| Camcorders are portable devices for electronically | | | | recorder function is responsible for writing the video |
| recording video and audio through an in- built recorder | | | | signal onto a recording medium (magnetic video tape). |
| unit. They differ from the previous units in which the | | | | Camcorders are normally classified by their storage |
| recording and audio devices were separate. Today, a | | | | device. The highest quality digital format such as |
| camcorder is a combination of video camera and a | | | | Betacam and Mini DV, etc., suffer from little generation |
| video recorder. | | | | loss during recording, dubbing and editing. In analog |
| Previously, companies such as Sony, JVC and Kodak, | | | | recordings, noise and bandwidth issues relating to |
| etc. used analog video tapes. Since 1990 the digital | | | | cables, amplifiers and mixers are a problem while in |
| tape came into use and three years hence, the | | | | digital connections such problems are minimized. |
| storage tapes were being replaced by optical disks, | | | | However archival problems continue to affect both |
| hard disk drives and solid state memory. Camcorders, | | | | analog and the digital varieties. They are both prone to |
| which do not use magnetic tapes, are called `tape-less` | | | | tape format deterioration over time. This is more acute |
| while those using two different media, like HDD and | | | | in the digital recordings where large data base is |
| Memory card, are called `Hybrid Camcorders`. | | | | permanently erased owing to deterioration and |
| Technological advancement has miniaturized the large | | | | restoration is very expensive. One of the advantages |
| cameras on specially mounted trolleys to portable | | | | in analog devices is that the recording may be usable |
| video cameras and recorders for broadcasting | | | | even after the media, in which the data is stored, |
| images. This transition started in 1982 when JVC and | | | | suffers deterioration. |
| Sony released the first professional camcorders. The | | | | Consumer camcorders emphasize the basic qualities |
| Betacam, designed by Sony, slowly gained popularity | | | | such as easy usage, price and portability rather than |
| and became the standard device for both news | | | | technical performances. Such units offer a wide range |
| gathering and video editing. This was followed by | | | | of I/O operation but lack various menu settings, video |
| Betamax in 1983 - the first consumer camcorder. At | | | | exposures, gain controls and sound level management. |
| this stage, they were bulky and generally rested on the | | | | For beginners, basic recording and playback facilities |
| user`s shoulder during recording. Even today most | | | | are emphasized. Today a personal computer, with a |
| camcorders are designed for right-hand users with | | | | modest configuration, can perform digital video editing |
| very few possessing ambidextrous ergonomics. | | | | with software available in the market. |
| Both JVC and Sony started improving the quality of | | | | Camcorders have a plethora of usage in electronic |
| camcorders which led to the development of digital | | | | media ranging from electronic news organizations to |
| devices in 1990. These had cassettes even smaller | | | | TV / current affair production. They are invaluable for |
| than the 8mm media allowing further reduction of size | | | | initial video footage in locations away from the |
| of tape transport assembly. The digital variety further | | | | distribution infrastructure. Events which have scheduled |
| improved the audio and video quality over the best | | | | set timings, such as official press conferences, use |
| analog camcorders. With the advent of digital models, | | | | camcorders extensively. They are also used for |
| the market has grown substantially being facilitated | | | | covering personal events such as weddings, birthdays |
| further by its price and size reduction. Today a device | | | | and other special family gatherings. |
| fits in the palm and is sold at a retail price of less than | | | | Even in the political arena, camcorder is used to film |
| $150. | | | | events which have a bearing on the subject. |
| Camcorders comprise of three basic components : | | | | Protesters from various fields, such as animal rights, |
| lens, imager and recorder. The lens solely focuses and | | | | tax, anti-globalization, war and police, use camcorders |
| gathers light on the imager. The imager is the eye of | | | | to record and film such events which have wide social |
| the camcorder which converts captured images into | | | | and historical ramifications. Even some judicial decisions |
| electrical video signals. The recorder encodes the | | | | are based on video footages exposed by such |
| video signals into storable form. The lens offers | | | | devices. They are also used in low budget films, ad |
| professional control of all major optical functions such | | | | shoots, tv shows and for academic film making, etc. |
| as aperture, shutter speed and focus, etc. The | | | | |