Home video filming is integrated in our daily activities: documenting events like filming the first steps of a child, the kid beginning first grade, friends on a trip or the eightieth birthday of your grandmother simply becomes available thanks to new video cameras which supply an extremely high-quality picture, without the need for prior technical knowledge.
Filmed raw material can be edited in a relatively simple way, transferred to DVD or sent to family members through the internet. In the current series of articles we'll demonstrate how to choose a camera, we'll offer a few rules for professional filming, we'll guide you in editing with home means, including tips for advanced editing, we'll show how to create a DVD and set up an online television station at home.
Choosing a Camera
The video camera market is flooded with models of various manufacturers, who promote their stores with big and scary words. A jungle of cameras from which we have to choose the appropriate camera. It's important to note the following criteria.
Make sure the camera records on MiniDV tapes or Digital8 (D8) - the market has cameras which are described as digital or as supportive of digital processing, although in fact they are old fashioned cameras which record on analogue 8mm, cVHS, VHS or Hi8 tapes. These cameras are very cheap and use technology that has long passed a decade ago. Be cautious and read the camera's technical specs carefully, since merchants tend to hide important information with big headlines. Refrain from analogue cameras.
Make sure you're choosing a camera with an Australian TV method (PAL) - digital cameras still perpetuate the differences between the conventional broadcasting method in the United States and between the one that is conventional in the country. A camera that works in the American broadcasting method NTSC will be very problematic. Although most of us own television sets which are capable of showing pictures from any broadcasting method (Multi System), it won't be possible to make copies of the tape and it won't be possible to integrate the film while editing with films that were shot with local format cameras.
Notice that even this information is usually kept quiet, so that even if the camera is significantly cheaper, check why, a common reason is a foreign broadcasting method.
A Camera with analogue and Digital Ports and Outlets - very important to whoever wishes to also edit their films. Digital connections (DV in/out) in FireWire connection enables high quality editing and with very low costs. analogue connections (AV in/out) enable to connect the camera to the television and also convert old analogue tapes, by connecting regular video devices to the camera.
What is a Digital8 Camera?
A digital8 camera is mainly aimed at those who have an old Sony video camera, which record on 8 mm or hi8 tapes. The camera is capable of showing the old tapes and even convert them for editing in the computer, while recording of the picture is completely digital, similar to recording on DV tapes. The camera is massive and much heavier than its siblings which record on MiniDV tapes and therefore is recommended only to those who wish to upgrade an old camera.
Which Manufacturer to Choose?
The truth is that the differences between the manufacturers are pretty negligible. Sony, Canon, Panasonic, JVC and Sharp for instance, are very similar in quality of picture. There are those who say that Sony and Canon produce a "hotter" picture (meaning in slightly redder shades) opposed to Panasonic and JVC which produce a picture in greenish shades. The supply of accompanying accessories is different (Sony from France has less goodies), and in the past, JVC's and Panasonic's preventing shakes mechanism while filming was inferior in comparison to Sony and Canon. In order to determine what is best, film, view the picture on the screen, and choose according to the picture that looks best to you, according to the accompanying accessories and of course, according to the price.
Big Words, Unnecessary Add Ons
Because of the fact that most of the cameras are pretty similar, the manufacturer loads them with unnecessary add ons which make the camera difficult to use, confusing and ultimately frustrating. Here are a few unimportant attributes:
Digital Zoom - we like have to have the biggest and one of the questions regarding a new camera is "how much zoom does it have?" out of thought that the bigger the zoom - the better the camera. This is the place to make a comparison between optical zoom and digital zoom. Exactly as in digital stills cameras, optical zoom enables you to get closer or farther from the object you're filming without having to move, like with binoculars. The bigger the optical zoom, the better the lens is considered to be (25 times more is better than 20 times more).
Compared to it, digital zoom enlarges the picture as if we're using a picture processing software. Because the picture is composed tiny blocks called "pixels", its obvious that the more we'll enlarge the picture, the bigger the pixels will get, until we'll receive a very blurry picture. Digital zoom enables the manufacturer to write astronomical numbers on the back of the picture (800 times more and etc.), although they are unusable. Completely pointless.
Night Filming - since we've invested our hard earned money in a security camera, which guards our car at night, there is a real need to use this option, otherwise, what does it exist for? In order to confuse us of course. In part of the cameras the button is very easy to push and the picture received is greenish and needless. It is recommended to refrain from using this attribute or cancel it from the camera's menu screen.
Internet Broadcasting - a webcam costs a pittance. Get one instead.
MPEG Recording on the Camera's Memory Card - yeah right. Everyone's interested in filming in a terrible quality five seconds of video on the camera's memory card. Again, confusing and useless. The button that operates this option is also the one that operates the camera, therefore, in order not to be considered as one of those who filmed an unrepeatable performance by a relative and suddenly discovered that recording has stopped a few seconds later without warning - it is recommended to refrain from using this option or cancel it altogether. That said, external memory cards now exist that have more space than a DVD, but they are currently still very expensive compared to tapes and, for continued shooting, you'll want to be able to simply slot another tape in when you run out of space.
Stills Camera - this will probably be argued about by a lot of people. In our opinion, shooting stills with a video camera is inconvenient and looks terrible. The camera doesn't respond quickly enough, the button disturbs the shot and the whole thing is an additional source of confusion and mistakes. Needless.
Recommended Add Ons
1. A Protected Carrying Case Suitable for the Camera - a case that is not much bigger than the camera must be chosen, lightweight and well padded. The case will contain the camera, the tapes and the power supplier.
2. A Tripod - in our opinion, the most important accessory. Dragging the tripod is maybe a little awkward, but using it turns every shot into a professional one without shakes and enables precision.
3. A UV Filter to Protect the Lens - purchase a suitable filter for your lens. The filter protects the lens from scratches and dirt. Keep in mind that the filter can be replaced, a lens cannot.
4. An Additional Battery - equip yourself with an extra battery for backup.
Add Ons for the Advanced
1. A small flashlight for the camera.
2. A neck microphone (in the event the camera has external microphone ports).
3. Earphones (an external microphone can't be connected without earphones).
4. An external charger.
|