Nowadays there are a lot of digital video cameras. There are of course analog video cameras too, but the prices are almost the same.
Recording format
Video cameras can record in such digital formats as Digital 8, mini DV, micro MV, DVD, Mpeg 4. Video cameras that use first three formats record video on the tape, but with digital quality.
Video cameras with Digital 8 recording format are chosen by those, who have records in Hi 8 analog format. These video cameras allow not only to look through the video, but to digitize it in Digital 8. Hi 8 and Digital 8 are recorded on 8- mm tape, but Digital 8 is recorded with digital quality and stereo sound. The price of video cameras that record on Digital 8 is quite low, but if you choose first, not very expensive camera, we advice you to select a mini DV format.
Video cameras with mini DV recording format are smaller and lighter, because they use smaller cassette (6,35mm width). But video and stereo sound are a bit more qualitative. These cameras and cassettes are produced by many famous producers (Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Samsung), that’s why you won’t have any problem with cassettes.
Video cameras that use Micro MV format are more qualitative then previous cameras, because the video is compressed in Mpeg 2 standard. Cassettes for these video cameras are two times smaller then mini DV or Digital 8. So the video cameras with Micro MV are quite compact. When you are selecting a camera, put it in your hand and try whether it is convenient to hold it. Small sizes can be very inconvenient in large hand, besides the buttons are very close to each other.
DVD-video cameras record directly to DVD-R/RW disks. Their main advantage is that you can watch recorded video at once on the DVD-player. It is easily winded to the necessary moment. But the dimensions of the camera correspond to the sizes of the disk, so it can’t be very small.
Among modern video cameras there are those that record in Mpeg 4 format. HDD or flash-card is used as a data carrier. All the records are easily recorded from video camera to PC for following cutting or recording to the disc.
Optics (objective-glass)
One of the most important elements in every video camera is optics. Producing a video camera, firm may use its own design or use the optics of other producers. For example, JVC video cameras use their own optics and Sony uses Carl Zeiss optics. Leica Dicomar optics is used by Panasonic.
Camera viewfinder
Control of recording, the choice of necessary foreshortening and different facilities – all this is made with a help of viewfinder, optical or reflex. The disadvantage of optical viewfinder is that you’ll see the picture that differs from the recorded one – there is a displacement. That’s why it is better to buy a camera with reflex viewfinder.
Viewfinder can also be color or black-and-white. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and you should know them before making a choice. Black-and-white viewfinders are preferable, because accuracy can be tuned precisely. The advantage of color viewfinder is natural color rendering, possibility of tuning white balance (some models mark out excess brightness with lines).
Nowadays every digital camera has LCD-display, which can be used as a viewfinder. It is very convenient, when you record in inconvenient position, for example if you record a concert, holding a camera overhead.
Magnification (optical, digital)
Video cameras as well as photo cameras take picture of the objects that can be on different distance. Possibility to approach/extend the object will be very useful. Object magnification works with a help of optic and electronic devices.
Selecting a video camera, pay attention to optical zoom. Approaching/moving away results from lenses shifting. Coefficient can be from 10 to 25. Usually camera with 10 times optic zoom will be enough. Coefficients over 20 acquire recording with stand, because with such magnification hand quivering will be noticeable. So it isn’t necessary to choose a camera with big zoom. Besides, you’ll overpay for the facilities that you won’t be able to use very often.
Digital magnification is not very important in the choice of camera. Large numbers of digital zoom are often used for commercial aims. First, using digital zoom you loose quality, so it is recommended to switch this function off. Second, with such magnification hand quivering and smallest camera move will be noticeable. So it doesn’t really matter whether your camera has 200 times or 500 times digital zoom.
CCD matrix
Through the optic device image comes to the light-sensitive elements (CCD matrix), on the output the image is transformed into electric signal.
The most popular camera matrixes are 1/4” (6 mm) and 1/3” (8mm) diagonal. It is recommended to choose a camera with larger matrix, because it has high light-sensitivity, so you can record in faint light.
Matrix resolution is measured by the quantity of light-sensitive elements (pixels). In order to avoid graining, it is recommended to have the largest possible resolution. The minimal resolution is 500 000 pixels (0,5 mega pixels). If you want to buy a camera which will be able to take photos, you should choose one with 1-3 mega pixels resolution.
3CCD matrix technology is also used in video cameras. It is used mainly in professional cameras, but there are simpler models, for example, Panasonic NV_GS-300. According to this technology, the light, coming through the objective-glass, is decomposed in red, blue and green, every color is worked up by separate matrix. It allows to get better color rendering, to decrease the level of color distortions. Video cameras with three matrixes are larger and more expensive. So for home video it is better to choose one matrix model.
Image stabilizer
Selecting a video camera, it is important to consider such factor as image stabilizer. It helps to avoid vibration, recording video (for example, hand quiver). Nowadays every camera has a stabilizer. But! Professionals choose cameras with optical stabilizer, for home video digital stabilizer is quite enough.
Electronic stabilizer uses a part of CCD matrix. It allows to avoid image vibration, but the quality is lost, because not all matrix elements work for image creation.
Optical stabilizer works due to the additional lenses. With a help of special sensors, data about vibration direction, speed and amplitude is transferred to the camera processor. On the basis of these magnitudes processor manages the group of stabilizing lenses, so that the image doesn’t exceed the bounds of CCD matrix, i.e. remains stable. Energy consumption increases, but this disadvantage is insignificant because of high image quality.
Camera sensitivity
If you are going to record in faint light, you should choose a camera with high sensitivity. The unit of sensitivity is lux. Possibility to record in the light of 0,1 lux (corresponds to the conditions of minimal light) is considered to be good. This parameter is usually heightened in characteristics. Aspheric optics heightens camera sensitivity, it is better to choose among such models.
If you often record in bad light, you can choose a camera with built-in lamp or a space for it.
Camera sound
Modern cameras allow to record stereo sound and sound in Dolby Digital 5.1 format on DVD-cameras. Selecting a camera, you should pay attention to such details. First, it is a possibility to connect external microphone, one or even two. Second, it is a sound record to two channels. It allows to comment or to add sound background to the record.
Camera accumulators
Camera working duration from one charge depends on the accumulator parameters. Of course, time of work will be also influenced by the operating conditions and energy consumption.
Nowadays, Li-Ion and Li-Pol accumulators replaced Ni-Cd and NiMh batteries. You are not able to choose an accumulator type, because camera is designed for one battery type. You can only select battery capacity. In a unit with camera there can be a low capacity battery, so it is recommended to buy second larger accumulator. Notice that the duration of work for standard battery is lower then stated by the producer. Because this parameter indicates the most economic regime without zoom, LCD-display, watching of recorded video.
Camera connection
Cameras have different outputs for connection to other devices.
S-Video output is used for TV and Video-player connection. With a help of this output you can watch the video on TV or record it to video-player.
Almost every camera has IEEE 1394 (FireWire, I.Link or DV) output. It is used for data transferring to PC or other digital camera. If you buy a camera not only with DV-output, but with DV-input, you’ll be able to use camera as a video-player, i.e. to watch and record video from other devices.
USB port was originally used only for photo transferring, but now with new faster USB 2.0 standard transfer of video data is also possible.
For line montage, there should be montage outputs (for Sony it’s LANC, for Panasonic – Control-M). With a help of these outputs you can synchronize camera with montage sounding board and video-players.
It is advisable to have an output for external microphone and earphones.
Don’t choose a most equipped camera, it is better to choose one that has necessary functions. Maybe you won’t need 20-times magnification, or for example, you won’t need photo facility, because you are going to buy a . Do you really have to overpay? It is better to buy additional accessories on saved money. For example, you will necessarily need a bag for camera, additional accumulator, discs or cassettes, cables and charger.
Save your money and make a right choice!