Camcorders
Home videos have been around for ages. As early as the 1950’s, families were able to take video images for their enjoyment. In those days, home movies were a difficult affair, film was hard to deal with and projectors were a job to set up and take down. Then there was the need for some sort of a screen, though many made do with a plain white sheet to save the cost.
As advancements in the industry grew, and VCR’s were born, owning and using a video camera became not only easy, but almost as common place as owning a still camera. Camcorders were lighter weight and able to take a good amount of footage. They became easier to travel with and less expensive for consumers to afford. Transferring the tape from the camera to the VCR was initially not a once step procedure, but as advancements were made so were applications to make these tapes useful and fun. Much better than plain still frames, families relied on these camcorders to document the more important parts of their lives.
Today’s newest camcorders are digital. Some of the newest models take film directly on DVD, eliminating the need to transfer footage from one medium to another. Camcorders come equipped with a small screen which can be folded against the camcorder for ease of storage, but the entire filming process can be viewed through the screen live, as well as after the film is taken. These cameras can take still pictures as well, and the clarity in today’s digital camcorders is amazing.
Prices can range from $200.00 to more than $1,000.00 for a good digital camera today. Some of the models can still transfer film to a VCR, though most users will want to transfer or use models that record on DVD. Many models are perfect for use in online web video. Depending on your needs and price range, some models far surpass others for color, quality, and picture.
Cannon, for instance, are highly regarded for the resolution and clarity in the mini DV’s. Sony’s models are easy to use, and their picture is good. They are highly prized by consumers who only wish to take the film without getting too technical in learning points of finer filmmaking ability. There are wide arrays of models for any use an enthusiast can think up.
Most families today own a camcorder, if only to take the occasional holiday video and have footage of their children’s major milestones. Pod casts and web video are very popular today. Sites like You Tube have thousands of users who upload their own video diary, or idea for a video movie that other users routinely watch and chat over. Teenager and aspiring filmmakers use their camcorders as a first step toward their future dream careers; creating whole scripts, enlisting actors, and building entire motion pictures for viewing by their friends or in online communities. Amazing new bursts of creative storytelling constantly emerge through online venues, whether they are community posting sites or individual personal web spaces. The addition of MySpace.com and community blogs has revolutionized the landscape of creative endeavor giving new outlets to those who would not have otherwise found the platform to voice their thoughts.
Whatever your use, camcorders are fast becoming a common possession rather than the luxury of yesteryear. The ability to take footage and have it easily available to play on your computer, send via email to family and friends, or play on your home DVD is now as important to most homes as the family photo album was once.
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