How Camcorders Work – Moviemaking Made Simple

How Camcorders Work – Moviemaking Made Simple

Can moviemaking be made simple? We think so. So do camcorder manufacturers. In fact, that’s been their goal from the beginning – to create a filming system that’ll produce theater-quality images and sound, but can be operated by an amateur. But before you can make those movies, you need to know how camcorders work. And camcorders are designed for simple use. But you still have to have a basic understanding of videography. So that’s what we’re going to give you here. And we’ll start at the basics of basics: the word “video”.

The first video movie cameras were basic – but not simple

The word “video” comes from the Latin “I see”. So the purpose of the video movie camera is to record exactly what you see. Hopefully, what you see as the finished movie, is what you saw when you filmed it. But since the process of video recording is so complex, there are many things that can go wrong along the way. That’s why it’s so important for you to understand what’s going on.

Video has been described as the technology of processing electronic signals representing moving pictures. That pretty well sums it up in a nutshell. But of course, it’s not quite that simple. But, as we mentioned, video technology is progressing very quickly, and it’s becoming a lot simpler every year. When you look back to what it started with, you’ll see there’s definitely no doubt that they’ve come a long way.

The first video cameras weighed 100 pounds and came with a separate TV monitor and a separate recorder. That’s a lot of stuff to pack around – not what you’d take with you on your vacation. But the first step the industry took was combining the pieces into something you could carry (about 30 pounds). They called it a camcorder, short for camera + recorder. And this is what got the video camera business really going.

How is that image created?

Let’s take a basic look at the technology of the camcorder. First of all, a definition of the camcorder puts it into simple language: a portable electronic device for recording video and audio onto a storage device. That really sums it up right there. To break it down, we’ll look at the major parts.

A camcorder’s major parts are the lens, that lets in the light; the CCD, the image sensor that absorbs the light and gives it an electrical charge; the A/D converter, that converts the charges from analog format to digital format; and the storage method. There are several types of storage methods, but we’ll look at those in more detail later.

The lens is an important part of a digital camcorder. There are many camcorder lenses to choose from these days. To simplify the purpose of the lens, let’s just say that it lets in the light that represents the image you’re filming. Since your goal is to reproduce a clear picture, the lens is your first step towards doing that. The picture (in the form of light) created by the lens is focused on the CCD. If the light is too much or too little, then that’s exactly what the CCD will read…and reproduce.

Many camcorders have zoom lenses, with ranges from 2:1 in lower-end models, all the way up to 8:1. The lenses have many parts, but the only thing you really have to know about them is that you push a button, which activates a small motor that adjusts the focal length (which is what a zoom lens does).

The CCD – the eye of the camcorder

The next important part of a camcorder is the CCD (charge-coupled-device). The surface of the CCD is covered with tiny light sensors. These light sensors work much the same as that night-light you have in your hallway – it’s sensitive to light, and thus turns itself on when it gets dark. The light sensors are called pixels, and there are millions of them. They’re activated, or charged, by the light from the lens. The more light that’s let in, the stronger the electrical charge; less light creates a weaker charge. The strength of the charged pixel determines the shade of gray it produces. All these shades of gray are directed through color filters that ultimately recreate the image that’s converted by the A/D converter, and then stored.

How is the image stored?

Storing the data that makes up the video image is a science that’s progressed throughout the years. The first advanced storage method was developed by JVC – the VHS, or videocassette, as we know it today. The same year as VHS was introduced, Sony came out with their equivalent – Betamax. We all know what happened to that, don’t we? But Sony’s Handicam answered the call, with it’s small recording discs. In fact, Sony video cameras have made quite a mark in the industry throughout the years.

Remember that portability was a major motivation for camcorder designers, and one of the ways to make a smaller camcorder was to make a smaller storage device. At one time, you could record right onto a full-sized VHS tape, then plug it directly into your VCR for playback. But the video camera was heavy and bulky.

Since then, recording cassettes have all but been replaced by the disc, or DVD as we know it today. DVD camcorders were quite the thing for a while. But with “smaller is better” in mind, the Mini DV camcorder was introduced. It produced a high-quality picture with very good resolution (sharpness). It caught on right away, and is still the most popular format today. That may change, but for now, that’s the best. Of course, what’s best for one might not be suitable for another. But you don’t have to worry about that, because there are literally hundreds of models to choose from, each with its own unique feature, designed to attract that special niche of vidoegrapher.

The digital camcorder sets the pace for today

Digital camcorders differ from analog camcorders that record onto tape or discs, in that they store the image data in compressed digital form. There are several methods of digital compression, named after the people who developed the technology – the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG).

The original MPEG set the international standards for the creation and playback of digital video and sound. There’s also MPEG-1, which is quite highly compressed, but sacrifices image quality. It’s used with CD-ROM video and VCDs. MPEG-2 uses DVD’s, with a higher compression rate, and a better-quality image. But you need a high-speed computer to use it. MPEG-3 isn’t used anymore. And we’ve saved the best til the last – MPEG-4. The experts are excited about the potential of MPEG-4. It allows you to produce simple digital video with sound, while still giving you the capability of high-end storage and delivery. As far as editing goes, it opens all kinds of possibilities.

Another thing today’s digital camcorders offer is special effects. These aren’t effects that you need to add after you transfer your video to your computer. These are done in-camera as you film – just like the professionals. Some examples of these special effects are fade-out, freeze-frame, strobe, wide-screen recording, and color changes and tints. And these effects don’t have to be used one at a time – you can mix and match them.

All the manufacturers are competing at a furious pace to be the first with their unique technological breakthrough. Canon, JVC, Panasonic, Hitachi and Sony are just a few of the competitors in this race. And as the race heats up, the eventual winner is the consumer.

The accessories market thrives with the rest of the industry

When you have camcorders, you’ll have accessories. You don’t think the manufacturers are going to miss out on that opportunity, do you? And they’ve entered the market full-force. Whatever your preference in videography, there’s an accessory to make your filming easier.

Some of the more simple accessories are the camera tripods, camcorder batteries and camcorder battery chargers, camera bags, Sony Memory Sticks and Canon CompactFlash Cards – all kinds of camcorder and accessory bags – and much much more. There are all kinds of lenses you can use for those special effects. And there are books on how to use your camcorders, and how to make the best professional-quality movies with your simple-use camcorder.

Are you familiar enough yet with the wonderful world of camcorders? There are hundreds of camcorders to choose from, but the good news is that because the selection is so diverse, there’s a special camcorder designed just for you. So go online, do your homework, and you’ll pass the test. And your reward is…a lifetime of memories for you to enjoy whenever you want. And they’ll be that much more special because you made them yourself – all on your own. Enjoy!

About The Author

Gareth Marples is a successful homebased freelance writer, one of experience and diversity. He provides valuable tips and advice for consumers purchasing popular photography magazines, Sony digital camcorders and digital camera accessories. His numerous articles offer moneysaving tips and valuable insight on typically confusing topics.

This article on "How Camcorders Work" reprinted with permission.

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