How Camcorders Work
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How Camcorders Work
Camcorders and video recorders have become popular since early 1980s. With the steady reduction in the price, camcorders have become more affordable. A basic camcorder can be purchased with as low as $200. Video cameras have become very easy to use. As a result, They are used in many occasions: family gatherings, sport acivities, parks, reunions, trips,É In this article we briefly cover the traditional camecorders (VHS, VHSC, 8mm) and newer generaion: digital camcorders. Fundumentals A camcorder has two main sections: CCD, lens and the zoom and focus assembly form the camera section. A smaller version of a VCR which forms the VCR section. The camera section receives and converts visual information to an electronic video signal. The VCR section is a smaller version of a home VCR. It recordes video signal on video tape as magnetic patterns. The viewfinder acts as a monitor, displays the video image a, so you can see what you're shooting. Viewfinders are small, black-and-white or color monitors. Newer models include a full color LCD screen. The LCD screens consume more electricity Requiring more frequent charging of battery. Although similar in basic concepts, there are many different designs for analog camcorders, and many extra features, The main difference is the kind of storage tape used most Notably VHS, VHS-C and 8mm tapes. The digital camcorders have the same building blocks as the analog camcorders. However in a digital camcorder the sound and image information are converted to digital signals (1s and 0s) in an array of bits and bytes. Instead of recording on magnetic tapes, these bits and bytes are stored in memories (like computer memories). These digital information can be copied from one memory to another with out loosing any information and compromising the quality. In the analog system, the copying process does not produce an exact copy and some fading occurs. The CCD In this section we take a look at the most important part of the camcorder, the electronic sensor device that converts visual information into an electronic signal: CCD or Charged Coupled Diode. A camera sees the world through its lenses. In a film camera, the lens focuses the light from the source in to a photo sensitive film that will react with light. In a digital camcorder, unlike a Film camera, this light is focused on a semiconductor device. This sensor (CCD) consist of many very small light sensitive diodes. In a 1Ó CCD panel there might be as many as 2,000,000 of these diodes or photosites. Each photo diode converts the light hit by to an electronic signal. A brighter object is represented by a brighter light. And a brighter light generates higher electric signal. To create a color image, a camcorder detects the levels of red, blue and green color of light. The Lens The lens focuses light onto the CCD The focusing depends on the distance of an object to the lens. Most cameras have the autofocus feature so that when the camera man is moving around, (or if the object is moving) the focusing can be done automatically. The auto focus device has a infrared beam that bounces off the object and comes back to the sensor. To find the distance processor find show long it takes for the beam to bounce back from the object. The small motor moves the lens to focus the lens at this distance. Most camcorders come with a zoom lens. The zoom lenses are used to magnify the scene. This is done by changing / increasing the focal length of the lens (the distance between the lens and the film or CCD). This is called an optical zoom lens. With optical zoom lens, you can move from one magnification to a closer magnification. A zoom range tells you the maximum and minimum magnification. Most cameras are equipped with a motor that adjusts the zoom lens in response to a switch on the grip. With a motor driven lens, the zoom can be changed at a steady paste. However the battery may drain faster Some camcorders have a digital zoom function. This doesn't involve the camera's lenses at all; it simply zooms in on part of the total picture captured by the CCD, magnifying the pixels. Digital zooms stabilize magnified pictures a little better than optical zooms, but you sacrifice resolution quality because you end up using only a portion of the available photosites on the CCD. The loss of resolution makes the image fuzzy. Formats Analog Formats Analog camcorders record video and audio signals as an analog track on video tape. Every time you make a copy of a tape, it loses some image and audio quality. Analog formats are not as impressive as digital formats. The main difference between the available analog formats is what kind of video tape the camcorder uses and the resolution. Analog formats include: ¥ Standard VHS: Standard VHS cameras use the same type of video tapes as a regular VCR. One obvious advantage of this is that after you've recorded something, you can pop the tape out and play it on most VCRs. VHS tapes are a lot less expensive than the tapes used in other formats; and they give a longer recording time. The main disadvantage of standard VHS format is that the size of the tapes requiring a larger, more cumbersome camcorder design. They have a resolution of about 230 to 250 horizontal lines, which is the low end of what's now available. ¥ VHS-C: VHS-C camcorders record on standard VHS tape that is housed in a more compact cassette. You can play VHS-C cassettes in a standard VCR, but you need an adaptor device that runs the tape through a full-size cassette. Basically, though, VHS-C uses the same standard format as VHS . The smaller tape size allows for more compact designs, making VHS-C camcorders more portable. ¥ Super VHS: Super VHS has a higher resolution than the VHS tape. Super VHS camcorders are about the same size as standard VHS cameras, because they use the same size tapes. The super VHS tape records an image with 380 to 400 horizontal lines, a much higher resolution image than standard VHS tape. You cannot play super VHS tapes on a standard VCR, but, as with all formats, the camcorder itself is a VCR and can be hooked up directly to your TV or to your VCR to dub standard VHS copies. ¥ Super VHS-C: Basically, super VHS-C is to super VHS as VHS-C is to standard VHS: It's just a more compact version that uses a smaller size cassette. ¥ 8mm: These camcorders use small 8mm tapes (about the size of an audio cassette). Because of small size og8mm tapes, manufacturer can design more compact camcorders. The format offers about the same resolution as standard VHS, with slightly better sound quality To watch 8mm tapes on your television, you have to attach your camcorder and use it as a VCR. ¥ Hi-8: Hi-8 camcorders are very similar to 8mm camcorders, but there are several important differences. For one, Hi-8 camcorders have a much higher resolution -- about 400 lines. Also, Hi-8 tapes are more expensive than ordinary 8mm tapes. Digital Formats Digital camcorders record information digitally, as bits and bytes, which means the image can be reproduced without losing any image or audio quality. Digital video can also be downloaded to a computer, where you can edit it or post it on the Web. Another distinction is that digital video has a much better resolution than analog video, typically 500 lines. There are two consumer digital formats in widespread use: ¥ MiniDV: ¥ MiniDV camcorders record on compact cassettes, which are fairly expensive and hold about 60 to 90 minutes of footage. The video has an impressive 500 lines of resolution, however, and can be easily transferred to a personal computer. DV camcorders can be extremely lightweight and compact -- many are about the size of a paperback novel. Another interesting feature is the ability to capture still pictures, just as a digital camera does. ¥ Sony has recently introduced MicroMV, a format that works the same basic way as MiniDV but records on much smaller tapes. ¥ Digital8: ¥ Digital8 camcorders (produced by Sony exclusively) are very similar to regular DV camcorders, but they use standard Hi-8mm tapes, which are less expensive. These tapes hold up to 60 minutes of footage, which can be copied without any loss in quality. Just as with DV camcorders, you can connect Digital8 camcorders to your computer to download your movies for editing or Internet use. ¥ Digital8 cameras are generally a bit larger than DV camcorders -- about the size of standard 8mm models. ¥ DVD: ¥ DVD camcorders are still relatively rare, as compared to MiniDV models, but their numbers are growing steadily. Instead of recording magnetic signals on tape, these camcorders write video information directly onto small discs. The main advantage of this format is that each recording session is recorded as an individual track, just like the individual song tracks on a CD. Instead of rewinding and fast-fowarding through tape, you can jump immediately to each section of video. Other than that, DVD camcorders are pretty close to MiniDV models in performance. The picture is a little better on DVD models, however, and DVDs can store more footage. Depending on the camcorder's settings, a disc can hold 30 minutes to two hours of video. ¥ The newer DVD camcorders support two DVD formats: DVD-R and DVD-RAM. Both are three-quarters the size of DVD movie discs and are encased in plastic cartridges (at least while in the camcorder). The advantage of DVD-R camcorder discs is that they work in most set-top DVD players. The drawback is that you can only record to each disc once, which means you need to buy new discs regularly. You can record over DVD-RAM discs again and again, but you can't play them in ordinary DVD players. Like MiniDV tapes, you have to either use your camcorder as a player for your TV or copy your movie to another format. ¥ Memory card: There are now some digital camcorders that record directly onto solid-state memory cards, such as Flash memory cards, Memory Sticks and SD cards. Even low-end analog camcorders have so many helpful features that anybody can get decent footage with a little practice, and you can create quality movies with more in-depth studying. The technology that was once the exclusive domain of television professionals is now available as hobby equipment. Whether you simply want to record birthday parties and recitals or you hope to produce ambitious video projects, the newest camcorders certainly have a lot to offer. TO BE CONTINUED
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Product Description
Camcorders and video recorders have become popular since early 1980s. With the steady reduction in the price, camcorders have become more affordable. A basic camcorder can be purchased with as low as $200. Video cameras have become very easy to use. As a result,
They are used in many occasions: family gatherings, sport acivities, parks, reunions, trips,É
In this article we briefly cover the traditional camecorders (VHS, VHSC, 8mm) and newer generaion: digital camcorders.
Fundumentals
A camcorder has two main sections: CCD, lens and the zoom and focus assembly form the camera section. A smaller version of a VCR which forms the VCR section.
The camera section receives and converts visual information to an electronic video signal. The VCR section is a smaller version of a home VCR. It recordes video signal on video tape as magnetic patterns.
The viewfinder acts as a monitor, displays the video image a, so you can see what you're shooting. Viewfinders are small, black-and-white or color monitors. Newer models include a full color LCD screen. The LCD screens consume more electricity Requiring more frequent charging of battery.
Although similar in basic concepts, there are many different designs for analog camcorders, and many extra features, The main difference is the kind of storage tape used most Notably VHS, VHS-C and 8mm tapes. The digital camcorders have the same building blocks as the analog camcorders. However in a digital camcorder the sound and image information are converted to digital signals (1s and 0s) in an array of bits and bytes. Instead of recording on magnetic tapes, these bits and bytes are stored in memories (like computer memories). These digital information can be copied from one memory to another with out loosing any information and compromising the quality. In the analog system, the copying process does not produce an exact copy and some fading occurs.
The CCD In this section we take a look at the most important part of the camcorder, the electronic sensor device that converts visual information into an electronic signal: CCD or Charged Coupled Diode.
A camera sees the world through its lenses. In a film camera, the lens focuses the light from the source in to a photo sensitive film that will react with light. In a digital camcorder, unlike a Film camera, this light is focused on a semiconductor device. This sensor (CCD) consist of many very small light sensitive diodes. In a 1Ó CCD panel there might be as many as 2,000,000 of these diodes or photosites. Each photo diode converts the light hit by to an electronic signal. A brighter object is represented by a brighter light. And a brighter light generates higher electric signal.
To create a color image, a camcorder detects the levels of red, blue and green color of light.
The Lens The lens focuses light onto the CCD The focusing depends on the distance of an object to the lens. Most cameras have the autofocus feature so that when the camera man is moving around, (or if the object is moving) the focusing can be done automatically. The auto focus device has a infrared beam that bounces off the object and comes back to the sensor. To find the distance processor find show long it takes for the beam to bounce back from the object. The small motor moves the lens to focus the lens at this distance. Most camcorders come with a zoom lens. The zoom lenses are used to magnify the scene. This is done by changing / increasing the focal length of the lens (the distance between the lens and the film or CCD). This is called an optical zoom lens. With optical zoom lens, you can move from one magnification to a closer magnification. A zoom range tells you the maximum and minimum magnification. Most cameras are equipped with a motor that adjusts the zoom lens in response to a switch on the grip. With a motor driven lens, the zoom can be changed at a steady paste. However the battery may drain faster Some camcorders have a digital zoom function. This doesn't involve the camera's lenses at all; it simply zooms in on part of the total picture captured by the CCD, magnifying the pixels. Digital zooms stabilize magnified pictures a little better than optical zooms, but you sacrifice resolution quality because you end up using only a portion of the available photosites on the CCD. The loss of resolution makes the image fuzzy.
Formats Analog Formats Analog camcorders record video and audio signals as an analog track on video tape. Every time you make a copy of a tape, it loses some image and audio quality. Analog formats are not as impressive as digital formats. The main difference between the available analog formats is what kind of video tape the camcorder uses and the resolution. Analog formats include: ¥ Standard VHS: Standard VHS cameras use the same type of video tapes as a regular VCR. One obvious advantage of this is that after you've recorded something, you can pop the tape out and play it on most VCRs. VHS tapes are a lot less expensive than the tapes used in other formats; and they give a longer recording time. The main disadvantage of standard VHS format is that the size of the tapes requiring a larger, more cumbersome camcorder design. They have a resolution of about 230 to 250 horizontal lines, which is the low end of what's now available. ¥ VHS-C: VHS-C camcorders record on standard VHS tape that is housed in a more compact cassette. You can play VHS-C cassettes in a standard VCR, but you need an adaptor device that runs the tape through a full-size cassette. Basically, though, VHS-C uses the same standard format as VHS . The smaller tape size allows for more compact designs, making VHS-C camcorders more portable. ¥ Super VHS: Super VHS has a higher resolution than the VHS tape. Super VHS camcorders are about the same size as standard VHS cameras, because they use the same size tapes. The super VHS tape records an image with 380 to 400 horizontal lines, a much higher resolution image than standard VHS tape. You cannot play super VHS tapes on a standard VCR, but, as with all formats, the camcorder itself is a VCR and can be hooked up directly to your TV or to your VCR to dub standard VHS copies. ¥ Super VHS-C: Basically, super VHS-C is to super VHS as VHS-C is to standard VHS: It's just a more compact version that uses a smaller size cassette. ¥ 8mm: These camcorders use small 8mm tapes (about the size of an audio cassette). Because of small size og8mm tapes, manufacturer can design more compact camcorders. The format offers about the same resolution as standard VHS, with slightly better sound quality To watch 8mm tapes on your television, you have to attach your camcorder and use it as a VCR. ¥ Hi-8: Hi-8 camcorders are very similar to 8mm camcorders, but there are several important differences. For one, Hi-8 camcorders have a much higher resolution -- about 400 lines. Also, Hi-8 tapes are more expensive than ordinary 8mm tapes. Digital Formats Digital camcorders record information digitally, as bits and bytes, which means the image can be reproduced without losing any image or audio quality. Digital video can also be downloaded to a computer, where you can edit it or post it on the Web. Another distinction is that digital video has a much better resolution than analog video, typically 500 lines. There are two consumer digital formats in widespread use: ¥ MiniDV: ¥ MiniDV camcorders record on compact cassettes, which are fairly expensive and hold about 60 to 90 minutes of footage. The video has an impressive 500 lines of resolution, however, and can be easily transferred to a personal computer. DV camcorders can be extremely lightweight and compact -- many are about the size of a paperback novel. Another interesting feature is the ability to capture still pictures, just as a digital camera does. ¥ Sony has recently introduced MicroMV, a format that works the same basic way as MiniDV but records on much smaller tapes. ¥ Digital8: ¥ Digital8 camcorders (produced by Sony exclusively) are very similar to regular DV camcorders, but they use standard Hi-8mm tapes, which are less expensive. These tapes hold up to 60 minutes of footage, which can be copied without any loss in quality. Just as with DV camcorders, you can connect Digital8 camcorders to your computer to download your movies for editing or Internet use. ¥ Digital8 cameras are generally a bit larger than DV camcorders -- about the size of standard 8mm models. ¥ DVD: ¥ DVD camcorders are still relatively rare, as compared to MiniDV models, but their numbers are growing steadily. Instead of recording magnetic signals on tape, these camcorders write video information directly onto small discs. The main advantage of this format is that each recording session is recorded as an individual track, just like the individual song tracks on a CD. Instead of rewinding and fast-fowarding through tape, you can jump immediately to each section of video. Other than that, DVD camcorders are pretty close to MiniDV models in performance. The picture is a little better on DVD models, however, and DVDs can store more footage. Depending on the camcorder's settings, a disc can hold 30 minutes to two hours of video. ¥ The newer DVD camcorders support two DVD formats: DVD-R and DVD-RAM. Both are three-quarters the size of DVD movie discs and are encased in plastic cartridges (at least while in the camcorder). The advantage of DVD-R camcorder discs is that they work in most set-top DVD players. The drawback is that you can only record to each disc once, which means you need to buy new discs regularly. You can record over DVD-RAM discs again and again, but you can't play them in ordinary DVD players. Like MiniDV tapes, you have to either use your camcorder as a player for your TV or copy your movie to another format. ¥ Memory card: There are now some digital camcorders that record directly onto solid-state memory cards, such as Flash memory cards, Memory Sticks and SD cards. Even low-end analog camcorders have so many helpful features that anybody can get decent footage with a little practice, and you can create quality movies with more in-depth studying. The technology that was once the exclusive domain of television professionals is now available as hobby equipment. Whether you simply want to record birthday parties and recitals or you hope to produce ambitious video projects, the newest camcorders certainly have a lot to offer.
TO BE CONTINUED
In this article we briefly cover the traditional camecorders (VHS, VHSC, 8mm) and newer generaion: digital camcorders.
Fundumentals
A camcorder has two main sections: CCD, lens and the zoom and focus assembly form the camera section. A smaller version of a VCR which forms the VCR section.
The camera section receives and converts visual information to an electronic video signal. The VCR section is a smaller version of a home VCR. It recordes video signal on video tape as magnetic patterns.
The viewfinder acts as a monitor, displays the video image a, so you can see what you're shooting. Viewfinders are small, black-and-white or color monitors. Newer models include a full color LCD screen. The LCD screens consume more electricity Requiring more frequent charging of battery.
Although similar in basic concepts, there are many different designs for analog camcorders, and many extra features, The main difference is the kind of storage tape used most Notably VHS, VHS-C and 8mm tapes. The digital camcorders have the same building blocks as the analog camcorders. However in a digital camcorder the sound and image information are converted to digital signals (1s and 0s) in an array of bits and bytes. Instead of recording on magnetic tapes, these bits and bytes are stored in memories (like computer memories). These digital information can be copied from one memory to another with out loosing any information and compromising the quality. In the analog system, the copying process does not produce an exact copy and some fading occurs.
The CCD In this section we take a look at the most important part of the camcorder, the electronic sensor device that converts visual information into an electronic signal: CCD or Charged Coupled Diode.
A camera sees the world through its lenses. In a film camera, the lens focuses the light from the source in to a photo sensitive film that will react with light. In a digital camcorder, unlike a Film camera, this light is focused on a semiconductor device. This sensor (CCD) consist of many very small light sensitive diodes. In a 1Ó CCD panel there might be as many as 2,000,000 of these diodes or photosites. Each photo diode converts the light hit by to an electronic signal. A brighter object is represented by a brighter light. And a brighter light generates higher electric signal.
To create a color image, a camcorder detects the levels of red, blue and green color of light.
The Lens The lens focuses light onto the CCD The focusing depends on the distance of an object to the lens. Most cameras have the autofocus feature so that when the camera man is moving around, (or if the object is moving) the focusing can be done automatically. The auto focus device has a infrared beam that bounces off the object and comes back to the sensor. To find the distance processor find show long it takes for the beam to bounce back from the object. The small motor moves the lens to focus the lens at this distance. Most camcorders come with a zoom lens. The zoom lenses are used to magnify the scene. This is done by changing / increasing the focal length of the lens (the distance between the lens and the film or CCD). This is called an optical zoom lens. With optical zoom lens, you can move from one magnification to a closer magnification. A zoom range tells you the maximum and minimum magnification. Most cameras are equipped with a motor that adjusts the zoom lens in response to a switch on the grip. With a motor driven lens, the zoom can be changed at a steady paste. However the battery may drain faster Some camcorders have a digital zoom function. This doesn't involve the camera's lenses at all; it simply zooms in on part of the total picture captured by the CCD, magnifying the pixels. Digital zooms stabilize magnified pictures a little better than optical zooms, but you sacrifice resolution quality because you end up using only a portion of the available photosites on the CCD. The loss of resolution makes the image fuzzy.
Formats Analog Formats Analog camcorders record video and audio signals as an analog track on video tape. Every time you make a copy of a tape, it loses some image and audio quality. Analog formats are not as impressive as digital formats. The main difference between the available analog formats is what kind of video tape the camcorder uses and the resolution. Analog formats include: ¥ Standard VHS: Standard VHS cameras use the same type of video tapes as a regular VCR. One obvious advantage of this is that after you've recorded something, you can pop the tape out and play it on most VCRs. VHS tapes are a lot less expensive than the tapes used in other formats; and they give a longer recording time. The main disadvantage of standard VHS format is that the size of the tapes requiring a larger, more cumbersome camcorder design. They have a resolution of about 230 to 250 horizontal lines, which is the low end of what's now available. ¥ VHS-C: VHS-C camcorders record on standard VHS tape that is housed in a more compact cassette. You can play VHS-C cassettes in a standard VCR, but you need an adaptor device that runs the tape through a full-size cassette. Basically, though, VHS-C uses the same standard format as VHS . The smaller tape size allows for more compact designs, making VHS-C camcorders more portable. ¥ Super VHS: Super VHS has a higher resolution than the VHS tape. Super VHS camcorders are about the same size as standard VHS cameras, because they use the same size tapes. The super VHS tape records an image with 380 to 400 horizontal lines, a much higher resolution image than standard VHS tape. You cannot play super VHS tapes on a standard VCR, but, as with all formats, the camcorder itself is a VCR and can be hooked up directly to your TV or to your VCR to dub standard VHS copies. ¥ Super VHS-C: Basically, super VHS-C is to super VHS as VHS-C is to standard VHS: It's just a more compact version that uses a smaller size cassette. ¥ 8mm: These camcorders use small 8mm tapes (about the size of an audio cassette). Because of small size og8mm tapes, manufacturer can design more compact camcorders. The format offers about the same resolution as standard VHS, with slightly better sound quality To watch 8mm tapes on your television, you have to attach your camcorder and use it as a VCR. ¥ Hi-8: Hi-8 camcorders are very similar to 8mm camcorders, but there are several important differences. For one, Hi-8 camcorders have a much higher resolution -- about 400 lines. Also, Hi-8 tapes are more expensive than ordinary 8mm tapes. Digital Formats Digital camcorders record information digitally, as bits and bytes, which means the image can be reproduced without losing any image or audio quality. Digital video can also be downloaded to a computer, where you can edit it or post it on the Web. Another distinction is that digital video has a much better resolution than analog video, typically 500 lines. There are two consumer digital formats in widespread use: ¥ MiniDV: ¥ MiniDV camcorders record on compact cassettes, which are fairly expensive and hold about 60 to 90 minutes of footage. The video has an impressive 500 lines of resolution, however, and can be easily transferred to a personal computer. DV camcorders can be extremely lightweight and compact -- many are about the size of a paperback novel. Another interesting feature is the ability to capture still pictures, just as a digital camera does. ¥ Sony has recently introduced MicroMV, a format that works the same basic way as MiniDV but records on much smaller tapes. ¥ Digital8: ¥ Digital8 camcorders (produced by Sony exclusively) are very similar to regular DV camcorders, but they use standard Hi-8mm tapes, which are less expensive. These tapes hold up to 60 minutes of footage, which can be copied without any loss in quality. Just as with DV camcorders, you can connect Digital8 camcorders to your computer to download your movies for editing or Internet use. ¥ Digital8 cameras are generally a bit larger than DV camcorders -- about the size of standard 8mm models. ¥ DVD: ¥ DVD camcorders are still relatively rare, as compared to MiniDV models, but their numbers are growing steadily. Instead of recording magnetic signals on tape, these camcorders write video information directly onto small discs. The main advantage of this format is that each recording session is recorded as an individual track, just like the individual song tracks on a CD. Instead of rewinding and fast-fowarding through tape, you can jump immediately to each section of video. Other than that, DVD camcorders are pretty close to MiniDV models in performance. The picture is a little better on DVD models, however, and DVDs can store more footage. Depending on the camcorder's settings, a disc can hold 30 minutes to two hours of video. ¥ The newer DVD camcorders support two DVD formats: DVD-R and DVD-RAM. Both are three-quarters the size of DVD movie discs and are encased in plastic cartridges (at least while in the camcorder). The advantage of DVD-R camcorder discs is that they work in most set-top DVD players. The drawback is that you can only record to each disc once, which means you need to buy new discs regularly. You can record over DVD-RAM discs again and again, but you can't play them in ordinary DVD players. Like MiniDV tapes, you have to either use your camcorder as a player for your TV or copy your movie to another format. ¥ Memory card: There are now some digital camcorders that record directly onto solid-state memory cards, such as Flash memory cards, Memory Sticks and SD cards. Even low-end analog camcorders have so many helpful features that anybody can get decent footage with a little practice, and you can create quality movies with more in-depth studying. The technology that was once the exclusive domain of television professionals is now available as hobby equipment. Whether you simply want to record birthday parties and recitals or you hope to produce ambitious video projects, the newest camcorders certainly have a lot to offer.
TO BE CONTINUED
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