Choosing a Camcorder

Series Summary

Digital media is the next big thing, but we don't have to leave it to the big shots anymore. It's wonderful that this technology is finally trickling its way down to the amateur hobbyists, the art school drop out, the film school graduate or the mother of three. Digital video cameras make it easy for anyone to create dramatic indie films, documentaries or home movies. In this free video series, learn video production techniques from a film director who knows the equipment back and forth. First learn about choosing a camcorder, applying for film school and the basics of three-point lighting. Next explore what it takes to become a videographer, the process of choosing an external microphone for a camcorder and cleaning a camera lens. Finally, learn about setting up a tripod and producing a short film.

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Christopher Rokosz, actor, director, producer, and I'm going to show you how to choose a camcorder. Okay, the first thing you have to ask yourself is "What do I want to use it for?" Is it for home movies? Or, is it for independent films? Is it for movies on the internet, or am I getting real serious production happening here? That can...that really does steer your decision making process. Two is dollars. That greatly steers your decision making process! Camcorders usually go from the ultra-cheap in the three hundred dollar range, uh, from three hundred dollars to eight hundred dollars, twelve hundred dollars, three thousand, six thousand, eight thousand. And then we're talking about real cash, all right? And how you're going to use it really's going to dictate what you want to use it for. Your small, palm held camcorders, they make some in HD now that are...that you will see used for...for shows on Discovery and other network quality shows, for small things. Those are going to be more. These cameras here in the twelve hundred dollar range, they offer a lot of features, but the difference between a camera like this and a camera like this, other than the size, well, is the lenses. You're going to see...if we pop the lens cap open on both of these here...you're going to see a difference in the lenses. The glass makes the camera. It's an old photography term, all right? The bigger the lenses, the more...the more professional a lens is, the better the ground, the better the optics, that's where your money's going. Also in the 'pick up' chips. Whether you're going to have a CCD or charge coupling device, or a C-Moss processors, these are now coming to become popular. You want, at very least, a three chip camera for any kind of professional use at all, or for your richest picture quality. Three chip is going to have an individual pick up chip, or CCD, for R, red, B, blue, and G, green. RGB, those are the three colors that make up our video signal. With a chip dedicated to each of them, you're going to have a nice, crisp picture. Now, the types of cameras are going to be the new ones that are going to be pure digital, meaning that it's going to go to a hard drive or stable card inside of it, or it's going to go to a tape. Usually in this case a mini DV. Now, if it's truly just for home movies, then you can consider a DVD burning one. That's where you put a mini DVD into the camera and you take it out. If you're planning on editing, or any post-production, um!...it....it's not my recommendation at all. You want to go to either a stable media flash drive inside of it, or you want to go to a mini DV where you can archive it. Look at the reviews, kick the tires, play with 'em, consider it, even do some more research. I hope this helps ya! I'm Christopher Rokosz. Happy shooting!"