Tag: Camcorders

by Leland Richardson on November 10, 2021 0

Guide to Helmet Cams

If you’re the adventurous type – skateboarder, mountain biker, snow-boarder, etc. – a new breed of digital camcorder can help capture your epic moments (or epic fails). The helmet cam, or sports camcorder, is a durable video camera capable of being clipped to a helmet or handlebar to capture a first person view of your adventures.

What’s a Helmet Cam?

A helmet cam is essentially a small, rugged camcorder that’s sold with a variety of hooks and clamps that allow the user to attach the camcorder to several surfaces, typically bicycle helmets and handlebars but even skateboards and snowboards.

Thanks to flash memory, camcorders have been able to shrink in size and become much more durable – able to withstand bumps and vibrations without interrupting video recording. Helmet cams use the advantages of flash memory to deliver very small, lightweight yet very shock-resistant camcorders to sports enthusiasts.

Helmet Cam Features:

As you’d expect, helmet cams are not meant to be handled much by the user. After you strap it onto your head, you can’t be expected to fiddle with things like a zoom lens or other camcorder settings. So helmet cams have a very bare bones set of controls – usually an on/off switch and a large “record” button which can be pressed down even if you’re wearing gloves. That’s about it.

Helmet cams typically don’t offer built-in flash memory but record to removable memory card, either SDHC or the smaller microSD format. They come in both standard and high definition resolutions as well, and some allow you to adjust your resolution to preserve memory card space. The video quality itselfcan vary, but don’t expect the same performance as you would from a traditional camcorder.

The lenses and processors on a helmet camcorder can’t match the quality of those found on higher-end camcorders.

Aside from being durable (able to withstand some falls and bumps), they’re also weatherproof, so they can get splashed with water or snow. Note: this isn’t to say they’re all fully waterproof. Most helmet cams are not meant to be submerged underwater for extended periods of time.

While they’re pretty bare-bones as far as features go, helmet cams do have a few bells and whistles. Some models have incorporated GPS chips inside them so you can geo-tag your videos, plotting them out on a map when you’ve loaded them onto your computer. Others offer Bluetooth, so you can stream previews of your video to a smartphone (helmet cams usually don’t offer LCD displays to preview your scene before you film it).

Helmet Cams Not For Everyone

Obviously, if you’re not big into outdoor adventures or aren’t auditioning for the X-Games, a helmet cam isn’t a good choice. If you’re a sporting enthusiast but don’t need a first-person view of the action (or don’t need your hands for steering), consider a rugged, waterproof model instead as it will offer you more features for the money. Speaking of money, helmet cameras range from about $99 to $350, depending on the features and resolution.

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by Leland Richardson on November 9, 2021 0

Samsung HMX-Q10 Camcorder Review

The Samsung HMX-Q10 is a high definition camcorder that captures 1920 x 1080 video in the H.264 to SDHC memory cards. It offers a 2.7-inch LCD display, 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization and a unique grip which lets you flip the camcorder to film with both the right and left hands.

The Samsung Q10 retails for $299. Full specifications can be found here.

Samsung Q10 at a Glance

The Good: Strong video quality, responsive touch-screen, nice design

The Bad: Awkward zoom lever, no automatic lens cover

Samsung HMX Q10 Video Quality

Samsung’s HMX Q10 records 1920 x 1080 video in the H.264 format. It’s also capable of recording at 720/60 frames per second for capturing fast-moving subjects and at VGA resolution.

Given its lower price tag, the Q10 is competing more with pocket camcorders and it clearly exceeds them in the quality department. While there were instances of over-exposure, with bright sunlight washing out highlights, the Q10 captured mostly crisp, color-accurate video. It did well indoors as well. I took it into a dimly lit aquarium and after a second or two of blur as it sought to establish focus, the Q10 was able to resolve the scene quite well considering the challenging environment.

You can also snap 4.9-megapixel still photos with the Q10, although you should steer clear of taking stills with the Q10 as the results were unimpressive.

Optics

The Q10 packs a 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization – a nice plus not usually found on lower-cost camcorders. There’s also a digital zoom, which, fortunately, can be deactivated. All-in-all, a nice optical package. The only draw back is that there’s no automatic lens cover. However, there is a built-in cover that flips open and closed using a switch on top of the lens barrel – that’s a far better option than a lens cap, but not as good as an automatic cover.

Samsung HMX Q10 Design

The design of the Q10 is pretty spartan, with few external controls outside of a zoom lever/shutter button on the back of the camcorder. Flip open the 2.7-inch display and you’ll see only a home button, which brings you into the camcorder’s internal memory.

With the Q10, Samsung introduced a design innovation called the “Swithgrip” – which essentially lets you film using either your right or left hand. When you switch from right to left, the menu items on the display will automatically orient themselves correctly. Since there are no external controls on the top of the camcorder to operate, the transition from right-handed to left-handed filming is seamless. Left-handed users, rejoice!

Thanks to the use of flash memory, the Q10 is quite light and compact, weighing in at .4lbs and sized at 4.7 x 2.1 x 1.7 inches. It certainly won’t be a drag to carry the Q10 around with you on long trips. Aesthetically it won’t turn many heads but is available in your choice of black and blue. The only real knock on the design is that wrist strap, which is kind of flimsy.

Q10 Features

You’ll find a nice selection of shooting options on the Q10, despite its budget price tag. You’ll have time lapse recording and a selection of digital effects to apply various filters to your video including black and white, sepia, negative, art, noir, western, dazzle, and ghost. You can switch between automatic and manual recording, where you’ll have the ability to focus manually, set white balance, adjust exposure, night mode, and backlit compensation. All in all a very strong feature set for a camcorder at this price.

The Q10 is loaded with Samsung’s Intelli-Studio software, which installs automatically whenever you connect the camcorder to a computer via USB.

Menu and Display

The Q10 offers a 2.7-inch touch screen LCD display. It’s quite responsive and it’s helped along with an icon-driven menu interface. Pop open the display and you’ll see a row of icons indicating your scene mode and then controls for switching between still and video capture, zoom and playback. It’s always better to have more real-estate on a display when working with a touch-screen, but Samsung keeps the number of icons on the display to a minimum so it’s easy to hit the ones you need with your finger. At any point you can hit the “home” key on the exterior of the display and get back into the main menu.

Samsung HMX-Q10 Memory

The Q10 records directly to SDHC memory cards, so you’ll need to factor in the cost of a memory card into your equation. The Q10 cannot record to newer, higher-capacity SDXC cards so you’re memory capacity is limited to 32GB (or eight hours of HD recording).

Bottom Line

If you’re in the market for a low-cost HD camcorder but are leery about the quality and limited feature-set of a pocket camcorder, the HMX-Q10 is definitely a solid choice. It’s slightly more expensive than most pocket models on the market at $300, but delivers a better zoom, better video quality and a more robust feature set. It’s unique “SwitchGrip” design gives both left and right-handed users the ability to hold the Q10 naturally and comfortably. All-in-all a good choice in the budget-end of the HD camcorder market.

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by Leland Richardson on November 9, 2021 0

Vivitar DVR 690HD Waterproof Camcorder Review

The Vivitar DVR 690HD is a high definition pocket camcorder capable of recording 1280 x 720p video in the AVI format to SD cards. It is waterproof to a depth of 10 feet and has a rugged housing to secure it against minor bumps and scrapes.

Vivitar DVR 690HD at a Glance

The Good: Low cost, large controls, easy to use.

The Bad: Mediocre video quality.

Vivitar DVR 690HD Video Quality

The Vivitar DVR 690HD records HD video in the AVI format at 1280 x 720p/30 frames per second. It’s not quite the 1080p video recording available on competitive models – but then again, those models don’t cost $60. Video recorded at 720p will serve in a pinch, but you shouldn’t consider the DVR 690HD a real memory keeper – the quality just isn’t there. As a second camcorder to toss in a backpack before you go white-water rafting, however, it should be serviceable. Just don’t bother with the DVR 690HD indoors as they’ll be ample noise in your video if you do.

Recording quality can be dropped to VGA or 320 x 240 – but really shouldn’t be. You can also snap 5-megapixel still photos. The quality here is lousy – but that’s no real knock on the Vivitar as very few pocket camcorders take decent stills.

Optics

The DVR 690HD has no optical zoom lens, but instead uses a 4x digital zoom. Best to avoid the digital zoom, however, as all it will do is ramp up some unsightly digital noise.

Vivitar DVR 690HD Design

The DVR 690HD is pretty bulky, even by the standards of rugged pocket camcorders. It’s a bit longer than a compact camera but as thin, if not thinner, than most point-and-shoots in the market. Keep in mind that it’s designed to go underwater (up to 1o feet) so the added bulk is for defensive purposes. That said, it’s aesthetically sharp with a 10 color choices and silver/metallic trim.

The controls on the back of the DVR690 are large and responsive. You’ll see buttons for power, mode, menu and trash surrounding a four-way controller with a shutter button sandwiched in the middle. The four-way controller feels a bit flimsy when you use it, but the rest of the controls are sturdier and easy to operate.The SD card and USB plug (no built-in USB arm here) are accessed via a latched compartment at the bottom of the camcorder. This compartment is very stubborn to open up, but it does keep the water out.

Features

When you spend $60 for a camcorder, you can’t expect to get a feature-packed model. That said, the DVR 690HD does offer face detection and digital image stabilization. You’ll also find several scene modes for optimizing exposure based on your shooting condition. There’s also an LED video light for low light shooting. Not a bad assortment, considering.

Menu and Display

You’ll frame your video via 2-inch LCD display. It’s not the crispest display on the market but served well enough underwater. The DVR 690HD’s menu is pretty basic but is straightforward enough that it’s easy to find what you need.

Vivitar DVR 690HD Memory

The 690HD has a scant 8MB of internal memory, so an SDHC card is a must. The camcorder supports cards up to 32GB in size so you’ll get a max of 3.2-hours of recording on a 32GB card.

Bottom Line

We’ll stipulate again that the Vivitar DVR 690HD should not be your camcorder of choice for preserving important family memories. Instead, think of it as a second camcorder that you don’t mind exposing to the elements to record your rugged thrills or day at the beach. It has competition on this front too – products like Kodak’s Playsport Zx5 offer superior video quality and feature set, but cost nearly two to three times what the DVR 690HD does. If budget and durability are top of mind, give the DVR 690HD a look.

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by Leland Richardson on November 9, 2021 0

Panasonic HC-V100 Camcorder Overview

The Panasonic HC-V100 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format.

The HC-V100carries a suggested retail price of $349. Full technical specifications for the HC-V100can be found here.

Panasonic HC-V100 Video Features

The HC-V100 uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080p high definition recording. It supports 17Mbps recording, not the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format (24Mbps).

The HC-V100 features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. The HC-V100 can also record in standard definition if you want to save space on your memory card. The camcorder also supports iFrame recording (at 960 x 540) for movies that can be easily edited on most computers.

The camcorder uses Panasonic’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments.

The mode employs various technologies – including image stabilization, face detection, an intelligent scene-selector and contrast control to optimize your exposure.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 34x optical zoom lens on the VC100. This optical zoom is joined by a 42x Intelligent zoom (iZoom), which can enhance the magnification of your footage by using a smaller portion of the sensor without losing image resolution. Finally, there’s a 2000xdigital zoom which will degrade resolution when in use.

The lens employs Panasonic’s Power Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.) for keeping your footage relatively shake-free. The image stabilization technology has an active mode which can be enabled when walking or when you’re otherwise in an unstable position to provide extra shake reduction.

The V100 lens is protected by a manual lens cover. It’s not as convenient as the automatic covers found on higher-end Panasonic models.

Memory and Display

The V100 records video to a single SDHX memory card slot. Using just internal memory, the HC-V100 can store approximately three hours and 45 minutes worth of the highest quality HD footage.

You can also record to SDXC cards, although there is no relay recording.

The HC-V100 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no optical or electronic viewfinder.

Design

Design-wise, the HC-V100 cuts a fairly conventional, if somewhat boxy, figure. Thanks to the use of flash memory you’ll still enjoy a light weight body at .4 pounds. The HC-V100 measures in at 2 x 2.3 x 4.4 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Panasonic camcorders, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

Aesthetically, the HC-V100 is available in a black.

Shooting Features

The HC-V100 is outfitted with a fairly minimalistic feature set. It offers face detection a pre-record function which records three seconds worth of video before you hit the shutter. The V100 also offers an auto ground-directional standby mode, which detects if the camcorder is being held in an unusual position (say, upside down) and automatically stops recording. A low light/color night recording mode preserves colors even in dim lighting.

As far as scene modes go, you’ll find sports, portrait, low light, spot light, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, night scenery, night portrait and soft skin mode. You can snap 2-megapixel photos while recording video on the V100. Still photos can also be isolated from video footage played back on the camcorder and saved as a separate file. There is a two channel stereo microphone.

Connectivity

The HC-V100 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

At $349, the HC-V100 is Panasonic’s bid for the budget dollar, and the feature set reflects that. You’ll get a high-powered lens for an entry-level high definition camcorder, but you won’t get the full 24Mbps HD recording available on higher-end models and you’ll sacrifice features like a touch-screen display, relay-recording and manual modes, increasingly making their way down the camcorder food chain. That said, it packs a more potent video punch than a pocket camcorder (or smartphone) and the retail price will undoubtedly be discounted to make it an even more attractive buy for the budget-minded.The Panasonic HC-V100 is a high definition camcorder that records 1920 x 1080 video in the AVCHD format.

The HC-V100carries a suggested retail price of $349. It is a close cousin of the $449 GZ-HM320. Full technical specifications for the HC-V100can be found here.

Panasonic HC-V100 Video Features

The HC-V100 uses the full AVCHD format for 1920 x 1080p high definition recording. It supports 17Mbps recording, not the highest bit-rate available in the AVCHD video format (24Mbps). The HC-V100 features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor. The HC-V100 can also record in standard definition if you want to save space on your memory card. The camcorder also supports iFrame recording (at 960 x 540) for movies that can be easily edited on most computers.

The camcorder uses Panasonic’s “Intelligent Auto” mode for automatically matching scene modes such as portrait, sunset, scenery, forest and macro mode, to shooting environments. The mode employs various technologies – including image stabilization, face detection, an intelligent scene-selector and contrast control to optimize your exposure.

Optical Features

The V100 lens is protected by a manual lens cover. It’s not as convenient as the automatic covers found on higher-end Panasonic models.

Memory and Display

The V100 packs 16GB of internal memory and a single SDHX memory card slot. Using just internal memory, the HC-V100 can store approximately three hours and 45 minutes worth of the highest quality HD footage. You can also record to SDXC cards, although there is no relay recording.

The HC-V100 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no optical or electronic viewfinder.

Design

Aesthetically, the HC-V100 is available in a black.

Shooting Features

Connectivity

The HC-V100 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

Impression

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by Leland Richardson on November 8, 2021 0

Panasonic HC-V10 Overview

The Panasonic HC-V10 is a high definition camcorder that records 1280 x 720p video in the MPEG-4/H.264 format.

When the HC-V10 first hit shelves, it carried a suggested retail price of $249. This camcorder has since been discontinued, but now it can still be found used from some online retailers. The HC-V10 It is a close cousin of the Panasonic HC-V100. Full technical specifications for the HC-V10 can be found on the Panasonic website.

Panasonic HC-V10 Video Features

The HC-V10 uses the MPEG-4 format for 1280 x 720p high definition recording. It supports 15Mbps recording. You can also drop the resolution to 840 x 480 resolution, 640 x 480 or iFrame recording (at 960 x 540) for movies that can be easily edited on most computers. The HC-V10 features a 1.5-megapixel 1/5.8-inch CMOS image sensor.

Optical Features

You’ll find a 63x optical zoom lens on the VC10. This optical zoom is joined by a 70x “enhanced optical zoom,” which can enhance the magnification of your footage by using a smaller portion of the sensor without losing image resolution.

Finally, there’s a 3500xdigital zoom which will degrade resolution when in use.

The V10 lens is protected by a manual lens cover. It’s not as convenient as the automatic covers found on higher-end Panasonic models.

Memory and Display

The V10 records directly to an SDHX memory card slot. There is no relay recording.

The HC-V10 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display. There is no optical or electronic viewfinder.

Design

Design-wise, the HC-V10 cuts a fairly conventional, if somewhat boxy, figure. Thanks to the use of flash memory you’ll still enjoy a lightweight body at 0.47 pounds. The HC-V10 measures in at 2.1 x 2.5 x 4.3 inches, roughly the same form factor as the entry-level series of Panasonic camcorders, and features a zoom lever on the top of the camcorder and a record shutter located on the side, next to the camcorder’s battery. Open the display and you’ll find buttons video playback, scrolling and info, plus the camcorder’s ports: component, HDMI, USB and AV.

The HC-V10 is available in a black, silver and red.

Shooting Features

The HC-V10 is outfitted with a fairly minimalistic feature set, which is not surprising given its price. It offers face detection a pre-record function which records three seconds worth of video before you hit the shutter. The V10 also offers an auto ground-directional standby mode, which detects if the camcorder is being held in an unusual position (say, upside down) and automatically stops recording.

A low light/color night recording mode preserves colors even in dim lighting.

As far as scene modes go, you’ll find sports, portrait, low light, spot light, snow, beach, sunset, fireworks, night scenery, night portrait and soft skin mode. You can snap .9-megapixel photos while recording video on the V10 (not a great resolution). Still photos can also be isolated from video footage played back on the camcorder and saved as a separate file. There is a two channel stereo microphone.

Connectivity

The HC-V10 offers a built-in HDMI output for connecting the camera although the cable is not included. You can also connect to a PC via USB cable.

The Bottom Line

The HC-V10 compensates for the lower resolution specification with a super high-powered lens. If sharper video quality is more important to you than a long zoom, consider Panasonic’s slightly more expensive V100 which is the company’s least expensive model to feature 1920 x 1080 recording. It does, however, have a lower zoom lens at 32x.

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by Leland Richardson on November 8, 2021 0

Must-Have Camcorder Accessories

One from many hobbies that will give you not just satisfaction but also financially that is photography. I know, the cam is not cheap, if you want the best one, but it is worthy.

After dropping a few hundred dollars on a camcorder, you may not be eager to part with any additional cash on accessories. But there are some add-ons that are crucial to protecting and enhancing your camcorder and the videos it’s recording. Here’s a look at some must-have camcorder accessories.

A Case

A high quality camcorder case is among the most important accessories you can buy for your camcorder. A case will protect your camcorder from the elements and make it easier to carry your camcorder on long journeys. A quality case will have plenty of room for your other extras, such as memory cards, tapes or disks and even personal items such as cell phones, music players and keys.

Extra Memory

If you own a DVD, Mini DV or Blu-ray disc camcorder, you’ll need to have plenty of extra disks and tapes on hand for storing your recorded videos. Blank DVDs and Mini DV camcorder tape are widely available in a range of retail stores and online. Blank Blu-ray discs are not as widespread, but can be readily found online.

If you use a flash memory camcorder that does not offer internal memory, you’ll need to buy an SD/SDHC card or a Memory Stick Pro Duo card (if you own a Sony camcorder) to store your photo. When shopping for a card, try to buy the highest capacity you can afford. The higher the capacity, the more video it will store.

Tripod

There’s a reason why professional photographers and videographers use tripods (and single-legged monopods): they’re useful!

Of course, they’re also large and not always convenient to carry around. Still, for certain occassions like long sporting events and recitals, using a tripod can not only make things easier on you arms but also improve the quality of your video.

If you’re filming a game from the top of the bleachers or a concert from the back rows and using your camcorder’s optical zoom lens to get closer to the action, it will be very sensitive to motion. As steady as you think you can hold your camcorder, you can’t hold it steady enough to prevent camera blur (even if you camcorder has optical image stabilization). A tripod will ensure that video is steady.

DVD Burner

No matter what storage format your camcorder uses, burning a DVD of your video is still one the best ways to store it for the longer term. Many camcorder manufacturers sell accessory, standalone DVD burners that connect directly to the camcorder via USB cable or Firewire. A DVD movie of your footage can be burned directly from the camcorder without using a PC.

Many camcorders will feature a dedicated button for burning a DVD when connected to a burner from the same manufacturer. For this reason, it usually makes sense to purchase a burner from the same manufacturer as your camcorder.

Of course, if your computer has a DVD burner built-in, there’s no need to run out and purchase one. So be sure you don’t have an internal DVD burner in your desktop or laptop before buying an external burner.

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by Leland Richardson on December 2, 2019 0

GPS Camcorders: A Guide to GPS Camcorders

The current technological sophistication that quite amazes me is they can know where you are. That is a very rapid progress in my opinion. This technology is very beneficial for some sectors of life, be it the business world or even for those of you who love to travel.

The same global positioning system (GPS) that helps you navigate around town in your car has started to appear inside digital camcorders.

The first GPS camcorders were introduced in 2009 courtesy of Sony and include the HDR-XR520V, HDR-XR500V, HDR-XR200V and HDR-TR5v.

What Does An Internal GPS Receiver Do?

*Courtesy : /images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com*

The GPS receiver collects location data from satellites circling the Earth. Sony’s camcorders use this data to automatically adjust the unit’s clock to the proper time zone. Not much use if you’re filming the backyard barbeque, but certainly a convenience for international travelers.

The camcorders also use GPS data to display a map of your current location on the LCD screen. Don’t confuse these GPS camcorders with navigation devices, though.

They won’t offer point-to-point directions.

A New Way to Organize Video

The real benefit of the GPS receiver is that it saves location data as you film. With this information, the camcorders will create a map on the LCD display with icons marking all of the locations where you shot video. Rather than search for saved video files by time or date, you can use this “Map Index” function to find your videos by location.

When you’ve transferred your video to a computer, Sony’s Picture Motion Browser (PMB) software will automatically merge the location data from the GPS receiver with the appropriate video clips and then plot those clips on a map as tiny thumbnail images. Click on a thumbnail in a given location, and you can view the video you filmed there. Think of it as new way to organize and visualize your saved video files.

Can You Geotag Videos Like Photos?

*Courtesy : redhensystems-1634.kxcdn.com*

Not quite. When you geotag a digital photograph, you embed location data inside the photo file itself. This way, when you upload photos to websites like Flickr, the GPS data goes with it and you’re able to use Flickr’s mapping tool to view your photos on a map.

With these camcorders, the GPS data cannot be embedded into the video file. If you were to upload video to Flickr, the GPS data would stay behind on the computer. The only way to plot your videos on a map is on your personal computer with Sony’s software. That’s definitely a limitation.

Do You Need a GPS Camcorder?

If you’re a very active traveler who’s comfortable working with video files on a computer, the added functionality made possible by GPS technology is definitely beneficial. For casual users, GPS alone shouldn’t motivate you to buy these camcorders.

The true promise of GPS inside a camcorder will be realized when you can embed the GPS data inside the video file itself. Then you’ll be able to avail yourself to third party applications and websites that support location organizing and the mapping of videos.

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by Leland Richardson on November 29, 2019 0

What To Expect From The Software That’s Packaged In Your Camcorder

If you just bought a camcorder, the manufacturer has put the default software in it to use video editing. Even though it is simple, it is enough to help you edit the video that you take.

These days, you’re just as likely to view your camcorder videos on a computer as on a TV (if not more so.) That’s why every camcorder is packaged with some basic video software that will let you perform some routine tasks with your camcorder video. Here’s what you can expect:

Basic Editing

While you shouldn’t expect to edit your Hollywood blockbuster on the included software, the basic editing features are usually there – some color corrections, trimming, along with the ability to add titles and transition effects.

Sharing

Whether you want to post your videos to Facebook or YouTube or send them to friends and family via email, the software included in your camcorder usually contains tools for Web sharing.

Transcoding

If you want to watch your home movies on DVD, smartphone, portable media players or even a PlayStation Portable, you may need to transcode your video – i.e. turn it into a file format that can be recognized by these devices. Most bundled software will have an option to output your video file for viewing on various platforms.

Organize

The more videos and photos you record with your camcorder, the harder it is to keep track of all your digital files. Included software will offer a basic organizer that will let you keep track of your ever-growing digital library.

DVD Burning: One of the most routine tasks you’ll need to perform with your camcorder’s software is burning an archival disk of your footage (read about how to archive your camcorder videos here). If it does nothing else, your software should allow you to burn DVDs of your home movies.

Perform Specialized Tasks: Some high-end camcorder features can only be accessed through specialized software applications not found on off-the-shelf software.

Sony’s GPS camcorders are a case in point: you can only access map views and “geo-tagging” if you use the company’s included software to organize your files.

Built-in Software

There’s a growing trend among camcorders (particularly pocket camcorders) to ditch the CD-Rom and load their software directly into the camcorder itself. The software will typically install itself on your computer the first time you connect the camcorder to the computer. The virtue with the built-in approach is that you can upgrade computer (of suffer a hard drive wipe out) without worrying about losing your software.

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by Leland Richardson on November 27, 2019 0

Guide to Flash Camcorders

Flash memory first came to consumer’s attention as the “digital film” in a digital camera. Now, the same memory cards found in digital cameras are being used in a new breed of camcorders: flash camcorders.

A camcorder can record to flash memory in one of two ways. First, the flash memory can be built into a camcorder. Alternatively, the camcorder can record directly to removable flash memory cards, such as SDHC cards or Memory Stick.

Camcorders with internal flash memory will generally also offer a memory card slot, giving you the opportunity to extend your recording times by using an optional memory card. Check out our list of the Best Flash Camcorders to find the top models currently on the market.

What Kind of Camcorders Record to Flash Memory?

The short answer is: all of them.

You’ll find flash memory used in very inexpensive, pocket camcorders, middle of the road standard definition camcorders to very high-end, high definition camcorders. All the major camcorder manufacturers offer flash camcorders in their line up.

What Are the Benefits of Flash Camcorders?

There are several:

Light weight: Flash memory itself is not only lighter than a hard disk drive or tape, it doesn’t need a bulky apparatus to operate it. The end result is a camcorder that’s very light weight.

Compact Size: Because the flash memory itself is small and doesn’t require large components inside the camcorder to operate, flash camcorders are compact and very portable. This is why pocket camcorders, like Pure Digital’s Flip, use flash memory as their a storage format.

Longer Battery Life: Unlike a hard disk drive, tape or DVD, which must spin inside a camcorder when they’re turned on, flash memory has no moving parts. That means that flash camcorders won’t waste battery life spinning a tape or disk mechanism, giving you longer recording times.

High capacity: While they don’t boast the large capacities of hard disk drives, flash camcorders can still top MiniDV tape and DVD disk when it comes to storing hours of video.

Reusable: When your flash memory card is packed with videos, you don’t need to run out and buy a new one, as you do with tapes or DVDs. Instead, you can transfer that footage to a PC, external hard drive or disk and reuse your card.

Are There Downsides to Flash Camcorders?

The principle drawback to a flash camcorder is its capacity compared to hard disk drive-based camcorders. There are hard disk drive camcorders with over 200GB worth of storage space, while the largest flash memory camcorder tops out at 64GB. Even adding a high capacity memory card won’t get you close to the capacity of a large hard disk drive.

The Wave of the Future

Manufacturers have steadily shifted their product lines away from tape and DVD disk-based camcorders toward hard disk drive and flash camcorders. If you’re looking to “future proof” your camcorder investment, flash camcorders will not be going obsolete anytime soon.

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by Leland Richardson on November 12, 2019 0

Four Things Every Camcorder Owner Should Do With Their Video

Everyone could have their own channel now since youtube was launched. This is good for camera video business, especially camcorder. You could get clearer video especially with the developing of the quality of camcorder video.

We tend to put a lot of thought into what kind of camcorder we want or we focus (if you will) on the event we’re recording. But what comes next – what you do with those videos when you’re done with them – is just as important. Here are four things every camcorder owner should do with their videos:

Keep them organized

Between our phones, cameras and camcorders, we’re amassing more digital files than ever. That means that staying organized is a priority. To ensure you know where your videos are when you need them, you need to create (and stick to) a simple organizational plan. It should start with immediately transferring videos from your camcorder to your computer. Letting videos pile up on the camcorder’s memory is a recipe for disorganization (and disaster – you could lose the camcorder or drop it in the toilet).

Clearly label your folders with relevant information

The next step is to clearly label your folders with relevant information regarding the videos they contain – including date and location. You needn’t rename individual video files, per se, but containing folders need to be clearly labeled and all stored in the same place. Wherever possible, it’s better to use software to transfer your videos onto your PC or Mac. Video software (either the program that shipped with your camcorder or a third party application) offers more tools for organizing videos, such as the ability to tag your files with location or personal data.

Share them

With the proliferation of video-sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo, it’s never been easier to share your video, even your high definition or 3D video, with friends and family no matter where in the world they live.

You can create personal pages on a number of online sites to host your videos and invite friends and family by email to let them view your movies. Or, make the pages public and let the world in on the fun. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are getting increasingly video-friendly.

You can also share them via email.

Most camcorders ship with software that will enable you to email video clips, including the option to resize (i.e. shrink) your video down to a reasonable size, so they won’t clog your recipients inbox. Free software, such as Google’s Picasa, can also do the trick.

There are also conventional ways to share – such as viewing on a TV, either via a direct connection from your camcorder to the TV (via A/V or HDMI cable) or by burning your video to disk. In this digital era, many media players, such as the Boxee or TiVo, can display any videos stored on a home network on your TV, bypassing the need to either connect your camcorder to your set or burn DVDs. Be warned, though, that streaming HD video on a home network can tax older wireless networks.

You can also project videos from your camcorder using a pico-projector (some camcorders are now being built with their own projectors as well).

Create: If you cringe at the thought of video editing, you’re in good company. It can be a laborious process. Fortunately, there are several software programs, and online tools, that can automatically blend still photos and HD video from your camcorder into a multimedia show that can be uploaded to YouTube (or Facebook, or Vimeo, etc.) or shared via email. Services such as Animoto and software like Muvee Reveal offer a very straightforward approach to video product – with a few drag and drop effects, captions and titles standing between yourself and a professional-looking video creation.

Back them up

This is, without a doubt, the most important step. Many newer camcorder owners, and especially pocket camcorder owners, likely save their videos directly to a hard drive. If you’re among them, your videos are in jeopardy. Hard drives won’t last all that long. If you only store your videos on a hard drive, you risk losing them all in one catastrophic hard drive crash. Consider purchasing an external hard drive or using a cloud storage service (or, ideally, both) to save your videos to. (You can learn more about archiving your videos here.) Suffice it to say that you should immediately created duplicate copies of your videos files on an external drive and/or cloud service right after you transfer those videos to your computer. Future generations will thank you.

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