The beginnings of Camcorders
Home video making began in the late 1970s with the arrival of portable equipment. However, by today`s standards it was far from easy to carry around, as the camera and recorder were two separate units. A heavy tape deck was carried on a strap that bit into one shoulder, whilst a cumbersome camera was supported on the other. The two units were connected by a cable that seemed to conspire to make shooting even more awkward than it already was.
The big step forward was made in 1983 with the introduction of the first all-in-one units. The camcorder (literally a CAMERA and RECORDER in a single casing) was born. These were much easier to use, although they were still large and heavy, and so had to be supported on the shoulder. Since then camcorders have become progressively smaller and lighter. Today many camcorders are small enough to be held neatly in the palm of your hand.
The miniaturization of video cameras, and the search for better picture quality, has led to a number of different video tape formats – each with its different advantages and limitations.
The great advantage of today`s palm-sized camcorders is that they are far more portable and less obtrusive than their predecessors. This not only makes them more convenient, it also means that you are less likely to be put off by the idea of talking camcorder out and about with you. There is a disadvantage, though. The lighter the camera, the more difficult it is to hold it steady – particularly when using the telephoto and of the zoom. For this reason, professional video cameras are still supported on the shoulder – and do not have to be held with the arms alone in front of the eye. Image stabilizers, however, are appearing on more and more domestic camcorders, and these do an impressive job of beating the shakes even when using the highest magnifications of your lens.
When it comes to making your own videos, you will probably feel an initial sense of disappointment in that your images don’t took tike those you are used to seeing each night on the television. This may be partly due to basic deficiencies of technique, such as keeping the camera steady, which can be readily overcome with perseverance. But it will also be because you haven’t followed, the accepted practices that the professionals use, many of which can only be achieved in the editing process.
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