A 2004 SONY FX-1E camcorder A camcorder is an electronic device originally combining a and a. The earliest camcorders were tape-based, recording onto videotape cassettes. In 2006, digital recording became the norm, with tape replaced by storage media such as mini-HD, microDVD, internal. More recent devices capable of recording video are and primarily intended for still pictures; the term 'camcorder' may be used to describe a portable, self-contained device, with video capture and recording its primary function, often having advanced functions over more common cameras.
Sony Betamovie BMC-100P is the first consumer camcorder. Released in 1983 for the Betamax format. It has no playback functionality and is only capable of recording originally designed for were large and heavy, mounted on special pedestals and wired to remote recorders in separate rooms. As technology improved, video recording was possible with compact video cameras and portable; a detachable recording unit could be carried to a shooting location.
Although the camera itself was compact, the need for a separate recorder made on-location shooting a two-person job. Specialized were introduced by and (, with ) releasing a model for mobile work. Portable recorders meant that recorded video footage could be aired on the early-evening news, since it was no longer necessary to develop film.
In 1983, Sony released the first camcorder, the system, for professional use. A key component was a single camera-recorder unit, eliminating a cable between the camera and recorder and increasing the camera operator's freedom.
The Betacam used the same cassette format (0.5 inches or 1.3 centimetres tape) as the Betamax, but with a different, incompatible recording format. It became standard equipment for. Sony released the first consumer camcorder in 1983, the BMC-100P. It used a Betamax cassette and rested on the operator's shoulder, due to a design not permitting a single-handed grip.
That year, JVC released the first camcorder. Kodak announced a new camcorder format in 1984, the. Sony introduced its compact 8 mm format in 1985. That year, and began producing camcorders using a full-size VHS cassette with a three-hour capacity. These shoulder-mount camcorders were used by, industrial and college TV studios. Full-size Super-VHS (S-VHS) camcorders were released in 1987, providing an inexpensive way to collect news segments or other.
Sony upgraded Video8, releasing the Hi8 in competition with S-VHS. Digital technology emerged with the Sony, a device which recorded data and required a large amount of for its time. In 1992 introduced, the first digital video format with using the algorithm present in most commercial digital video formats.
In 1995 Sony, JVC, Panasonic and other video-camera manufacturers launched, which became a standard for home video production, independent filmmaking. That year, introduced (the first tapeless video recording system).
Camcorders using DVD media were popular at the turn of the 21st century due to the convenience of being able to drop a disc into the family; however, DVD capability, due to the limitations of the format, is largely limited to consumer-level equipment targeted at people who are not likely to spend any great amount of effort their video footage. High definition (HD) Panasonic launched DVCPRO HD in 2000, expanding the DV to support high definition (HD). The format was intended for professional camcorders, and used full-size DVCPRO cassettes. In 2003 Sony, JVC, Canon and Sharp introduced as the first affordable HD video format, due to its use of inexpensive.
Tapeless Sony introduced the tapeless video format in 2003, introducing the. Panasonic followed in 2004 with its as a recording medium for DVCPRO-HD video. In 2006 Panasonic and Sony introduced as an inexpensive, tapeless, high-definition video format.
AVCHD camcorders are produced by Sony, Panasonic, Canon, JVC and Hitachi. 3D In 2010, after the success of 's 2009, full 1080p HD entered the market. With the proliferation of -based digital formats, the relationship between and recording format has declined; video can be recorded onto different media. With tapeless formats, recording media are storage for digital files.
Professional-grade digital camcorder In 2011 Panasonic released a camcorder capable of shooting in, the HDC-SDT750. It is a 2D camcorder which can shoot in HD; 3D is achieved by a detachable conversion lens. Sony released a 3D camcorder, the HDR-TD10. The Sony's 3D lens is built in, but it can shoot 2D video. Panasonic has also released 2D camcorders with an optional 3D conversion lens. The HDC-SD90, HDC-SD900, HDC-TM900 and HDC-HS900 are sold as '3D-ready': 2D camcorders, with optional 3D capability at a later date.
4K Ultra HD In CES (January) 2014, Sony announced the first consumer/low-end professional (') camcorder Sony FDR-AX100 with a 1' 20.9MP sensor able to shoot 4K video in 3840x2160 pixels 30fps or 24fps in the format; in standard HD the camcorder can also deliver 60fps. When using the traditional format AVCHD, the camcorder supports 5.1 surround sound from its built-in microphone, this is however not supported in the XAVC-S format. The camera also has a 3-step ND filter switch for maintaining a shallow depth of field or a softer appearance to motion. For one hour video shooting in 4K the camera needs about 32 GB to accommodate a data transfer rate of 50 Mbit/s. The camera's MSRP in the US is USD $2,000. In early 2014 released the FDR-AX100 which represents the next generation of camcorders.
It is capable of shooting in 4K resolution. It currently has a price tag of £1,699 and 4K camcorders are not expected to come into the mainstream market for at least another eight to ten years as most current Blu-ray players are not capable of playing 4K video. Virtually all mainstream TVs are not 4K ready either with the only 4K TVs available being very expensive at £2,500 or over. The only means of archiving 4K video is the 100 GB XL but the discs are very expensive.
However, in 2015, consumer UHD (3840x2160) camcorders below USD $1000 have become available. Sony released the FDRAX33, and Panasonic has released the HC-WX970K and the HC-VX870. In September 2014 Panasonic announced and claimed 4K Ultra HD Camcorder HC-X1000E as the first conventional camcorder design that can capture up to 60fps at 150 Mbit/s or alternatively standard HD recording at up to 200 Mbit/s in ALL-I mode with MP4, MOV and AVCHD formats all offered depending on the resolution and frame rate. With use 1/2.3' small sensor as commonly is used by, the camcorder has 20x optical zoom in a compact body with dual XLR audio inputs, Internal ND filters and separate control rings for focus, iris and zoom.
In HD capture, the camcorder get benefit to reduce noises of small sensor by in-camera downscaling of the 4K image to HD. As of January 2017, the only major manufacturer to announce new consumer camcorders at CES in Las Vegas was with its entry-level HD models.
Only announced details regarding their Mirrorless Digital Camera called the LUMIX GH5, capable of shooting 4K in 60p. This is the first time in decades that Panasonic & Sony haven't announced new traditional camcorders at CES, & instead carried over 2016's models, such as Sony's FDR-AX53.
This is due to there being far less demand in the market for traditional camcorders as more & more consumers prefer to record video with their 4K-capable, and from, and many others. Components Camcorders have three major components: lens, imager and recorder. The lens gathers light, focusing it on the imager. The imager (usually a or; earlier models used tubes) converts incident light into an electrical signal. The recorder converts the electrical signal to video, encoding it in a storable form. The lens and imager comprise the 'camera' section. Lens The lens is the first component of the light path.
Camcorder optics generally have one or more of the following controls:. (or iris): Regulates and controls.: Controls and.: Regulates exposure to maintain desired motion portrayal.: signal strength in low-light conditions.: Regulates exposure intensity In consumer units these adjustments are often automatically controlled by the camcorder, but can be adjusted manually if desired. Professional-grade units offer user control of all major optical functions. Imager The imager converts light into an electrical signal.
The camera lens projects an image onto the imager surface, exposing the photosensitive array to light. This light exposure is converted into an electrical charge.
At the end of the timed exposure, the imager converts the accumulated charge into a continuous analog voltage at the imager's output terminals. After the conversion is complete, the photosites reset to start the exposure of the next video frame. Recorder The recorder writes the video signal onto a recording medium, such as magnetic videotape. Since the record function involves many signal-processing steps, some distortion and noise historically appeared on the stored video; playback of the stored signal did not have the exact characteristics and detail as a live video feed.
All camcorders have a recorder-controlling section, allowing the user to switch the recorder into playback mode for reviewing recorded footage, and an image-control section controlling exposure, focus. The image recorded need not be limited to what appeared in the viewfinder. For documenting events (as in law enforcement), the field of view overlays the time and date of the recording along the top and bottom of the image.
The police car or constable badge number to which the recorder was given, the car's speed at the time of recording, compass direction and geographical coordinates may also be seen. Types Analog and digital. An RCA AutoShot VHS Camcorder. It can only record up to four hours of NTSC analog video. Camcorders are often classified by their;, are examples of late 20th century -based camcorders which record video in form.
Camcorder formats include, and solid-state, semiconductor. While all these formats record video in form, Digital8, MiniDV, DVD and hard-disk drives have no longer been manufactured in consumer camcorders since 2006. In the earliest analog camcorders the imaging device is technology, in which the charge of a light-sensitive target was directly proportional to the amount of light striking it; the is an example of such an imaging tube. Newer analog, and digital camcorders use a solid-state imaging device (CCD) or a. Both are analog detectors, using photodiodes to pass a current proportional to the light striking them.
The current is then digitised before being electronically and fed to the imager's output. The main difference between the two devices is how the scanning is done. In the CCD the diodes are sampled simultaneously, and the scan passes the digitised data from one register to the next. In CMOS devices, the diodes are sampled directly by the scanning logic. Digital video storage retains higher-quality video than analog storage, especially on the prosumer and strictly consumer levels. Storage allows full-resolution video (720x576 for, 720x480 for ), unlike analog consumer-video standards. Digital video does not experience, jitter, or fade.
Unlike analog formats, digital formats do not experience during; however, they are more prone to complete loss. Although digital information can theoretically be stored indefinitely without deterioration, some digital formats (like ) place tracks only about 10 apart (compared with 19–58 μm for ).
A digital recording is more vulnerable to wrinkles or stretches in the tape which could erase data, but and error-correction code on the tape compensates for most defects. On analog media, similar damage registers as 'noise' in the video, leaving a deteriorated (but watchable) video.
DVDs may develop, losing large chunks of data. An analog recording may be 'usable' after its storage media deteriorates severely, but slight media degradation in digital recordings may trigger an 'all or nothing' failure; the digital recording will be unplayable without extensive restoration. Recording media Older digital camcorders record video onto tape digitally, hard drives, and small. Newer machines since 2006 record video onto devices and internal in, or format. Because these use compression, frame-specific editing requires frame regeneration, additional processing and may lose picture information.
Codecs storing each frame individually, easing frame-specific scene editing, are common in professional use. Other digital consumer camcorders record in or format on tape, transferring content over or to a computer where large files (for DV, 1GB for 4 to 4.6 minutes in / resolutions) can be, converted and recorded back to tape. The transfer is done in, so the transfer of a 60-minute tape requires one hour to transfer and about 13GB of disk space for the raw footage (plus space for files and other media). Tapeless A tapeless camcorder is a that does not use for the of as 20th century ones did. Tapeless camcorders record video as digital onto such as, and solid-state cards.
Inexpensive use flash, while some more expensive camcorders use or SSD; similar flash technology is used on semi-pro and high-end for ultrafast transfer of (HDTV) content. Most consumer-level tapeless camcorders use, or its derivatives as formats. They are normally capable of still-image capture to format additionally. Consumer-grade tapeless camcorders include a port to transfer video onto a computer. Professional models include other options like (SDI). Some tapeless camcorders are equipped with a (IEEE-1394) port to ensure compatibility with -based and formats. Consumer market Since the consumer market favors ease of use, portability and price, most consumer-grade camcorders emphasize handling and automation over audio and video performance.
Most devices with camcorder capability are or, in which video is a secondary capability. Some pocket cameras, mobile phones and camcorders are shock-, dust- and waterproof. This market has followed an evolutionary path driven by miniaturization and cost reduction enabled by progress in design and manufacture. Miniaturization reduces the imager's ability to gather light; designers have balanced improvements in sensor sensitivity with size reduction, shrinking the camera imager and optics while maintaining relatively noise-free video in daylight. Indoor or dim-light shooting is generally noisy, and in such conditions artificial lighting is recommended. Mechanical controls cannot shrink below a certain size, and manual camera operation has given way to camera-controlled automation for every shooting parameter (including focus, aperture, shutter speed and color balance).
The few models with manual override are menu-driven. Outputs include USB 2.0, Composite and S-Video and IEEE 1394/Firewire (for MiniDV models). The high end of the consumer market emphasizes user control and advanced shooting modes. More-expensive consumer camcorders offer manual exposure control, HDMI output and external audio input, progressive-scan (24fps, 25fps, 30fps) and higher-quality lenses than basic models. To maximize low-light capability, color reproduction and frame resolution, multi-CCD/CMOS camcorders mimic the 3-element imager design of professional equipment. Field tests have shown that most consumer camcorders (regardless of price) produce noisy video in low light.
Before the 21st century, required two recorders and a workstation to control them. A typical home can hold several hours of standard-definition video, and is fast enough to edit footage without additional upgrades.
Most consumer camcorders are sold with basic, so users can create their own DVDs or share edited footage online. Since 2006, nearly all camcorders sold are digital. Tape-based (MiniDV/HDV) camcorders are no longer popular, since tapeless models (with an SD card or internal SSD) cost almost the same but offer greater convenience; video captured on an SD card can be transferred to a computer faster than digital tape. None of the consumer-class camcorders announced at the 2006 International recorded on tape. Other devices Video-capture capability is not confined to camcorders., and compact, and personal media players offer video-capture capability, but most multipurpose devices offer less video-capture functionality than an equivalent camcorder.
Most lack manual adjustments, audio input, and zoom. Few capture in standard TV-video formats (480p60, 720p60, 1080i30), recording in either non-TV resolutions (320x240, 640x480) or slower frame rates (15 or 30 fps). A multipurpose device used as a camcorder offers inferior handling, audio and video performance, which limits its utility for extended or adverse shooting situations. The developed video capability during the early 21st century, reducing sales of low-end camcorders. DSLR cameras with were also introduced early in the 21st century.
Although they still have the handling and usability deficiencies of other multipurpose devices, video offers the shallow and lacking in consumer camcorders. With these capabilities are more expensive than the most expensive video-capable DSLR. In video applications where the DSLR's operational deficiencies can be mitigated, DSLRs such as the provide depth-of-field and optical-perspective control. Combo-cameras combine full-feature still cameras and camcorders in a single unit. The Sanyo HD1 was the first such unit, combining the features of a 5.1 megapixel still camera with a 720p video recorder with improved handling and utility. Canon and Sony have introduced camcorders with still-photo performance approaching that of a digicam, and Panasonic has introduced a DSLR body with video features approaching that of a camcorder.
Has introduced the DZHV 584E/EW, with 1080p resolution and a touch screen. Flip Video. Main articles: and The Flip Video was a series of tapeless camcorders introduced by Pure Digital Technologies in 2006. Slightly larger than a, the Flip Video was a basic camcorder with record, zoom, playback and browse buttons and a USB jack for uploading video.
The original models recorded at a 640x480-pixel resolution; later models featured HD recording at 1280x720 pixels. The Mino was a smaller Flip Video, with the same features as the standard model.
The Mino was the smallest of all camcorders, slightly wider than a cassette and smaller than most smartphones on the market. In fact the Mino was small enough to fit inside the shell of a cassette. Later HD models featured larger screens. In 2011, the Flip Video (more recently manufactured by Cisco) was discontinued. Interchangeable lenses Interchangeable-lens camcorders can capture HD video with DSLR lenses and an adapter. Built-in projector In 2011, launched its HDR-PJ range of HD camcorders: the HDR-PJ10, 30 and 50.
Known as Handycams, they were the first camcorders to incorporate a small on the side of the unit. This feature allows a group of viewers to watch video without a television, a full-size projector or a computer. These camcorders were a huge success and Sony subsequently released further models in this range.
Sony's current 2014 line up comprises the HDR-PJ240, HDR-PJ330 (entry level models), HDR-PJ530 (mid-range model) and the HDR-PJ810 (top of the range). Specifications vary by model. Uses Media. Operating a Panasonic VDRM70 DVD camcorder with one hand Camcorders are used by nearly all electronic media, from electronic-news organizations to current-affairs TV productions. In remote locations, camcorders are useful for initial video acquisition; the video is subsequently transmitted electronically to a studio or production center for broadcast.
Scheduled events (such as press conferences), where a video infrastructure is readily available or can be deployed in advance, are still covered by studio-type video cameras 'tethered' to production trucks. Home video Camcorders often cover weddings, birthdays, graduations, children's growth and other personal events. The rise of the consumer camcorder during the mid- to late 1980s led to the creation of TV shows such as, which showcases homemade video footage. Politics Political use camcorders to film what they believe unjust. Protesters who break into and labs use camcorders to film the conditions in which the animals are living. Anti-hunting protesters film. People investigating political crimes use cameras for evidence-gathering.
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Activist videos often appear on. Use camcorders to film, protests and crowds at sporting events. The film can be used to spot troublemakers, who can then be prosecuted. In countries such as the, the use of compact in police cars allows the police to retain a record of activity in front of the car (such as interaction with a stopped motorist).
Entertainment Camcorders are used in the production of low-budget TV shows if the production crew does not have access to more expensive equipment. Movies have been shot entirely on consumer camcorder equipment (such as, and ). Academic filmmaking programs have also switched from film to digital video in early 2010s, due to the reduced expense and ease of editing of digital media and the increasing scarcity of film stock and equipment. Some camcorder manufacturers cater to this market; and support (24 fps, progressive scan—the same frame rate as cinema film) video in some high-end models for easy film conversion. Education Schools in the developed world increasingly use. Students use camcorders to record video diaries, make short films and develop projects across subject boundaries. Teacher evaluation involves a teacher's classroom lessons being recorded for review by officials, especially for questions of teacher.
Student camcorder-created material and other are used in new-teacher preparation courses. The Department of Education programme and 's 's Department of Teaching and Learning MAT programme are examples. The goes further, insisting that all students purchase their own camcorder (or similar) as a prerequisite to their MAT education programs (many of which are delivered online). These programs employ a modified version of to deliver the courses.
Recordings of MAT student work are posted on USC's for evaluation by as if they were present in class. Camcorders have allowed USC to decentralize its teacher preparation from to most American states and abroad; this has increased the number of teachers it can train.
Formats The following list covers consumer equipment only (for other formats, see ): Analog. Video8 Camcorder Lo-Band: Approximately 3 MHz bandwidth (250 lines EIA resolution, or 333x480 edge-to-edge). BCE (1954): First tape storage for video, manufactured by Bing Crosby Entertainment from Ampex equipment. BCE Color (1955): First color tape storage for video, manufactured by Bing Crosby Entertainment from Ampex equipment. Simplex (1955): Developed commercially by RCA and used to record live broadcasts by NBC.
(1955): Developed formally by Ampex, this was the recording standard for 20 years. (Vera) (1955): An experimental recording standard developed by the BBC, it was never used or sold commercially. (1971): Tape originally used by Sony to record video. S (1974): A smaller version of U-matic, used for portable recorders. (1975): Used on old Sony and Sanyo camcorders and portables; obsolete by the late 1980s in the consumer market.
(1976): Compatible with VHS VCRs; no longer manufactured. (1982): Originally designed for portable VCRs, this standard was later adapted for compact consumer camcorders; identical in quality to VHS; cassettes play in VHS VCRs with an adapter. Still available in the low-end consumer market. Relatively short running time compared to other formats. Sony Handycam DCR-IP7BT MICROMV camcorder and Sony MICROMV tape (top), compared with MiniDV and Hi8 tapes. (1995): Initially developed by Sony, the DV standard became the most widespread standard-definition digital camcorder technology for the next decade. The DV format was the first to make capturing footage for video editing possible without special hardware, using the 4- or 6-pin sockets common on computers at the time.
(1995): Panasonic released its own variant of the DV format for broadcast. (1996): Sony's answer to the DVCPRO. (1996): A variety of recordable optical disc standards were released by multiple manufacturers during the 1990s and 2000s, of which was the first. The most common in camcorders was, which used recordable 8 cm discs holding 30 minutes of video. (1998): JVC's VHS tape supporting 720p/1080i HD; many units also supported recording.
(1999): Uses tapes; most can read older Video8 and Hi8 analog tapes. (2001): Matchbox-sized cassette.
Sony was the only electronics for this format, and editing software was proprietary to Sony and only available on; however, programmers did manage to create capture software for Linux. (2003): Manufactured by Hitachi. (2004): Records up to an hour of MPEG-2 signal on a MiniDV cassette.
Video editing guide for beginners 1.Basic video editing tips 2.Advanced video editing tips How to Transfer Videos from Camcorder to Computer with USB/Fireware Camcorder does not only captures videos, but the excited moments and memories that treasured for a life time. In order to make the most of your video, it should be transferred to a computer. The easiest way to transfer videos to a PC is by using a USB cable or Firewire.
After that is done, with the correct video editing software, you can edit your videos on computer like a professional, or just watch them on TV with family and friends. Connect Camcorder to Computer What you'll need to connect your camcorder to a computer:. USB cable or Firewire cable (IEEE 1394 cable). Supplied AC Adopter How to connect camcorder to Computer: Step 1: Connect the AC Adopter to your camcorder's in-jack and the wall outlet (wall socket), and turn on the camcorder.
Step 2: Connect the USB/Firewire jack of your camcorder to the computer using the supplied USB/Firewire cable. Step 3: Now your camcorder will be automatically detected and will appear as a hard disk drive on computer (usually a Hint pop-up in the bottom right corner).
If your camcorder doesn't recognized by computer, install the driver using the supplied CD-ROM. Transfer Video from Camcorder to Computer After the camcorder has connected to your computer, you could transfer videos from camcorder to computer with ease, just like copying files from on disk drive to another. You could also install and run the provided software like Picture Motion Browser for Sony Camcorder and PixelaMixer for Canon camcorder to import and edit video from camcorder. Transfer camcorder videos using Card Reader: If you set your camcorder to record video to Flash Memory like Memory Stick or SD Card, you need a Card reader to transfer video from flash memory to your computer. There are many brands of card readers that are compatible with both Memory Stick and SD card, and usually have a USB jack, so you can easy transfer recorded video to computer like operating local disk files after connect the USB jack to USB port on your computer. Tips for transferring camcorder videos.
Transferring video from a camcorder to a PC may take up a lot of hard drive space. If you have an external flash drive, or it's convenient to burn camcorder video to DVD, you could transfer videos to external devices to save hard drive space. It will use a lot of system resources while transferring your video from a camcorder. Therefore, you'd better close other running programs before transfer videos to your computer. Refer to the manufacturer manual for your camcorder to see what type of connection you will need to transfer camcorder video.
The DVD camcorder could directly record videos to DVD for playing with Blu-ray player or regular DVD player. To transfer recorded DVD videos on camcorder to computer, Wondershare may help you convert the camcorder videos out of DVD disc.
What's Next The video formats recorded by camcorder vary much depending on different manufacturers like Sony, Canon, Panasonic. The SD definition videos usually have AVI, MOV, MPG, MP4, MOD, etc. File extension, while HD definition videos TOD, MTS, M2TS and so on. Lots of video editing software on the market could help edit transferred camcorder videos on computer, from the professional ones like Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere to the basic one like.
Generally, you can't turn SD video into HD video. But you can convert HD video to SD videos for small size and portable device compatibility in these editing software or using. You are recommended to convert video to FLV for publishing online, such as YouTube and Facebook. Also, you can edit your video with if your video format is in the. DisqusXlTXLJzC7V Hello!
I have an 80G Sony HDR-XR200 with some precious videos I need to edit, publish and archive. I have been using Drop Box for backups, but I hear Google Cloud is much better for organizing & backing up photos and videos, (does not import duplicates, for example). What are your recommendations for backing up personal data, photos and video? Also, I have used iMovie 11. I'm stuck on this version. I have an older macbook running 10.6.8, iMovie is ok, but I need more editing power, audio & video editing and noise reduction.
What do you recommend here? Sony Picture Maker? I am interested in archiving raw footage to google cloud and possibly burning to DVD or Bluray. Also wondering if it makes a difference in AVCHD quality downloading from a MS card or USB?
Thanks, Michael:).