hard disk drive camcorders are compact and record in MPEG-2 video as well as other encoded formats and recorded data is stored to an internal hard disk. The upside of this format is the ability to store huge amounts of video data by using compression. The video is saved to the internal hard disc within the camcorder and then downloaded to a computer and burnt onto to a DVD. The HDD camcorder has no moving parts and so there is less chance of mechanical breakdown.

Digital 8 Camcorders record digital video to Hi-8 videotapes. Digital 8 is a consumer digital videotape format developed by Sony, and introduced in 1999. Digital8 equipment uses the same videocassettes as analog Hi8 equipment, but differs in that the audio/video signal is encoded digitally. Picture quality is fairly good and this format allows playback of analog videotapes recorded on Hi-8 camcorders.

VHS Camcorders are types of camcorders that record video digitally to VHS videotapes. Picture quality is good and this format allows playback of analog videotapes.

HDV Camcorders, are the newest standard in high definition recording and viewing. High Definition Video camcorders usually utilize MiniDV tapes or Hard Disk Drives which yields a full high definition 1920 by 1080 resolution. This resolution provides a superb high-def video picture quality, which looks great on a high definition television. When buying a camcorder with this capability it is important to know that for editing high-def video a computer is required with a fast processor and lots of memory to meet the requirements of video editing software.

Hitachi has manufactured the world’s first full HD digital camcorder which both records and saves image data in the Full HD format on both the hard drive and on Blu-ray Discs, which are the next standard for recordable media.

When buying a camcorder a key feature to consider is built in stabilization. Unless you are shooting video with the camcorder sitting on a tripod, which most home users do not do for everyday shoots, the hand must be stable while holding the camera to avoid image distortion caused by unsteadiness or jerking of the hand. This feature helps to fix these errors caused by jerking of the camera in the hand while shooting.

The stabilization feature comes in two types, Optical and Electronic. Superior to the electronic technique, the Optical Image Stabilization technique is where a part of the lens is moved in the camcorder to compensate for the shake.

With the Electronic Image Stabilization technique the camcorders internal computer shifts the image electronically in the opposite direction of the shake. This is achieved by slightly zooming in on the image. Poor electronic techniques can cause loss of sharpness or resolution.

Controls and Camcorder Size. When buying a camcorder you do not want to compromise usability for size. While a small camcorder maybe cute and convenient to carry, it is important to make sure that it is also user-friendly. You want to be able to reach and use the controls of a camcorder with ease while recording, if the camcorder is so small that you cannot easily access the control buttons the recording experience will be hindered and it will also become a hassle.

The battery a digital camcorder uses is also a vital feature to consider when buying a camcorder. Does the camcorder come with a rechargeable battery? How long recording time is available on a fully charged battery? The best option is to purchase a camcorder which has a rechargeable battery. Generally different models of camcorders have different battery capacity which allow for varying amount of recording time on a fully charged battery.

The two most common rechargeable batteries are the NiCd and the Lithium Ion. The lithiums are usually preferred because they take a charge quicker, are lighter than others and have a longer life span. Most full charges give a battery 6 hours of life.

The brand of camcorder will of course play a role when buying a camcorder. There are plenty of manufacturers of digital camcorders including but not limited to Canon, Panasonic, Sony Hitachi, JVC and Sharp. Canon has some of the best high-def machines on that market today, JVC has a couple of great budget models and Sony is best known for their handycam, which provides superb picture quality in compact machine.

In the end, the most important factor to consider when buying a camcorder is your personal use, the features you desire and price. Ratings of brands are available and the list of key features and specifications should be looked at to determine if the brand and model fits your needs and budget.

Digital camcorders are not cheap, in fact they are often thought of as a hefty investment that could range anywhere between $280 to over $2500 retail price. Something to consider is that in todays world with the Internet providing a stage where millions of sellers and merchants compete for your business it is easy to save significant amounts of money by avoiding retail merchants and purchasing discount digital camcorders.

RAYMOND NWAMBUONWO asked:


When shopping for digital camcorders, several choices are available. Some of these options involve the products features, characteristics and price ranges. This objectiveness also exists when one is purchasing any product ranging from sneakers to furniture and from toys to SUVs. Another way that a type of commodity is differentiated is through the company that produces it. Today, Sony is one of the most trusted names in electronic equipment, which includes its line of Sony digital camcorders.

Sony was actually started with the name Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation. Mr. Morita Akio and Ibuka Masaru founded the company in 1946, and then changed the name to Sony in 1958. “Sony” is a combination of a Latin word that is the root of the word “sound;” the English word “sunny;” and the term “Sonny-boys,” which in Japanese refers to a nerd.

The first significant consumer product that the company sold was an audio tape recorder that Sony put on the market in 1950. Sony is renowned worldwide for manufacturing the first transistor radio that can fit in a pants pocket (1957), the portable tape player known as the Walkman (1979), and the famous Playstation video game system (1994).

Right before the first Sony digital camcorders were released, the company made two groundbreaking camcorders. Sony introduced its Betacam in 1982. This camcorder was produced for professional recording via television. The initial units were analog, though the Digital Betacam was added to the arsenal of Sony digital camcorders, in 1994. Many of Sony’s digital video tape recorders (vtr) can play back all of Sony’s analog and digital Betacam formats.

In 1983 Sony’s Betamovie, based on its Betamax format, became the first domestic camcorder. The compact video head drum of this analog camcorder was subsequently used for camcorders manufactured afterwards. Today’s users of Sony digital camcorders would find the Betamovie to be bulky. In fact, one could not hold it by using a single hand, so users oftentimes laid the camcorder on their shoulder. Nevertheless, camcorders that followed the Betamovie were even bulkier, as Betamovie units lacked playback and rewind features.

Many Sony digital camcorders are offered on the market today. These fantastic products vary significantly in appearances, features, and price. The primary groups of Sony digital camcorders include: hard disk camcorders, dvd camcorders, hi8 Camcorders, high definition (hd) camcorders, minidv (digital video) camcorders.

Since its inception in 1946, the Sony Corporation has become a leader and innovator in the world of digital electronic equipment. Following the tradition of the Betacam and Betamovie, today’s Sony digital camcorders connote the best of their company and the best of the industry.

Karl Bantleman asked:


The hottest Christmas gifts for this year:

Digital camcorders and cameras

Whereas many Christmas gifts will gather dust well into the new-year, digital camcorders and digital cameras are sure to be put to immediate use capturing the day’s events.

If you want to relive all those party games for years to come then camcorders are a great way to ensure those magic moments are never forgotten and can be passed on to future generations. Nowadays you should look for a digital camcorder with high-definition (HD) capabilities. The latest models include:

• Sony HDR-SR12E Digital Camcorder – A stylish and ultra-compact model with an impressively high capacity of 120 Gigabytes (GB). It allows up to 48 hours of recording time and produces excellent picture quality including still images up to a 10 megapixels resolution

• Panasonic HDC-SD5 Digital Camcorder – One of the easiest to use camcorders on the market, the Panasonic HDC-SD5 is lightweight and takes high definition to a new level as it is capable of recording 1920×1080 pixels for full HD glory.

• Canon HV30 Digital Camcorder – Described by its manufacturer as the “digital filmmaker’s camcorder”, the HV30 can be adapted to a number of shooting situations and features cinema-style progressive shooting to provide the look and feel of a film for ambitious moviemakers.

We may have become accustomed to taking quick snaps with our camera phones, but how many of us bother to download the images on to a PC and print them off? By contrast digital cameras can provide superb picture quality with images that can be easily accessed and treasured for years to come.

So if you want to help a friend or family member capture memories this Christmas pick up one of the following:

• Fujifilm Z100fd Digital Camera – A slim-line digital camera available in four colours: cappuccino brown, tuxedo black, shell pink and satin silver. It is a stylish model with a 5x optical zoom lens and many advanced auto-snapping technologies.

• Panasonic DMC-FX500 Digital Camera – Named the best compact digital camera in Europe for 2008 by the Technical Image Press Association, the DMC-FX500 has an intuitive touch-screen operation as well as joystick control. It also has an image-stabilised zoom ideal for any subject.

• Olympus Mju 1030SW Digital Camera – Described as the “life-proof” digital camera, the versatile Olympus Mju is waterproof to 10m, crush proof up to 100kg and shock proof up to 2.0m. In addition it features face detection for perfect focus on image areas and 10.1 megapixels for poster-sized prints.

Buying digital cameras allows us to save those special moments but if you want something more lively then a camcorders are your best bet. Find the best deals on digital cameras and more online.

Brooke Thom asked:


There are number of formats and models that you can easily choose from the video camera that you are ready to purchase. There is a great variety of video cameras ranging from some of the most basic and practical camcorders that are easy to use. Some of these cameras are modern and expensive that is complicated to run. It is always advisable to purchase a new model because many older models are obsolete. The newer formats are available with viable option giving you high resolution video and an easier way to edit your recordings. A portable consumer electronic device used for recording video and audio content is called as Pal Camcorder Camera. Different kind of pal camcorder cameras are available in the market such as Panasonic Camera, NV-GS 250 Panasonic camera etc. Pal game is easily played on these cameras. Different video formats are recorded including DV, mini DV and HD. The recording can later be played back on television or computer. An extensive usage is found by the camcorders in nearly all corners of electronic media, from electronic news organizations to TV/current affairs productions. Pal Camcorder Camera is very much used in production of low-budget TV shows or at times even for high-budget cinema. You will have a great working exp with PAL analog system. PAL system camcorders allow the user to take full advantage with its easy to learn features. It is considered as the superior analog system that is used most widely used across the world. The system is also inferior in terms of quality of output. Popularly used all over the world to record, store, edit and play videos Pal system camcorders are the best choice to have. The system is fully compatible with all TVs and VCRs. Thus you don’t need to buy multi system TV or VCR. The videos of friends and family are easily stored in the system. Pal camcorders cameras are good looking, smart and trendy providing consisting colors and excellent picture quality. They proved to be the best choice for people who stay abroad or who have frequent traveling involved in their life style. There are many brands of PAL camcorders including Canon, Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, JVC and Samsung. It all depends upon your requirement and budget that which brand you want to choose. Some common examples include Hi8 & Digital 8, VHS-C & S-VHSC, Mini DV & Micro MV, DVD PAL Camcorder, Hard-Disk PAL Camcorder and DV-CAM & Professional Camcorder etc.

Cal Barton asked:


High Definition When?

High definition will inevitably become a widespread

if not universal television broadcast format. However, it’s not yet clear when that will happen. So it’s also not yet clear when high definition camcorders will be routinely required for acquisition for non-fiction programmes. With that in mind, this E-zine aims to give some background to high definition technology and the Sony high definition camcorders currently available.

High Definition Workshops

Procam Television runs workshops on high definition technology. These are conducted by Paul Wheeler BSC, a highly experienced film and digital cinematographer who wrote the book, “High Definition & 24p Cinematography”, and is also a highly respected trainer. If you are interested please write cal@procamtv.com for details.

High Definition Formats and Camcorders

Before venturing into the world of high definition, it should be said that our UK-based clients primarily use Digital Betacam and DV Cam camcorders and we find minimal demand for HD Cam. Our American clients are using HD Cam more frequently than our British clients but Beta-SP remains the format they most commonly request.

Two High Definition Formats

To begin with, the future of high definition broadcasting is unclear. There are two HD formats being considered for transmission. One is 720p (720 horizontal lines or rows of pixels in the image) and the other is 1080i (1080 horizontal lines or rows of pixels in the image). The “p” stands for progressive scan and the “i” stands for interlaced scan but more on this later. Panasonic manufactures the camcorders that generate 720 horizontal lines and Sony manufactures the camcorders that generate 1080 horizontal lines. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has suggested for discussion using 720p for public service broadcasters but say that does not mean they favour 720p as the standard HD format for transmission. Trade magazines say BSkyB plans to broadcast both 720p and 1080i in a service that will begin sometime in 2006 although I was recently told 1080i may be the only format they use for transmission.

The Sony 1080-line system has one clear advantage over Panasonic’s 720-line system. Each image contains more than two million pixels (1920 vertical lines x 1080 horizontal lines) compared to 900,000 pixels (1280 vertical lines x 720 horizontal lines) in an image from a Panasonic high definition camcorder. This gives a superior picture. The advantage of the 720-line system is it takes less transmission bandwidth to broadcast.

Now to the difference between “interlaced” and “progressive” scan. These terms refer to the way television images are processed for transmission.

Interlaced Scan

Standard definition television broadcast signals are processed by television sets in an “interlaced scan” format. This means the screen first scans the odd numbered horizontal image lines, or rows of pixels, sequentially from top to bottom (1, 3, 5, etc). It then returns to the top and scans the even numbered lines (2, 4, 6, etc). In summary, the full picture from top to bottom is first made with half the information there and half of it missing. Then the missing information is filled in. In the PAL standard, each of these two processes takes 1/50th of a second so the entire process takes 1/25th of a second.

Progressive Scan

“Progressive” scan differs from interlaced scan in that the image is displayed on a screen by scanning each line (or row of pixels) in a sequential order rather than an alternate order, as is done with interlaced scan. In other words, in progressive scan, the image lines are scanned in numerical order (1,2,3) down the screen from top to bottom, instead of in an alternate order (lines or rows 1,3,5, etc… followed by lines or rows 2,4,6). By progressively scanning the image onto a screen every 25th of a second rather than “interlacing” alternate lines every 50th of a second, a smoother, more detailed, image can be produced on the screen that is perfectly suited for viewing fine details and is also less susceptible to interlace flicker.

The Sony range of camcorders offer both interlaced and progressive scan functions in a range of settings.

Procam Television and High Definition Camcorders

As a facilities company, we are moving into the HD Cam market but cautiously. We have Sony models but have not purchased any Panasonic products. This is only in response to what our clients have requested most. Below is a summary of each model and what it offers from the lowest to the highest priced model.

Sony HVR-Z1P

This is one high definition camcorder we can recommend using immediately without exception. We purchased 15 of them in February of this year. It is an upgrade of the DSR-PD170P compact camcorder. The main reason for the unqualified recommendation is that the camera has a 16:9 chip so it shoots true wide screen images. It also delivers superior pictures.

Go to our web site http://www.procamtv.com/ for more details.

Sony HDW-730S High Definition camcorder

The 730S is geared towards mainstream television programming rather than film or high end television drama productions. It shoots using the interlaced function only and can be switched between 50i and 59.94i. Progressive scan is not possible with the 730S. But if you don’t need to use progressive scan and you’re shooting for television, this camcorder produces excellent images and it allows you to shoot HD Cam on close to a standard definition budget.

Go to http://www.procamtv.com/ for more details.

Sony HDW-750P High Definition Camcorder

The HDW-750P offers the choice of shooting 25 frames per second in progressive scan mode (25P) to give your pictures a film look or of shooting 50 fields per second interlaced (50i) to conform to the PAL broadcasting standard. The camcorder has a 2.2 million-pixel FIT CCD, which is a step up from the IT CCD in the 730S, and Advanced Digital Signal Processing (ADSP).

Go to http://www.procamtv.com/ for more details

Sony HDW-F900 Multi-format Cine Alta High Definition camcorder

This is the top of Sony’s high definition (1080 lines x 1920 pixels) camcorder range. The F900 offers the ability to shoot in any setting you might want. In progressive scan, it can shoot 23.98, 24, 25, 29.94 or 30 frames per second. In interlaced, it can shoot 50, 59.94 or 60Hz. This means you can shoot for any standard anywhere in the world. If you are shooting for cinema release, the F900 is the only Sony camcorder that can shoot 24P (24 frames per second film standard).

Go to http://www.procamtv.com/ for more details.

Panasonic AJ-HDC27

The Panasonic range includes the AJ-HDC27 VariCam. This is a DVCPRO HD camcorder that offers variable frame rates which can be set from 4-fps to 60-fps in single frame increments at the touch of a button. The question we have about Panasonic high definition camcorders is does going from the 625 lines offered by current PAL standard definition cameras to the 720 lines offered by Panasonic’s high definition format really merit the investment required in acquisition and post production equipment? It’s something to consider.

Go to http://www.panasonic.com/ for more details.

Hope To Hear From You Soon

If you have any questions about high definition camcorders please e-mail or ring me. And consider taking a workshop with Paul Wheeler. Also, if you have any comments on this E-Zine, please let me know. We intend to send one out monthly with the objective of packing it with useful information.

Until then, thank you for reading this and please visit our web site http://www.procamtv.com/

Cal Barton

www.procamtv.com