Camcorder is a device that combines both a video camera and a video recorder in a single unit. As compared to its previous technology that used separate devices for recording audio and video, a camcorder has a built-in recorder unit for recording both audio and video.
From the early generation of camcorder that used digital tape to store data to the more advanced ones that use non-removable media like hard disk drives to store, the camcorder has come a long way in the direction of technology and performance. The latest and sophisticated camcorders use two different storage media such as built-in HDD and memory card.
Major components:
Lens, imager and recorder are the three major components of the camcorders. Lens encompasses aperture, zoom and shutter. In a professional camcorder the lens is manually controlled for all optical functions. However, in a consumer unit it is generally controlled by the electronics of the camcorder. The prime function of lens is to gather and focus light on the imager. When the image is projected on the imager through the camera lens the light is converted to an electronic video signal. And last but not the least, it is the function of the recorder to write the video-signals to the recording medium. However, the record controlling system of the camcorders allows the user to control the device.
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Camcorder works by recording audio and video and then saving those to a storage device, there by creating your own movies/videos and capturing life on video.
Earlier models of camcorders only recorded to VHS videotapes, and they were so big and bulky that they had to be carted around on a trolley. These camcorders were mostly used by professionals for broadcasting via television. But those days are over. With the advance of technology came digital and with digital came the digital camcorder.
Today digital camcorders are available in small hand held devices that allow everyone to record and make video recordings, and their popularity continues to grow as they quickly make their way to more and more homes, where families use them to capture their lives on film.
For gearheads and technophiles, there’s no mystery to the workings of most digital gadgetry. But for the average consumer, even basic operation can be perplexing. Here’s a look at how a few different types of digital camcorders work.
To understand how camcorders work is to look at the three components that they are comprised of: Lens, Imager and Recorder.
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Featuring 4GB of memory, the compact MS-MT4G Memory Stick PRO Duo Mark 2 media card is the perfect solution for storing and transferring high resolution video and still photos recorded on compatible Handycam camcorders and Cyber-shot digital cameras. Designed for high speed and stellar storage capacity, this reliable media is just what you need for storing your memories and transferring them with ease.
Reviews:
By John J. Robinson (Nashville, TN United States):
This 16GB Memory Stick Duo II card works great with the PSP portable gaming system. It comes pre-formatted, so all you have to do is stick it into your PSP and go. In fact, there is a picture of the PSP right on the packaging.
The usable space on this device is actually 14.9 GB, however.
The “Mark2″ certification on the card has to do with higher writing speed requirements and indicates the memory is certified to operate with AVCHD recording products.
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Protect your camera with Sony’s camcorder carrying case. Featuring a beautiful, compact design, this case will allow you to tote your camcorder with style and ease. The LCS-VA30 also permits fast and easy access to your camera and accessories so that when the moment is right you never miss a shot.
It’s compatible with the following models:
CCD-TR555
CCD-TRV101
CCD-TRV118
CCD-TRV128
CCD-TRV318
CCD-TRV328
DCR-DVD100
DCR-DVD101
DCR-DVD200
DCR-DVD201
DCR-DVD300
DCR-HC20
DCR-HC30
DCR-HC40
DCR-HC65
DCR-HC85
DCR-IP1
DCR-IP220
DCR-IP55
DCR-PC100
DCR-PC101
DCR-PC105
DCR-PC109
DCR-PC110
DCR-PC120BT
DCR-PC330
DCR-PC5
DCR-PC9
DCR-TRV10
DCR-TRV18
DCR-TRV19
DCR-TRV20
DCR-TRV22
DCR-TRV25
DCR-TRV250
DCR-TRV260
DCR-TRV27
DCR-TRV30 |
DCR-TRV33
DCR-TRV350
DCR-TRV360
DCR-TRV38
DCR-TRV39
DCR-TRV460
DCR-TRV50
DCR-TRV7
DCR-TRV70
DCR-TRV80
DCR-TRV9
DCR-TRV950
DSC-F505
DSC-F505V
DSC-F55
DSC-F707
DSC-F717
DSC-F828
DSC-P1
DSC-P10
DSC-P2
DSC-P20
DSC-P3
DSC-P30
DSC-P31
DSC-P32
DSC-P5
DSC-P50
DSC-P51
DSC-P52
DSC-P7
DSC-P71
DSC-P72
DSC-P8
DSC-P9
DSC-P92 |
DSC-S30
DSC-S50
DSC-S70
DSC-S75
DSC-S85
DSC-T1
DSC-U10
DSC-U20
DSC-U30
DSC-U40
DSC-U50
DSC-U60
DSC-V1
MVC-CD200
MVC-CD250
MVC-CD300
MVC-CD350
MVC-CD400
MVC-CD500
MVC-FD100
MVC-FD200
MVC-FD5
MVC-FD51
MVC-FD7
MVC-FD71
MVC-FD73
MVC-FD75
MVC-FD81
MVC-FD83
MVC-FD85
MVC-FD87
MVC-FD88
MVC-FD90
MVC-FD92
MVC-FD95
MVC-FD97 |
Reviews:
By Hari (Bangalore, India):
This bag I might say is slightly big for the DCR series of MiniDV handycams but the usefulness compensates for this. This bag is very much worth what you pay for. I have a Sony Mini DV handycam which fits in almost perfectly along with all the other accessories like charger, cords, tapes, etc. The extra pouches on either side is perfect for holding tapes while pouches in the front and inside hold the cords very well. There is a movable velcro partition inside which can be moved about inside and fitted according to your requirement.
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Be sure your camcorder is always ready to capture just about anything with an extra Sony batteries. The compact NP-FH100 rechargeable battery pack features InfoLithium(R) & ActiForce technologies which ensure maximum power, minimum charging time and excellent battery performance. It’s the perfect battery for newer, ultra-compact camcorders.
Reviews:
By “D”:
I just received this battery that’s going in my Sony HDR-SR11 and so far it seems consistent with what others have been saying about this battery… When I initially popped it into the camcorder as soon as it arrived, it showed 2 bars and 75 mins remaining so I left it in the unit and plugged the DC adapter in, to check and see how long it would take until full charge. I was expecting all day but surprisingly it only took around 3 hours until the charge indicator turned off, signaling a full charge. I turned on the camcorder again after unplugging the power and bam! “351 mins remaining” which put a huge grin on my face 
I have NOT tested the battery to see if it’ll really last ~6 hours but the stock battery was pretty accurate so I have no reason to believe this one’s any different, hence a 5 star rating. Granted, the battery is a little heavier and does stick out a little more in the back but this doesn’t bother me so it’s not a negative for me. Amazon shipped it fast (and free!) and it arrived a day early which was a nice surprise!
Note: I see that it also went down in price to just under $100 (it was $5 more when i bought it.) I’d definitely recommend this battery to anyone who wants to just charge it and forget it!
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Be sure your camcorder is always ready to capture just about anything with an extra Sony batteries. The compact NP-FH70 rechargeable battery pack features InfoLithium(R) & ActiForce technologies which ensure maximum power, minimum charging time and excellent battery performance. It’s the perfect battery for newer, ultra-compact camcorders.
Reviews:
By Geds:
For it’s size, this battery packs a long charge. i now have two of them and use my sony Hard Disk video cam for wedding videos….and two of these batteries easily get me through long catholic ceremonies plus the entire reception and dance afterward.
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Sony’s 8GB Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo media offers maximum storage for compact digital cameras, portable audio devices and your PSP Handheld Entertainment System. Providing durable, high-capacity digital file storage, the MSX-M8GS can be used in most Memory Stick(R) PRO media compatible devices. Get connected to your favorite multimedia anywhere with the powerful and compact Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo media.
Record and playback copy-protected digital media files from your desktop or notebook with Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo featuring MagicGate(TM) technology. Its unique encryption technology ensures protected content is only transferred between compliant devices and Memory Stick(R) media, preventing unauthorized copying or playback. Listen to favourite digital music files or dub audio tracks from your CD collection and enjoy them anywhere with Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo and MagicGate.
Whether capturing breathtaking digital images and video, enjoying music with friends, or transporting large and important files, Sony’s ultra-compact Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo is always the perfect choice. Designed specifically for professional-quality compact digital cameras and entertainment devices, its ergonomic design makes it easy to insert and remove without hassle or fuss.
Reviews:
By Matthew Learn (Maryland, USA):
So I ordered the 8GB memory card from a retailer on Amazon. It came in, and everything looked as it should. Then as I started to use it in my Video camera, I was getting error messages and data corruption issues. I did some searching around on the internet and I found that the error is usually do to counterfeit memory cards. So I looked on the page and they gave a great list of things to look for. Biggest giveaway that mine was not really from Sony:
* There was no product information paper on the inside in several languages
* The UPC had MSX-M8GST/X, the valid UPC does not have the “T/X” at the end, and the actual number under the UPC was for a 1GB memory card.
* Obviously the bad performance of the card.
I talked with Amazon, and got the seller to refund my money and I ordered it directly from Amazon. When I looked at the two packages side by side, there was an obvious difference. On the card, the print was very faded (and incorrect) versus the legit card.
So the card itself is great, but buyer beware of the fakes. Here is a good article that talks about spotting fakes: [...]
-Matt
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Sony BCTRP Battery Charger for DCR-HC, DCR-DVD, HDR-HC3, HC5, HC7, HDR-UX5 & UX7 Camcorders
There is no easier way to charge your InfoLithium P Series battery than with the BC-TRP battery charger. It’s as simple as plugging the unit in to the wall and inserting a battery. The BC-TRP features charging times as fast as 125 minutes (with the NP-FP50 battery pack), yet is small enough to take anywhere. It’s compatible with the following batteries (with charge times):
* NP-FP50 (full charge/normal charge time): 185 min. / 125 min.
* NP-FP70 (full charge/normal charge time): 315 min. / 255 min.
* NP-FP90 (full charge/normal charge time): 490 min. / 430 min.
It’s compatible with the following Sony camcorders:
DCR-HC20, DCR-HC30, DCR-HC40, DCR-HC65, and DCR-HC85
Sony’s worldwide reputation for creating unique, attractive, high-quality, advanced technology products rests on a long line of innovations embraced by people from all walks of life. With a diverse product lineup serving a variety of lifestyles and industries, Sony continuously strives to introduce new products and technologies to meet changing market needs.
Reviews:
By Jody (Leominster, MA USA):
As a mom of a young son, having a power cable hanging off the counter with my camera attached was just an invitation for trouble. I purchased this item prior to a Disney vacation, along with a 2nd battery, so that I could charge up one battery while still being able to use the camera (given that Sony decided to go with the odd quirk that you can’t charge the battery on the camera unless the camera is completely OFF). This charger is small, light, and fast. It fit easily in my camera bag, and let me leave my cables at home. I love that it plugs directly into the outlet with no cable, and that the batteries don’t get hot. This may be the best accessory out there.
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There are many types of camcorder products. We may be confusion, among many camcorder is where we will buy. I found very useful article about camcorder shopping tips. This short guide will teach you the basics of digital camcorders, and give you the information you need to become a smarter
href="http://nicefurniture.org">shopper:
Zoom: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
A camcorder’s zoom lets you capture the action without getting in the middle of it. Whether you need to get close to the action at a sports game, or capture the perfect smile at a birthday party, you need a camcorder that can take effective close-up shots.
Unfortunately, the zoom numbers advertised by manufacturers aren’t always what they seem. In particular, you should forget about the massive digital zoom figure—this figure is often nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Unlike optical zoom, which uses lens optics to enlarge the image, digital zoom simply crops the edge of the image and fits the remaining picture into the same space to give the appearance of zoom. This process is no different from zooming in on an image on your computer.
While digital zoom does make objects appear bigger, it also decreases resolution, eventually producing a grainy and blurry image. If you were to use the 700x digital zoom advertised with some cameras (a figure derived by multiplying a 10x optical and 70x digital zoom), you would simply end up with a few indistinguishable pixels.
When comparing camcorders, you should concentrate the optical zoom figure, which is usually 10x or above. The greater the optical zoom, the more you can enlarge your subject without sacrificing picture quality.
Dim Light = Dim Video
Scan the reviews of almost any amateur camcorder and you will find one consistent complaint: poor low-light performance.The fact is that most amateur camcorders do not perform well in low-light conditions, under which they often record dark, grainy images. Fortunately, most home movie makers can easily avoid shooting in such conditions; while it pays to be conscious of a camcorder’s low-light limitations, you should keep in mind that they are unlikely to prevent you from filming.
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Sony HDR-TG1 Highlights
1920×1080 Recording Record stunning, incredibly detailed video footage in the clarity of 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution.
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| Lightweight and compact |
Lightweight, Pure Titanium Body Slim and lightweight–only 8oz without the battery–the HDR-TG1’s body is constructed of high-quality pure titanium. Additionally, a Premium Hard Coating is applied on the body surface (except for hinge and lens ring area), providing superior resistance to scratches and fingerprints.
Face Detection for Video Footage and Digital Still Photos Made possible by the BIONZ image processing engine, Face Detection technology recognizes up to 8 faces anywhere in the frame and automatically controls focus, exposure, and color to help capture smiling faces brightly and clearly. Face Detection technology also helps make skin tones look natural without affecting other colors in the image.
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