How to Use a Flash for Better Shots With Your Camcorder

Often when making home videos or just videotaping in general, there is not enough light to take good shots. Most cameras come equipped with a flash device, which can be used effectively to improve the lighting of your shots. In most handheld camcorders, however, the flash can only be used for still-shots. Here is how to use a flash for better shots with your camcorder.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Owner's manual
• Camcorder

1. Turn on any lights in the area to improve the brightness of the room. Before you do anything else, make the area as bright as possible. Not all of the lighting has to be provided by your camcorder.
2. Locate the flash controls on your camcorder. Most lower-end cameras only have a flash device useable for still-shots, but higher-end cameras might have additional light sources attached to them. Such light sources can act as a torch as well and keep the source lit for an extended period of time.
3. Search through the modes and tools in your camcorder’s menu. The strobe flash tool will appear and will typically give you three options: off, auto, and off. Make sure to put it on auto. For higher-end cameras with torch features, the light is sometimes switched on and off by a switch on the light itself.
4. Decide what you would like to take a picture of or film. Make sure that the person or thing you are capturing is close enough for the flash to be effective (the range of the flash differs from camera to camera).
5. Take the picture or begin recording. If you are using a handheld camera only capable of using a flash for still shots, the flash will automatically activate after the picture is taken.

Tips & Warnings

• A flash will be unnecessary if you are already under sufficient light, but it won’t damage the quality of your picture.
• In places that do not have additional light sources, make sure that you are close enough to what you are shooting. Otherwise, the image will be unclear and dark.
• Avoid shooting in the direction of another light. This can cause undesirable lighting effects and can blur the image.

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