Buying a Digital Video Camera

Buying the right digital video camera is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

The all important questions will be answered :

What is the main reason you are buying a digital camera?
What kind of photos do you want to take? What is the largest print size you require?
Do you need a digital still or digital video camera?
What is the best camera for your budget?
Do you have a computer?

Rabbit Photo will be there to guide you through the process in every way we can - from this web site, to friendly in store advice and to after-sale service and ;' assistance.

1. Your Video Camera

A digital video camera is one that offers maximum flexibility, power and ease of use. Unlike analogue video cameras (that use an '8mm' video tape format) they offer the versatility of editing and better quality image reproduction. Digital video cameras come in a two formats - Digital8 and Mini DV.

Mini DV (Also called DV) achieves a great balance with the cost in relation to the equipment size, image quality and it's ease of use. Although it can be more expensive, it is a format that is seen to have a secure future. Mini DV is also excellent for editing your video footage and provides an excellent level of image quality. DV provides resolution that is on par with DVD and audio quality equal with CD's.
Video8 is based on older technology yet still prevalent in the market place. Video8 offers a fair compromise between Hi-8 (analogue) and new digital technology as you are able to play both on a Video8 format camera. It has been suggested that Video8 technology will become obsolete in the near future to make way for the more user-friendly Mini DV format.

One of the most important things to look at when purchasing a digital video camera, regardless of the format, is that it will suit your lifestyle and will be small enough for you to want to take and use it. Basic use and functions of the camera should be obvious in it's design and it should fit in your hand easily with great manoeuvrability. Rabbit Photo stocks a large range of video cameras - with many brands and models, so our staff can help you choose the right one.

2. Choosing a Digital Video Camera

There are a few things to look out for when choosing a digital video camera. These properties include:

Video and Audio quality: Quality varies with many cameras and depending on how you intend to use the camera will dictate what level is correct for you.

Zoom: Usually video cameras come with both digital and optical zoom options. Optical is a higher quality zoom but smaller in range (generally up to 20x). Digital zoom is a lesser quality zoom feature, but the magnification is far greater (up to 400x).

DV In/Out: If you will be transferring your footage to a computer via a Firewire cable ensure that the camera has the DV In/Out slot.

LCD screen: Some perform better in sunlight than others - check out features such as placement and size.

Image Stabilisation: Cameras can come with both optical and digital image stabilisation. Optical is generally regarded as better than digital, although all help to prevent 'shaky' filming.

Microphone: If audio recording is high on the list of your priorities when filming, look out for whether the microphone is internal or external and it's position on the camera.

It is important to note that DV cameras have two varieties - 1 chip and 3 chip. The chip we are referring to here is the CCD or 'Charged Coupling Devices'. A CCD is the video sensor that 'sees' the images that your are filming and records them to the tape in a digital format. 1 or 3 chip CCD dictates the video image quality (and in turn the price!). 1 chip CCD is perfectly suitable for home movie shooting, editing and playback. For more corporate or professional usage, a 3 chip CCD is recommended.

3. Get the Best Shots with Your Video Camera

Here are some quick tips to assist in making filming with your video camera so easy that you'll look like a professional in no time!

If you are shooting to edit make sure you collect bits of video that you think will work together nicely. There is no need to bother with major preparation prior to pulling out your video camera, just be conscious of what you are shooting and how it will edit together with the rest of your footage.
Don't be afraid to adlib. Remember that often the most memorable moments appear when they are not planned to be shot!
Make the most from the existing light. Rather than adding extra or artificial light to your scene, become familiar with your camera and utilise the exposure settings (both manual and automatic) that the camera has.
When you're the cameraperson - observe - don't participate. Avoid your subjects talking directly to the camera; it makes it difficult to edit. You will get a better finish if you hold the camera to the side or below your face so that people talk to you, not to the camera.
There are a number of shoot definitions that are used:
CU - Close Up
MS - Medium Shot
WS - Wide Shot
A good tip to remember when shooting, especially with close-ups, is that the footage is going to be viewed on a much larger monitor than the viewfinder and LCD screen on your camera. Keep this in mind when framing your shots.

4. Your Computer and Connecting To It

All DV video cameras come with the basic elements to get you connected to your computer. This includes a 'Firewire' cable (also called IEEE1394). Firewire is easy to use and connects to your 'DV in/out' slot on your computer and camera. It allows automatic transfer of your video footage to your computer.

Whether you already have a computer at home or are looking to purchase one, there are a couple of features that you will need to look out for in order for the computer to effectively handle video. Below are some tips to guide you through the computer maze:

PC or Macintosh?
Either of these computers can be configured to handle video and each can produce fantastic results.
CPU - Central Processing Unit
This is the speed of the computer's processor and is measured in Megahertz (MHz) and even larger Gigahertz (GHz). The more speed or hertz a computer has (in combination with a number of elements below) the better it will be able to handle the storing, playing and editing of your video footage.
Hard drive
A hard drive is where you store all your video footage on your computer. This is measured in Megabytes (MB) and Gigabytes (GB). Generally, you will be able to store around 4 minutes of video with sound with ' each 1GB of hard space. Hard drives can be added to your computer (and removed) to allow continued storage of your video memories.
RAM
Random Access Memory is the place in a computer where ; the operating system, application programs, and data in current use are kept so ' that they can be quickly reached by the computer's processor. RAM accesses the data you are using at the time and once the computer is turned off, it is cleared (much a person's short term memory). The hard drive is more like the long-term memory as it stores saved data even after the computer has been turned off to access the next time you need to use it.

Below are some minimum requirements your computer would need to be in order to handle home DV editing:

PC - Pentium III 500 MHz or above
Macintosh - PowerPC Processor 300MHz or above
RAM - 128MB as a start (512 MB is highly recommended)
Hard drive - approx 20 gig could provide you with up to 90minutes of video footage on your computer.
Soundcard and Speakers (for audio playback)

As always, the more RAM you have, the faster your CPU and the larger your hard drive the better!

5. Making Editing Easy with Software

It's always best to start out with a basic editing software package. It's a personal choice when it comes to choosing which package to go with, but it's just about finding an interface that is accessible and clear to you.

You need a software package that easily allows you to cut and paste video sequences, adjust clips frame by frame, and control your camera's input and output. An easy analogy to understand as to why we need this kind of software is that, editing software is to a video what a word processor is to text.

Most software packages offer Non-Linear editing that is a digital form of editing that allows you to move video clips around just like you would move paragraphs in a word processing program. It's simple, easy and will get you producing fantastic home movies, documentaries or short films in no time!

Note that it makes filming and editing much easier if you timecode your tape in the video camera. When recording, the camera will burn a timecode into the tape so that you can pick your in and out points to edit with.