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Buying a camcorder without knowing the proper terminology is like going into your wedding with having your vows memorized – you’ll get through it, but it probably isn’t going to end well.

With that in mind, we present the following indispensable guide to the lexicon of the camcorder. This information will help demystify the many features available, thus helping you make a more informed purchase decision.

8MM – Smaller than most video formats, 8MM tape offers better quality than VHS recording, but not as good as digital formats.

Auto Focus – A feature that allows you to point at an object and have the camera automatically adjust to provide the clearest image of that target.

Backlight Control – A setting that increases aperture when there is a strong light source behind the subject – thus insuring that they will not be underexposed.

Compact VHS – Smaller than standard VHS, this format is not used much these days. The resolution of a Compact VHS tape is the same as a standard VHS.

Digital 8 – A higher resolution format that uses digital technology. Features resolution 20% higher than high-8 or VHS-C formats.

DVD Camcorder – This unique technology allows the user to shoot digital moving images which can then be burned on to a DVD that is already in the camera. The resulting DVD can be taken directly to a PC for editing or DVD player for viewing.

LUX Scale – Measures the amount of illumination in a specific area. An outdoor shot on a sunny day will be around 10,000 LUX, while an indoor shot will be between 1,000 and 2,000 LUX depending upon the amount of white light in the room.

MiniDV – This digital format offers outstanding audio and video quality. Tapes are small and can be played back using the camcorder and simple AV cables.

Night Shot – A new technology new to consumer camcorders that allows the individual to shoot images without any available light source. The image generated will have a green, “military” tint to it when viewed.

Photo Mode – Many digital camcorders allow you to use the device as a still camera. Photo Mode is the selection on the camcorder that switches over to this feature.

Picture Noise – Low image quality or grainy footage as a result of poor lighting.

Refurbished – Some camcorders purchased online are refurbished. This refers to the process of reselling a used camcorder with replacement parts inside. Most refurbished electronics work like new, but may not be covered under manufacturer’s warranty.

VHS – The oldest camcorder type currently in use. Large VHS tapes were once the industry standard and can be taken directly from the camcorder and played in a standard VHS video tape player.

Wipe – A transition in which one image is moved off of the screen and replaced by another. Used in editing to create a more professional look for the finished movie.

Zoom – The ability of the camcorder to create the illusion of bringing the subject closer or further away from the camera. More advanced camcorders have more powerful zoom capability.

Looking for a camcorder which will provide you with the long play as well as the standard play recording speed? Samsung VP D963i will solve your problem. This device from the house of Samsung is one of the finest camcorder with basic features. Let’s find out more about this device.

Salient Features
Samsung VP D963i camcorder comes with powerful optical zoom lenses. The zoom ratio is 26x optical zoom and 1200x digital zoom. This camcorder comes in both types of focus modes, that is, Manual and Auto. This makes it a perfect device for amateurs who want to try their hands on recording.

Samsung VP D963i: Inside Out
The screen size of the Samsung VP D963i is 2.5’ with the 16:9 wide screen formats. With this format, you can catch more action as compared to the 4:3 screen formats. The camcorder performs very well under suitable conditions. But if you need extra ordinary images then you must ensure that there is bright light present where ever you shoot. The image quality in conditions that are unfathomable for the camcorder is quite obscure and grainy. In a low light condition, the performance delivered by Samsung VP D963i is not as good as you may desire. The night mode is also not quite impressive. Samsung VP D963i is good only for shooting family get-togethers.
Design wise the Samsung VP D963i is very trendy. It is primarily designed for those who avoid technical specifications in spite of having a deep urge to shoot good quality footage. It has only a few buttons to operate its various functions. As a result, clicking footage will become an easy task. The LCD display includes a viewfinder. Apart from this, it has some shooting programs like Sports, Portrait, spot light, and sand/snow. As a result, you are completely armed with Samsung VP D963i when you have to shoot footage in the nick of time.

Conclusion
On the whole, if you are looking for a camcorder which will help you to cherish certain moments for a lifetime without being very technical then Samsung VP D963i is the perfect one for you.

Monty Alexander has earned a good reputation in article writing. His articles include many topics i.e. samsung camcorders, mobile phone, camcorder, digital camera etc.

While more families own high-end camcorders than ever before, it doesn`t necessarily mean that more great home movies are actually being shot. On the contrary, even though cameras have become easier to use and feature much higher resolutions than their predecessors, people still can`t seem to figure them out.

With our directorially-challenged friends in mind, we present the following list of essential tips for getting the most out of your camcorder.

Tips for Making Better Movies with your Camcorder:

1. Take off the lens cap. Just kidding! Our first tip is actually to use the Manual Focus option if it is offered on your camera. Manual focus will allow you to get sharper images throughout your video without experiencing the blurriness that occurs when an auto-focus takes time to readjust itself.

2. Always keep the sun behind you. When shooting outdoor video, always be sure that the sun is behind your back. This will greatly reduce glare and “white-out” caused by the brightness of the natural light source.

3. Craft a plan. Unless you`re capturing the most spur of the moment events, why not plan what you are going to shoot? This will help you keep a steadier hand as you move from shot to shot, and you won`t forget to include anyone or anything that you intended to capture on film.

4. Don`t fall in love with the ZOOM. Yes, we know that zoom is one of the most fun features on your camcorder, but that doesn`t give you right to create an amateur 3D movie every time you shoot something. Choose a zoom length ONCE in your shot and stick with it. You don`t want to be handing out Dramamine during your premiere.

5. Keep movement to a minimum. Even the steadiest-of-hands will cause a disruption of the image when they begin to move the camera around. We realize that some movements are unavoidable, but try and stick to the tri-pod as much as possible.

6. Always use a tripod. See note above. A tripod is truly a sound, “steady” investment for the amateur filmmaker.

7. Stop “rooting” around. There are those among us who think that they are next Fellini (but trapped shooting families at Chuck E Cheese). Consequently, they will stumble all over the place in search of the perfect angle from which to shoot. Stick with the basics – shoot from the areas directly ahead of (or to the side of) your subject and you can`t go wrong.

8. Be natural. Try and stay inconspicuous when shooting video of friends and family. You want your subjects to act naturally, and waving your arms around like a madman and telling everyone to “smile and say something” is not going to create everlasting memories.

9. Keep a spare battery handy. Nothing kills a shoot quicker than a camera with a dead battery. Charge up a spare and keep it in your camera bag in case of emergencies.

10. Record in widescreen. If your camera offers widescreen shooting, and you have a high-end TV at home, take advantage of both. Shooting in widescreen allows you to capture your subject at its most majestic!

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Canon offers a wide range of HD camcorders and with over 50 years experience in the imaging industry you will not find it hard to unearth the perfect canon HD camcorder for you.

When choosing a canon HD camcorder you should consider where you are most likely to be using the camcorder. Knowing exactly where the canon HD camcorder will be used will mean you can ensure the camcorder has the right settings to suit your needs.

A few of the most popular canon HD camcorders include:

Canon HF10 – This is a very stylish compact camcorder. It has dual flash memory recording and its internal memory will provide an amazing six hours of continuous shooting.

The canon HF10 is so compact you can easily slip it into your pocket and take it where ever you go. Because this canon HD camcorder has Instant AF and super range optical image stabilizer (OIS) focusing errors and camera shake are non existent when recording in HD.

Canon HG20 – The Canon HG20 offers a massive 22 hrs of HD (60Gb HDD) it has dual recording, instant AF, super range OIS, Microphone input and manual audio control, Flexible system and software with blu-ray disk support.

Because most of canons HD camcorders have a dual recording system you can choose how you record. When there’s no spare media to hand, you can store movies on the HDD. On the other hand shoot to SDHC memory cards: cards are great for sharing and are also an easy way to add extra capacity.

Canon XH A1s – This canon HD camcorder is best suited to the more experienced film maker. It offer a wide selection of features, including:
• 1080i HDV recording (50i, 25F, optional 24F/30F/60i modes)
• Improved ease of use
• Enhanced audio functions
• 1/3” 1.67MP 3CCD
• 20x L-series HD Video Lens with simultaneous three-ring control
• Full image control
• Canon CPS Video Support

The Canon XH A1S delivers 1080i HD recording with selectable frame rates of 50i and 25F. If you choose 50i you will be shooting with ultra-crisp realism, or if you prefer the for the traditional look of film. 24F/30F/60i shooting modes are available via an optional upgrade, for truly global recording capability.

Canon HF 100 – This Canon HD camcorder is very stylish, it offers 1920×1080 Full HD. The Canon HF100 has the convenience of recording straight to memory cards. Which means it is easy to capture incredible footage via the Canon HD camera system, then share it swiftly and effortlessly.
The Canon HF 100 has many features including: the ability to record HD movies directly to a memory card, it has excellent connectivity, an instant AF and super range optical image stabilizer, Multiangle vicid Lcd and software for sharing.

The size of this Canon HD camcorder is small, making it very handing to slip into your pocket ready to capture those memories where ever you go.

Digitally Does It currently has a Canon hd camcorder in stock, along with a wide range of camcorders.
Visit Digitally Does It to see all the latest offers.

DXG manufactures, designs and markets charmingly styled digital video and still cameras for the mainstream and younger markets. DXG is considered one of the fastest growing U.S brands and this is most likely down to its wide range of technology.

If you are looking for a DXG digital camcorder for the younger generation The DXG-506V is probably the best DXG digital camcorder around. It is a full-motion digital video camera with a 5.1MP still camera. This DXG digital camcorder also has an MP3 player which is a definite must for the musical ones!.

It is small and compact making it easy to take anywhere you go to capture life`s special moments. The DXG 506V offers a number of additional features, these include: Direct Print capability, TV Out, built-in flash, and a Macro mode. You can also use the video camera as a webcam or voice recorder.

This DXG digital camcorder is a multi functional camera with MPEG4 tecnology, it is available in several different colors including silver, blue and pink. The DXG 506V varies from around $60 – $130.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a slightly more sophisticated DXG digital camcorder you may want to have a look at the DXG – 580V. Although small in size this DXG digital camcorder is loaded with exciting features such as:
HD Video up to 1440 x 1080 at 30pfs
Colorful still images up to 8m resolution
3” TFT screen
Widescreen format available
Watch in high definition
Connect you HDTV or Plasma
Connect to PC via USB2.0
Upload videos to the internet
4 x digital zoom
Electronic shutter
Changeable color effects such as sepia, color and black and white
Built in flash memory

This camera is once again small and compact making it perfect to take where ever you go to capture what ever you doing.

Another DXG digital camcorder that would suit anyone is the DXG 567V. It is a high definition video camcorder with H.265 Video compression. The DXG 567V allows you to instantly upload your videos to the internet using built in software and a retractable USB2.0 connector.

This camcorder supports high capacity SD cards (up to 8GB) and has built in 32MB flash memory. It has a 2x digital zoom as well as an electronic shutter.

This camcorder is compact and light weighing in at approximately 3.17 without batteries. It is an extremely versatile little camcorder that slips easily into your pocket. This camcorder is considered more fashionable with the younger generation and can be purchased in a variety of colors including black, red, blue and pink.

DXG are renowned for their small compact digital camcorders, they provide essential features with easy to follow menus. The price range for these camcorders wont break the bank making them suitable for both young and old.

Digitally Does It stocks a wide range of camcorders including the DXG digital camcorder. Visit Digitally Does It for the latest offers.

Your camcorder can become useless if its battery has no power. Here are some tips on how to conserve camcorder battery power to make it last as long as possible. Always ensure to charge your camcorder battery as camcorder batteries can lose charge when they have been stored for a long period of time. Charge the camcorder in the night even if you stored the battery at full charge.
The LCD screen are extremely power hungry. Try to use the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen as LCD screen uses more than twice the battery power than your camcorders viewfinder. If you can, compose and frame your shots using the viewfinder that does not require as much power.
Another way to save the camcorder battery power is by not using electronic or optical image stabilization. If you do not use image stabilization, you will be forced to use good videotaping techniques, such as tripod.
When you turn your camcorder ON and OFF and zoom in and zoom out a lot of battery power can be used. If you zoom, and turn OFF your camcorder when you are going to stop recording for a while, you can save the battery power. To maximize the battery power, don`t use the zoom. Instead, physically stop the camcorder and walk closer to your image and start shooting again. Yet, if you have to zoom, do not zoom much. Get your shot and stay with it.
The camcorder light that is powered from your camcorder battery can consume more battery power. So it is better to use a camcorder light that is powered from its own power supply or battery. You can also save battery by rewinding or fast-forwarding your tapes to the desired location with your camcorder plugged to the AC power supply, before you leave your house.
Having an additional long life battery is the easiest way to ensure that you have enough battery power for important events. Also keep your original battery charged as a spare for emergency situations. If you have two camcorder batteries, you can constantly charge a battery with an additional external battery charger and can always have use of your camcorder with the other battery.
Watch the event you have just recorded afterwards. In this way you can save your camcorder battery power for recording more events.When using the camera, recording videos with the camcorder, or watching videos, keep an eye on the battery icon and charge it when necessary.
The capacity of the camcorder battery also varies with different brands. Some people prefer Original Manufacturer Equipment (OEM) battery because they feel safer with it. Other people would prefer to go with an aftermarket version, which are less expensive than the OEM battery and in most cases they have a higher capacity. So before you choose your camcorder battery do your research and make sure to buy the one that satisfies your needs and the one with more capacity.
Once the life of your camcorder battery has ended, you must dispose it properly. Don’t throw it in the garbage. Bury it or cremate it as they are not bio-degradable and they can explode in extreme heat conditions. You can also recycle them with the help of online sites or even local stores that accept batteries for recycling.

How about a camcorder with 60 GB of hard disk space? Wow! That’s right. Sony DCR SR 85E is a camcorder which comes with 60 GB of hard disk. Now go on shooting without worrying about the space. Let’s check this camcorder out.

Salient Features
Sony DCR SR 85E camcorder comes with powerful optical zoom lenses. The zoom ratio is 25x optical zoom and 2000x digital zoom. This camcorder comes in both types of focus modes, that is, Manual and Auto. This makes it a perfect device for amateurs who want to try their hands on recording.

Sony DCR SR 85E: Inside Out
Screen size of the Sony DCR SR 85E camcorder is 2.7’ with the 16:9 wide screen formats. The camcorder performs very well under suitable conditions. But if you need extra ordinary images then you must ensure that there is bright light present where ever you shoot. The image quality in conditions that are unfathomable for the camcorder is quite good. In a low light condition, the performance delivered by Sony DCR SR 85E is not as good as you may desire, but it is satisfactory. The night mode is also very impressive. Sony DCR SR 85E camcorder is good for shooting family get-togethers.
Design wise the Sony DCR SR 85E is very trendy. It is primarily designed for those who avoid technical specifications in spite of having a deep urge to shoot good quality footage. This camcorder has only a few buttons to operate its various functions. As a result, clicking footage will become an easy task. Apart from this, it has some shooting programs like Auto, Program, AV, TV, Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight and Fireworks. As a result, you are completely armed with Sony DCR SR 85E Camcorder when you have to shoot footage in the nick of time.

Uniqueness
The camcorder comes with a Super Steady Shot option which allows you to take pictures of moving objects with much more clarity.
Another feature that will interest you is the Night Shot Plus. This feature of Sony DCR SR 85E will really please you as you can take bright pictures even in environments with minimal illumination or the areas which have infrared lights.

Conclusion
On the whole, if you are looking for a camcorder which will help you to cherish certain moments for a lifetime without being very technical then Sony DCR DVD 908E is the perfect one for you. With this you also have an option of direct print.

Monty Alexander has a wealth of experience in article writing. His articles include thousands of topics i.e. Sony camcorders, mobile phone, camcorders, digital cameras etc.

Pre-Production:

It`s all got to start somewhere, so before you even charge your batteries, rewind those tapes or pack the car, take a seat and have a good think about what you are planning to shoot with your camcorder. `Planning is the key` to a good production even if you`re just shooting a small home movie.

It may sound like overkill if you head out the door to film your children at a sporting event or a family birthday party, but if you are planning to display the video to family and friends or even review it yourself for extended lengths of time, you will want AND need it to be as compelling as possible.

Now if you`re filming a longer feature or being paid for a project, pre-production planning is essential. Both in streamlining the production phase of the project and displaying a professional image for your business. This is done by using basic filming techniques.

This may consist of sketching up a storyboard (to download a sample go to www.kmsvideo.com/Resources.htm), detailed notes or an interview/information session with the client.

“But I just want to shoot a home movie, not a production of Ben Hur!” I hear you say. OK then, let`s bring it back to basics shall we?

First of all any video you take needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end. Simple as that!

Now, say you were to tell people at work on Monday morning an interesting event that happened on the weekend. How would you go about it? A bit of background information, then the main `body` of the event and close it off with a punchline or resolution. You`re telling a STORY.

Now go out with your video camera and- “Tell a Story on Film”. Still unclear?

Here`s a practical example…
Timmy`s first soccer final is on Saturday. It`s a big occasion so you are going to capture it on video. Using our basic formula lets make it into a compelling story-

Beginning:

Open with a shot of the alarm clock, Timmy packing his bag, having breakfast then climbing into the car. All less than 5 seconds duration and if your camera has the function, set it to fade in and out to black.

Middle:

The team runs onto the field. Shots of Timmy chasing, dribbling and passing the ball at warm-up. Get the opening whistle and kick off, then move around the field for various angles and shots of Timmy. Film the coaches address to his players at half time followed by more game footage.

End:

Ref blows the full-time whistle and you video the teams shaking hands and walking off the field. Finally, close the video with a shot of our star and maybe a few words.

That`s it! A very simplified version so here`s a few tips to remember- >

Don`t just keep the camera rolling in the hope that something interesting will happen
move around so you`re not always filming from the one spot
use close-ups and wide shots alternatively
don`t talk over the footage, let the pictures tell the story

Now with a bit of pre-planning and good camcorder and filming techniques, you`ll Have friends and family lining up to watch your home movies!

Canon xl2 digital camcorder and a chance meeting as I was on a lunch break.

Did you know that you can get fed & paid to learn about video production? Picture this:

You`re down the street at the local shops when you hear a lot of screaming from up a side street.

“What the heck was that?” you think to yourself and make your way around the corner to see what all the commotion is about.

To your surprise, you see twenty or thirty people screaming and carrying on as they chase a New York City taxi-cab, only to have it stop after twenty yards and back-up, ready to do it all over again.

You hesitate for a moment and contemplate if it would be better to turn around and walk in the other direction.

It`s then you notice the traffic control personnel, the lights, cameras and huge number of support people. You have stumbled across a location shoot for a television commercial.

“Ahaaa”, you say to yourself “perfect opportunity to learn about `the business`”.

So you hang around and study the camera angles, positioning of the lights and how it is all controlled by the director. The placement of screens and reflectors, the use of microphones and the roles of the support crew.

It`s when you speak to the `extras` (the rowdy `mob`) that you discover they are being paid $20 an hour and the whole event is fully catered!

Now if you want to learn more about the business of film and video production with the added bonus of being paid to do so, sign up as an extra and learn from the inside. If you are unsure where to start, just type `movie extra` in a search engine like google.

Now this is a true story and as my luck would have it, was taking place right outside my office window for most of the day (the screaming and yelling did get a bit tedious after a while).

It was good to speak to the cast extra`s, but this was a better opportunity to talk to the technical crew on aspects of filming and production. Just had to pick the right moment.

And that I did and picked up some good info to boot!

The production house was not a large firm so they had developed systems and procedures to control costs while providing quality outputs. One of these was using a Canon xl2 digital camcorder as the secondary camera.

The size and weight of the Canon xl2 compared to the betacam unit allowed it to be placed in unusual locations quickly and easily (thus saving time, which equals money) and the image quality showed no discernable difference (you would need to view on a new digital system to notice a difference and even then you`d have to be looking closely.

I even managed to get a word in with the main production cameraman so I could `pick his brain` on the Canon xl2 digital camcorder. He loved the unit but did say he found it`s performance questionable when filming vertical stripes and off green colourings (the types of situations you might find in filming catwalk models). Other than that he said the xl2 was a great asset for a pro or semi-pro operator.

So if you`d like a whole lot of fun while getting paid, sign up as a movie/production extra. And if you want a great camcorder and have the experience to use it get yourself a Canon xl2 digital camcorder.

Let me share with you something that happened to me just the other day.

I was contacted by a guy named David. He had just purchased a panasonic pv-gs400 3 ccd camcorder and has always been attracted to the videographers lifestyle. He also liked the possibility of earning an extra income doing something that can be a whole lot of fun.

From speaking to David I discovered that he didn`t have much experience with camcorders and was unsure as to whether he would be any good (he seemed to lack a bit of self confidence), but was atleast willing to learn and have a go.

He wasn`t too far from where I live me so I said I was able to get in the car and have a personal meeting with him.

One of his questions to me on the phone was “what should I film?” I told him of the traditional markets – Weddings, Business videos Training videos. Good areas to get started in and the most obvious subjects to film.

David lives in a growth area, outer suburbs continually building and expanding. I found myself driving past new homes being built, young families together in parks, sporting fields and large shopping malls.

Then it dawned on me! It was so obvious the potential subjects, and clients, David had in his own backyard!

The Builder

video proof of the quality that goes into his work
satisfied customer testimonials
Sporting Clubs

club records of big games
match/play review and training tapes
Parents

children`s party videos
records of their child`s achievements (academic, sporting etc.)
Business

local shops and businesses provide potential customers with a video of services

…and the list goes on. So if you find yourself short of ideas on what to film, have a good look around you. The answer might be right under your nose.

Now back to David. He inadvertently made a great choice in the the panasonic pv-gs400 3 ccd camcorder.

It is a great tool for providing a quality finish which will be a high priority as he will be charging for the work he does. It has 3 separate image chips which help give definition to the completed video and for such a top quality camcorder is very reasonably priced.

So with just a few more tools (tripod, lights, external microphone etc.), David is well on his way to a career (either full or part time) in video production.