Don't get confused by jargon. Become an instant expert with our common camcorder terms defined.
Audio Sensor Camera can be set to automatically start recording when it hears sounds.
Battery Type Camcorders typically come with a ni-cad (nickel-cadmium), NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) or a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Of the three types, ni-cads use the oldest technology, weigh the most when compared to the power they produce and need special care for optimum performance. NiMH is a step up, with higher capacity and less special care required. Lithium-ion batteries use the latest technology; they're the lightest and generally cost the most.
CCD (Charge-coupled Device) A camcorder's light-sensing device composed of an array of individual sensors, or pixels, that "see" the image coming through the lens.
CCD Size The physical dimensions of the CCD (image sensor). Generally, larger CCDs offer better performance.
Custom Titling Allows you to insert your own text message into the film you're shooting.
Digital Camera Capability Some camcorders can also be used as digital still cameras. However, image resolution is typically only 640 x 480 pixels (0.3 megapixels), which is quite low by the standards of dedicated digital cameras.
Digital Zoom Also known as "simulated zoom". With digital zoom, the camera takes a small portion of the original image and uses interpolation to artificially restore it to its original size. Digital zoom is usually used in conjunction with optical zoom on a camcorder. For example, a camera with 12x optical zoom/120x digital zoom has a 12x zoom lens and software that makes the image appear 10 times closer, for a total zoom of 120x. Because the camera is interpolating during digital zoom, expect the picture clarity to decrease as digital zoom increases.
Flying Erase Heads Heads made to enable clean cuts between scenes when editing video footage using a camcorder. Camcorders without flying erase heads will often introduce a few moments of static and compromised image quality whenever a user stops and restarts recording.
IEEE 1394 Output Also known by trademarked names of FireWire and i.Link, IEEE 1394 is a standard for high-speed transfer of digital information. IEEE 1394 allows loss-free digital transfers between camcorders. If your computer has an IEEE 1394 port, you can transfer, edit and save video from your IEEE 1394-equipped camcorder. For those computers without an IEEE 1394, you can buy PCI add-in boards, which will add this connection to your PC, such as the ADS Pyro 1394 DV.
Image Stabilisation Compensates for image shakiness caused by not holding the camera steady. A few high-end camcorders use the superior optical image stabilisation, which employs mirrors or prisms to compensate for detected camera shaking. However, most camcorders use digital image stabilisation, which crops the edges off of the image and uses these "spare" pixels to compensate when the camera moves.
Infrared Capability Cameras with infrared capability have sensors that can "see" infrared light, enabling operation in low-light situations. Some cameras can also emit a beam of infrared light (watch for a small red LED on the camera) to illuminate completely dark scenes during recording.
Maximum CCD Resolution The total number of pixels that make up a camcorder's sensor. The higher the resolution, the greater the detail in a picture.
MicroMV A video format that records digitally in PC-friendly MPEG2.
Mini DV The leading digital video format. It has the highest resolution and smallest dimensions of all consumer video recording formats.
Motion Sensor Camera can be set to start recording when it senses an object moving into the frame.
Optical Zoom Also known as "telephoto" or "true zoom", this works like the zoom on a traditional film camera. Elements within the lens move, reducing the field of view and making the object that you're shooting appear closer.
Pre-set Titles Enable you to put one of a standard set of text messages--such as "Happy Birthday", "Merry Xmas", and "Holiday Fun"--into your films.
Progressive-scan CCD A CCD that provides superior quality to older interlaced CCDs. Cameras with progressive-scan CCDs read each row of pixels on the CCD sequentially when recording an image. Older models of CCDs either read a pair of rows at a time or read all even rows as one frame, then all odd rows as the next frame. Both of these older methods compromise image quality.
Video Format Camcorders save images in one of a variety of tape formats. The three major formats are VHS, 8mm and Mini DV, and they are noninterchangeable, though most have backward-compatible subdivisions.
VHS The standard videotape format for VCRs. Because VHS tapes are so large, few camcorders still use this format. VHS-C is a miniaturised version of VHS. With an adapter (usually included with the camera), VHS-C tapes can be played in a standard VHS VCR. However, VHS-C has one of the shortest recording times and lowest-resolution images of all video formats. S-VHS is a higher-resolution refinement to VHS. While S-VHS recorders can play standard VHS tapes, S-VHS tapes don't play back well in standard VHS players.
8mm A compact video format designed to be used in small handheld camcorders. Hi8 is a higher-resolution refinement to 8mm. Digital 8 is a digital recording format using traditional 8mm tapes. Digital 8 camcorders can view 8mm and Hi8 tapes, but Digital 8 recordings can't be viewed on an 8mm or Hi8 camcorder.
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