Hand-held small-format or ‘consumer’ video camcorders have now become a regular part of everyday life. Their ingenious design and ever-increasing facilities offer us a wide range of picture-making opportunities – from home video recording to educational and training programs. Although the single CCD used in small-format cameras limits picture definition and color fidelity, picture quality has now improved so much, that the clips of eyewitness ‘amateur video’ often included in newscasts, can compare remarkably well with shots from regular three-CCD ENG broadcast cameras.
The small video light attached to the top of the camera is invaluable when you cannot arrange suitable lighting. While working in poor light, it can provide you with your main light source. Where there is sufficient illumination around but it is over-contrasty, the video light will illuminate shadows, and reduce harsh tonal contrasts. However, the video light is uncontrollable, and liable to produce strong specular reflections in shiny surfaces as it moves around with the camera. It can dazzle and distract.
The camera microphone attached to small-format cameras, may be fixed or set on a small telescopic rod or ‘boom’. Although useful when working by yourself, this sound pickup arrangement does have disadvantages, so it may be preferable to use a separate microphone of better quality, plugged into an input jack on the camera instead. Its main limitations are that it tends to overhear camera noise from the zoom and auto-focus mechanisms. And it is often too far from the sound source.
When you are using this type of camera, you do not have the backup assistance of a CCU or base station. So small-format cameras are provided with a variety of indicators to show you equipment data and settings at a glance. Some of these indicators are visible within the viewfinder as you shoot, others are located along the sides and rear of the camera. They have several purposes:
• Reminders – e.g. Showing the focal length/lens-angle being used.
• Warnings – e.g. Of the amount of tape left, or battery life remaining.
• Guides – e.g. A zebra-stripe light pattern in the viewfinder, showing areas in the picture approaching over-exposure (maximum video level).
Consumer cameras
A wide range of excellent designs is available in the consumer market, from palmcorders to lightweight systems.