PC Encyclo by Chuck Bryan

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Video Camcorder
Video Camcorder Video Camcorder

PC Encyclo \ V
by Chuck Bryan

Apr 21 2008

Apr 21 2008

Video Camcorder and PC: Made for Each Other:

A video camcorder is a video camera and recorder. Not just for Home Movies, these new machines are fast becoming useful as within small business as well. Have something to sell? Besides a product or service, that could also includes ideas, like a sales pitch. Whatever, the fact is that nothing sells better than appealing images.

Video Editing and DVD Burning:

To be really useful, you need some basic Video Editing and that where the PC s comes in: The Perfect partner for your Camcorder! Katie makes her own Home Movies with credits, soundtrack and background music, plus fades and other effects, all thanks to basic video editing software. The final product is an MPEG-2 file which then is burnt onto a DVD! There are two main types of Camcorders: Analog camcorder Digital Camcorder

Analog Camcorder: VHS and 8mm:

In 1982 JVC r l a e i Camcorder built around the VHS tape standard and eesd ts w r q i e l r e a d h a y I w s l n u t l a s a l r VHS-C ( for ee ut ag n ev. t ant og ni mle Compact ) version was released. In 1984, the newer and much smaller 8mm video cassette standard , was introduced. 1985: Sony CCD-V8 with 270K pixels introduced. 1987: Sony CCD-V90 with 420K pixels introduced. By 1989, JVC introduced S-VHS which separated the video signal and improved the resolution from the VHS 220 lines up to 400 lines. By 1992 Sharp introduced the color LCD screen to replace the old monochrome viewfinder.

Analog Camcorder: 1997

1997 was the year I bought a Canon ES270 with 8mm tape and 16X optical zoom, . The smaller tape format allowed everything to be smaller and lighter. That ( 1997 ) was also still the era of NiCad batteries. The Canon ES270 featured three RCA jacks for analog video and analog audio output .It also featured a microphone input jack as well as headphone jack. The price was around $800 ( 1997 )dollars!

Digital Camcorder:
By late 1995, the Digital Camcorder had arrived from Panasonic and Sony. The latest DV camcorders can also record video on : Tape: Hi 8 flash memory devices in MPEG-1, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4!

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DVD in DVD-RAM or DVD-R in MPEG-2 format Examples: Dec 2005 at the SONY Store $449 SONY Handicam Hi8 / 8mm TVR480 20X optical zoom Image Stabilizer Fold out LCD screen with touch-screen controls Dc20 a Zle $ e 0 5 t e l r s 449 Canon ZR100 Mini DV Camcorder: 20X optical zoom 400X digital zoom Image Stabilizer Hi-resolution 16:9 widescreen recording mode Fold out color LCD screen Sony Mini DV Camcorder: at The Brick Dec 2005 $499 16X optical zoom 240X digital zoom Fold out color LCD screen

Camcorder features and controls: SONY Digital Handycam Hi-8

AC Adaptor: To charge up t e C m o d r s R c a g a l B t e y h acre ehrebe atr Auto exposure Auto focus: Backlight: Used when the subject is illuminated from the ear, to prevent hdwntesbetdti saoig h ujc eal Battery: Lithium Ion Built-in Light Color temperature: Auto DV Interface : Firewire port for DVI transfer Erase: Focal length: 2.5-50mm( 1/8 to 2 inch ). In Camera Tape 42-840 mm ( 1 11/16 331/8 inch ) iLink : Firewire connection for Digital DVI transfer Image Device: 3.0mm (1/6 type ) CCD ( Charge Coupled Device ). Gross approx 460,000 pixels, effective ( still/movie ) approx 290,000 pixels JPEG: Still image format L D S r e : S e w a y u r r c r i g a w l a p o i i g touch screen C cen e ht oe eodn s el s rvdn controls ( 560 x220 ) Lens: F=1.6 -2.4 Manual Focus Menus: MPEG:MPEG-2 Output Nightshot: Low light recording Playback: View recorded video and hear the associated audio Recording Modes: SP: Standard Play Spot Focus Steadyshot Still

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USB Cable Zoom:

Camcorder Batteries:
The old 1997 Canon ES270 is a good example of early Ni-Cad battery power. It also used a small o n b t e y a L t i m C 2 2 3 . T e b g N -Cad ( with its toxic ci atr ihu R05 V h i i heavy-metal cadmium component ) has since been replaced by Ni-MH battery technology.

Lithium Ion Batteries:

If you're using a newer digital camcorder, you'll find it probably uses Lithium Inbteis Cmae t teodcmodrbteisyumyhv se,tee o atre. oprd o h l acre atre o a ae en hyr small! The SONY DCR-TVR480 Hi8/8mm with its Lithium-Ion battery just lets you plug in a special AC power cable into the camcorder itself with the battery in place to recharge.

Universal Ni-Cad/Ni-MH Camcorder Battery Charger:

Radio Shack.com (Dec 2005 ) offers a Universal Ni-Cad/ Ni-MH Camcorder Battery Charger f r 3 6 , 4 8 a d 6 0 b t e i s $ 0 ( U ) I i c u e a o .v .v n .v atre.4 S . t nlds refresh function to completely discharge the battery for a longer-lasting charge. In addition, a microprocessor controlled charger ensures you get a full-charge every time. London Drugs sells an Optex microprocessor controlled universal NiCad-Ni-MH charger with REFRESH for $59. We bought that along with a Duracell made Canon compatible replacement Ni_MH battery rated at 6 hours for $99 ( $20 off on sale! ). www.intelligentbatteries.com is a Canadian company, based right here in Richmond, BC that has replacement batteries for the old Canon camcorders.

DVD Camcorders:
Example: Hitachi DVD Camcorder Takes 640K still images on removable Secure Digital card Playback the DVD-R on most DVD players. $1000 at Future Shop ( Jan 2004 ) Hitachi DVD Camcorder: at The Brick Dec 2005 $599 16X optical zoom 240X digital zoom Fold out color LCD screen Canon DVD Camcorder: at Future Shop Dec 2005 $799 10X optical zoom Fold out 2.5 inch color LCD screen Built-in 1.33 Mega Pixel digital camera Electronic image stabilization

Firewire Port:
As for the output, getting the video from the cam o d r i t y u P , y u l w n cre no or C ol at to make sure the machine comes with a FireWire port. FireWire is the preferred method of transferring video, though USB 2.0 can also handle it. If you're

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thinking about buying a Mac, there's no reason to ask -- the FireWire port will be there. If you're looking at a Windows PC, you should probably ask. On many entrylevel PCs -- including the low-end Dell computers that are offered at rock-bottom prices -- the 1394 port won't be there.

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