Glossary of Camcorder Terms
» 3CCD system
» Advanced HAD CCD
» Analog video
» AV input
» Autoexposure (AE) modes
» Battery type
» Built-in light
» CCD
» CCD, progressive scan
» Custom titling
» Digital effects
» Digital still capability
» Digital zoom
» Digital8 Video Format
» DV
» DVD Video Format
» FireWire
» Flying erase heads
» Frame
» Hi8 video format
» Horizontal resolution
» IEEE 1394 output
» iLink
» Image stabilization
» Infrared capability
» LCD
» Macro focus
» Manual controls
» Memory card/slot
» MicroMV video format
» Microphone input
» MiniDV video format
» M-JPEG (Motion JPEG)
» Motion sensor
» MPEG-2
» MPEG-4
» Night vision
» NTSC
» Optical zoom
» PAL
» PCM digital stereo audio
» Preset titles
» Shutter speed
» Streaming video
» S-Video output
» Timecode
» USB streaming
» VHS-C/S-VHS-C video format
» Video format
» Viewfinder
» Webcam capability
» White balance
Need more information? Check out our Guide to Camcorder Formats .
3CCD system
An imaging system where the incoming light is split into its red, green, and blue parts (RGB) and captured on three separate CCD arrays. Each R/G/B signal has a full pixel resolution, resulting in a horizontal resolution three times higher than a typical camcorder's CCD.
Advanced HAD CCD
A Sony camcorder feature, Hole Accumulation Diode CCD is said to reduce noise in the video signal to improve signal-to-noise ratio by up to 6dB (2x better than a standard CCD)--a plus when shooting in dark situations.
Analog video
A video format that captures and stores audio and video information as waves (rather than the binary one's and zero's of digital video). It refers to such magnetic tape formats as VHS, VHS-C, Super-VHS, and Hi-8. Analog video is subject to generational loss each time it is recorded and exported, and degradation due to noise, distortion, and other electronic phenomena over time.
AV input
A camcorder feature that accepts audio and video input from an analog video source (such as a VHS VCR or another camcorder) and converts the analog signal to digital output.
Autoexposure (AE) modes
To compensate for different shooting situations, many camcorders come with pre-sets for a variety of controls including exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. Modes can include sport, portrait, nighttime, and more.
Battery type
Camcorders are typically supplied with either a ni-cad (nickel-cadmium), NiMH (nickel-metal hydride), or a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Lithium-ion batteries use the latest technology; they're the lightest and generally cost the most.
Built-in light
A small light that provides illumination for close-ups when the image would otherwise be too dark. Some camcorders have settings for automatically turning the light on when needed.
CCD
Stands for 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. The higher the resolution, the greater the detail in a picture. Note that the actual pixel count associated with a camcorder is often greater than the effective pixel count--the number of pixels used to capture the image. Each sensor in a CCD is an integrated circuit that converts the pixels of an image into an electrical charge, the intensity of which is related to a color within the color spectrum.
Also see entry for 3CCD System.
CCD, progressive scan
A CCD that provides superior quality to older interlaced CCDs. Camcorders 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.
Custom titling
Feature that enables you to insert your own text message onto the video.
Digital effects
The ability to add special, artistic effects within the camcorder to enhance your movies. Effects include sepia toning, cross-fades, wipes, overlaps, bounces, cross-dissolves, and three-dimensional effects.
Digital still capability
More and more, camcorders can also be used as digital still cameras. Images are stored either on the video tape (usually on less expensive models) or on a removable memory card (which is easier for transferring images to your PC). While many camcorders still only capture low-resolution images (0.3 megapixels, or 640 x 480 pixels), the trend is toward more megapixels--up to 2 MP, enough for an 8 x 10-inch print enlargement.
Digital zoom
With digital zoom, the camcorder 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 camcorder is interpolating during digital zoom, expect the picture clarity to decrease as digital zoom increases.
Digital8 Video Format
The Digital8 format, created by Sony, delivers high-quality digital video and audio, with up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution and either 12-bit or 16-bit PCM digital stereo audio. Digital8 camcorders store DV compression video to 8mm or Hi8 tapes. Because of this backward compatibility, you can play back video recorded on 8mm or Hi8 and transfer to the DV format.
DV
Stands for Digital Video, the standard for consumer-oriented digital video camcorders, agreed upon by such companies as Sony, JVC, Panasonic, Sharp, and Hitachi.
DVD Video Format
DVD camcorders record video directly onto DVD discs, using the compressed MPEG-2 format. There are two disc formats from which to choose. · DVD-RAM : DVD-RAM discs are more costly than single-use DVD-R discs, and they require a DVD player with RAM playback or a PC with a DVD-RAM drive. On the plus side, a dual-sided DVD-RAM disc has a 2.8 GB capacity (up to 120 minutes in LP mode) and you can record and erase scenes up to 100,000 times.
· DVD-R/RW : The more popular DVD-R/RW format offers better compatibility with DVD players and PC DVD drives. DVD-R discs are a write-once format, while DVD-RW is rewritable. Sony's camcorders use a 3-inch disc, and recording times vary between 20 minutes (HQ), 30 minutes (SP), and 60 minutes (LP).
FireWire
See entry for IEEE 1394.
Flying erase heads
Tape 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.
Frame
Video is much like an old high school film projector--it's composed of individual still pictures, or frames, that show motion when strung together with a high enough frame rate. The frame rate for the highest MiniDV setting (SP) is 30 frames per second (fps).
Hi8 video format
An analog video format that is a sharper version of the 8mm format (its full name is high-band 8mm). Hi8 offers the best video and audio quality outside of the digital range (400 lines of resolution when recorded onto a Hi8 tape, 240 lines of resolution with a standard 8mm tape). Hi8 camcorders are more compact than 8mm or VHS-C models thanks to the smaller tape size.
Horizontal resolution
A rough guide to picture quality that measures the number of distinct vertical lines that can be displayed across the width of a TV screen before they blur together. For instance, 540 lines of horizontal resolution (the maximum output for the MiniDV video format) means that a TV can display 540 alternating black and white lines. The larger the number of distinct lines, the better the picture detail and clarity.
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. Most consumer video equipment uses 4-pin IEEE 1394 ports and connectors, but some peripherals employ a 6-pin configuration.
iLink
See entry for IEEE 1394.
Image stabilization
Compensates for image shakiness caused by not holding the camera perfectly steady. A few high-end camcorders use the superior optical image stabilization, which employs mirrors or prisms to compensate for detected camera shaking. However, most camcorders use digital image stabilization (DIS), which crops the edges off of the image and uses these "spare" pixels to compensate when the camera moves. Also referred to as electronic image stabilization (EIS), picture stabilizer, or steady shot.
Infrared capability
This feature enables you to record video in environments ranging from low light to completely dark. This is performed using a beam of infrared light that's emitted from the camera to illuminate the scene. The video that's captured is typically grainy and is monochrome. Manufacturers use different terms to describe this feature, including night shot, zero lux, and super night mode.
LCD
Most camcorders include a flexible LCD monitor (either flip-out or swiveling) to help you compose a scene or to review previously recorded footage. Measured diagonally, these displays measure between 2 and 4 inches (with the larger size typically adding to the camcorder's price). With a display that swivels 270 degrees, you and/or your subjects can view what is being recorded.
Also see entry for Viewfinder.
Macro focus
Focusing feature that enables a camcorder to focus on small objects (or highlights of a large object) at a very close distance (within 1 to 2 inches). This has become an important feature for online auction sellers who want close-ups of their products.
Manual controls
Feature that enables you to override automatic settings, such as aperture, color (white) balance, focus, or shutter speed.
Memory card/slot
With a memory card expansion slot, a camcorder can save digital still images and MPEG-2/4 video files to a removable memory card for easy transfer to your PC.
MicroMV video format
This digital video format, created by Sony, delivers digital picture and sound quality comparable to that of MiniDV, but on tapes that are 70 percent smaller. Also, with a standard 64K memory in each cassette, you get features not available on any other tape format such as thumbnail images of recorded scenes, scene searching, and electronic scene titling.
Microphone input
An input source that enables you to connect an external microphone into your camcorder. This is an alternative to the camcorder's built-in microphone, and is helpful for situations when you want to prevent picking up noise from the camcorder or need to record audio from a remote source (such as at a wedding).
MiniDV video format
This digital video format is the most popular format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
M-JPEG (Motion JPEG)
A sequence of JPEG still images that, when displayed in a video or on a computer, becomes video.
Motion sensor
Camcorder can be set to start recording when it senses an object moving into the frame.
MPEG-2
The highest quality digital video compression currently available. It has a variety of uses, from commercially produced DVDs and digital satellite TV to new video camcorders that record onto DVD-RAM/R discs. flash memory, or internal hard drives. MPEG-2 compresses video to about 1/40 of its original size.
MPEG-4
A data compression format that is used for streaming video as well as small video files that can be posted to the Internet or sent via e-mail. The video resolution will be small (typically 320 x 240 pixels).
Night vision
See entry for Infrared Capability.
NTSC
Stands for National Television Standards Committee. It is the broadcast standard used in North and Central America and Japan that is based on 525 horizontal lines interlaced 60 fields per second (30 frames per second). It is incompatible with PAL, the broadcast standard used in Europe and most of South America. Many camcorders offer the ability to play back on both NTSC and PAL televisions.
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. A 16:1 zoom will bring objects 16 times (16x) closer than what you'd normally see. Image quality does not degrade as the amount of optical zoom increases, making optical zoom superior to digital zoom (which uses interpolation, or an educated guess at how to enlarge pixels).
PAL
Stands for Phase Alternate Line. It is the broadcast standard used in Europe and South America that is based on 625 horizontal lines interlaced 50 fields per second (25 frames per second). It is incompatible with NTSC, the North American broadcast standard. Many camcorders offer the ability to play back on both PAL and NTSC televisions.
PCM digital stereo audio
PCM stands for Pulse Code Modulation, which is the type of stereo digital audio system that is used on compact discs. Sound information is converted into a series of pulses, which are then converted to binary (digital) code. Digital video cameras can record at the 16-bit level on two channels (CD-quality sound) or the 12-bit level, which divides the audio into four tracks (two recorded and two saved for post-production editing and dubbing).
Preset titles
This feature enables you to place one of a standard set of text messages--such as "Happy Birthday," "Happy Holidays," and "Graduation"--into your movies.
Shutter speed
A camcorder's shutter regulates the amount of light that passes through the lens to the CCD. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second. The higher the speed (and smaller the fraction), the better a camcorder will be at recording high-speed action (such as sports). Shutter speed is typically handled automatically, but some camcorders enable you to manually override the settings.
Streaming video
A feature that enables a camcorder to act as a webcam, simultaneously recording video and broadcasting it over the Internet. Depending on a camcorder's audio capabilities, the streaming video can also be used for videoconferencing. The video is usually formatted in either MPEG-2 or M-JPEG and is streamed from the camcorder to the PC via a USB connection.
S-Video output
A video connection to a TV or VCR that is of higher quality than composite video input/output. It Transmits luminance (Y) and chrominance (C) portions separately via multiple wires (pins), thereby avoiding the NTSC encoding process and its inevitable picture-quality degradation.
Timecode
A synchronization system that records the corresponding hours, minutes, seconds, and frame number designation to each video frame. Using the timecode, you can easily and more precisely edit your video footage.
USB streaming
See entry for Streaming Video
VHS-C/S-VHS-C video format
The most affordable analog video format, VHS-C format tapes are simply smaller-size VHS tapes (the "C" stands for compact). You can play your tapes in any VCR with a cassette adapter (often included with the camcorder. The S-VHS-C format (the "S" stands for super) is a higher resolution version (400 lines as opposed to 240 lines for VHS-C) and can only be viewed through an S-video connection. VHS-C tapes offer some of the shortest recording times (40 minutes) and lowest video resolution of analog formats. ). S-VHS-C tapes have a maximum recording time of two hours.
Video format
Camcorders save images in one of a variety of tape formats that are either digital or analog. Digital formats : MiniDV, Digital8, MicroMV, DVD. Analog formats : 8mm, Hi8, VHS-C, S-VHS-C Some new camcorders are "tapeless," meaning that video is recorded onto either flash memory or a hard drive, and they use either the MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 compressed video format.
Viewfinder
A small video monitor that enables you to watch the scene you're recording (or play back a previously recorded sequence). Depending on the model, it can be tilted toward your eye. The viewfinder is often preferable to a camcorder's LCD when in direct sunlight or in order to save battery life. Viewfinders come in color or in monochrom (i.e., black and white). The more pixels a viewfinder has, the clearer the image will be. Note, however, that the viewfinder's pixel count does not relate to the number of recorded pixels.
Webcam capability
See entry for Streaming Video
White balance
An electronic calibration within the camcorder to balance the picture for accurate color display in different lighting conditions (from bright sunlight to indoor fluorescent light). White balance is typically handled automatically, but some camcorders enable you to manually override the settings. |
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