Video Sharing for Grown-Ups!

Getting to Know Your New Digital Video Camera Congratulations! You have just purchased a new digital camcorder. Although you may have used a camcorder before, technology has evolved and the new features of a digital video camera can be overwhelming. HomeMovie.Com believes it’s a good idea to get to know your camcorder a little bit before you do the fun part--- shoot video! Some of the terms may not be familiar to you, but reviewing them will help you to become a skilled videographer in no time! As you know, there are many different digital camcorder models out there. Your camcorder may not have some of the functions or features mentioned here, but don’t worry. HomeMovie.Com will assist you in anyway we can if you have questions about specific functions. For those of you who are familiar with digital video cameras, some of these terms may be an overview, but for those of you that are not, now is the time to learn! Zoom This function moves your point of view closer to, or further away from, the subject. If you are on a family vacation and want to get a closer look at an animal that is too far away to see with the naked eye, use the zoom function. In some cases, you can move your camcorder closer to the subject and then zoom out, so that the frame around the picture is still the same. Focus This is the process of adjusting the lens in order to obtain a sharp, clear picture. This function is extremely important if you are taking digital stills of an inanimate object such as a flower and want to capture the details of the subject. Auto Focus If you are just a beginner starting out, auto-focus is right for you. Auto-focus is when the camera focuses automatically on what it perceives to be the central object in a scene. This works really well if you are at an event where your focus is in one place, such as a wedding or birthday party. Focus & Exposure It is important, if you use manual focus or exposure control, that you switch these settings back to automatic before you turn off your camcorder. This way the camcorder is ready for quick use later. Iris This is an adjustable lens opening that allows light to pass through, also called lens diaphragm. As you open the iris, the light comes in and the picture appears brighter. This may be a good idea if you have children who perform in school plays or recitals or even if you go to a music concert, because adjusting the iris can help you with the correct lighting for that event. White Balance When you “white balance” your camcorder, you are giving it the correct calibration of a camcorder to record and display true white. All other colors are then calibrated based on that balanced white image. To check a white balance function, first point your camcorder at an object that is non-reflective. Set your focus, and then press the “white balance” button. There should be an indicator that tells you when the white balance is completed. This function is often done automatically by consumer-level camcorders, but not with professional. This function works especially well if you are taking video both inside and outside during an event where the lighting may change. Audio If you have a consumer-level camcorder, it may come equipped with microphones, usually hi-fi stereo. Most cameras also have an “auto-gain control,” which adjusts the audio level automatically. Also, when you are shooting, beware of any background music, unless the music is included for a reason. This can result in music that jumps every time the shot changes. An example of the importance of audio comes into play when you are listening to a speech, where each word the person says is crucial. Recording Audio New camcorder models are set by default to record at only 12-bit audio. Fire up your camcorder and make sure that it is set to 16-bit audio instead, and don’t change it back. Sixteen-bit audio is higher quality and won’t cause problems later on when you want to capture it to your computer. Shutter If you are a beginner, the shutter isn’t a top priority, but if you are using your camcorder for sporting events or fast-action footage, the shutter is key. The true advantage of the shutter is that individual frames appear sharper. For example, if you’re at a high school championship basketball game, the shutter can perfect the footage by taking numerous stills consecutively so that the action performed can be shown as one image divided up into clearer, sharper images. Shutter Speed The camcorder’s shutter opens and closes when you take a shot, allowing light to hit the film or image sensor. Shutter speed refers to the amount of time the shutter stays open and is measured in fractions of a second. A very fast shutter speed can capture clear images of fast action, like horse races, while slow shutter speeds are better suited to shots of sunsets or city lights. Buying Tape Stock Consumer digital videotape is smaller and has a longer shelf life than VHS tape. When purchasing tapes, look for the ME marking on the tape wrappers. ME signifies metal evaporated tape, which is a process that coats the tape with a hard layer of carbon to protect it from wear and tear. Here are few tips from HomeMovie.Com on keeping your videotape stock in good condition: Do not open the cassette or touch the tape unless it is an absolute necessity. Store tapes in a climate controlled room -- never in a car, or in extreme heat or cold. Keep tapes in their cases when not in use. Never place a tape in the vicinity of a magnet or a strong magnetic field. Magnets can erase recorded material. Label tapes as soon as they are out of the camcorder. Tapes can be sent safely through airport-security X-ray machines. At HomeMovie.Com we offer tape processing for analog VHS, VHS-C, SVHS and Hi-8 formats. It is imperative you know that HomeMovie.Com only accepts SP modes and not LP modes for tape processing. After you purchase your digital camcorder, make sure before you start shooting that you are in SP mode. SP Mode In SP (standard play) mode, data from your video is recorded on .75 inches of tape every second. The data is spread out along enough distance that there's plenty of room for all the information. With this mode you get the fastest tape speed of a VHS VCR, allowing two-hour recordings. HomeMovie.Com recommends that you only send in VHS, VHS-C, SVHS and Hi-8 in SP format. LP Mode In LP (long play) mode, data is recorded on .5 inch of tape every second - the same data gets squeezed together in a smaller space. Because this “squeezing” takes place, it causes errors and noise during playback. This mode is not recommended by HomeMovie.Com as an acceptable camcorder format. CCD A CCD is a "charge coupled device" - the part of the camera that accepts light from the outside world and translates it into the ones and zeros that form a digital picture or video. Even though the video you see on your digital video screen is in color, in fact, when it first came into the camera through the CCD, it was in black and white. That’s where 1-CCD and 3-CCD cameras come into play. Flash Card This accessory is extremely important if you are planning on recording media to save still shots and Web-quality video clips on your digital video camera. Another good way to save your media is an SD/MMC or Memory Stick. They are best suited for videographers who want to use their footage mainly on Web sites and in e-mail. This is also a very good way to store video so you can edit and share it on Afiniti! FireWire Cable After you choose which digital format to use, the next step is to purchase a FireWire cable. This device is a connection or cable used between the camcorder and a special board on your computer. This device is one of the major factors in the development of the digital video industry because it keeps digital video “digital”. Without this device, the video signal would degrade into another format such as VHS or S-VHS. Key features of FireWire include: Mac and PC Compatibility—Although FireWire is an Apple product, it is implemented into the PC world as well, making it possible for both Mac and PC users to utilize the same equipment for their demanding technology needs. Speed—Because digital video contains a lot of data that must be transferred quickly, FireWire is an ideal format with rates of up to 400Mbps (megabits per second) and 800Mbps plug-and-play connectivity. Just like when you connect your digital video camera to your computer to import your videos into Afiniti, you can connect your FireWire port to your computer and the camera is automatically detected, giving you a stress-free setup so you can start making movies in just minutes! Battery Charger Using an AC power/battery recharge jack lets you deliver AC power to your camcorder. In most models, the same line will recharge a battery installed in the camcorder. This is a very important part of having a digital video camera if you are planning a family vacation or road trip that will include more than 15 or 20 hours of footage.