Faq's

What kind of camcorder should I buy?

So, you want to buy a new camcorder, huh? You've heard about those digital unit's, but is it worth it? Kick back, read, get educated.

Good question. There are some factors that will help you determine this. Budget and compatibility with your existing VCR will probably help you to determine which camcorder is for you. Here are the existing formats that are available to purchase today:

VHS-C
SVHS-C
Hi-8
Digital-8
Mini-DV
DVD RAM

If you want to be able to record something and pop it in the VCR at home, then VHS-C is for you. If you want a little better picture quality and don't mind putting the camcorder on top of the TV to playback a tape, then Hi-8 may be for you. If you have a little more money and want to be in the digital world, then Digital8, Mini-DV, or DVD-RAM, is definitely for you.

What is the difference in all the formats available?

First, the Analog models, all of which are compact:

VHS-C (the "C" standing for compact) camcorders have the lowest picture quality. Horizontal resolution is at 250 Lines, on the best of days. These units use a compact cassette that uses a special 'adapter', that allows you to play these tapes in any VHS VCR, very convenient

SVHS-C camcorders are pretty much a VHS-C camcorder, but have a much better picture quality, almost double the resolution. "S" standing for Super. Horizontal resolution for SVHS is 400 lines. It should be noted that SVHS is not compatible with regular VHS. If you record the video in SVHS, it cannot be played back on a regular VHS VCR. You do have the ability to turn SVHS on or off with these units.

Hi-8 camcorders have a resolution of 400 lines, very nice. It uses tapes that are very compact, like that of an audiocassette. Typically these units are more reliable than their VHS-C counterparts. Since this is a different format than VHS, there are no adapters available that will allow you to pop this camcorders tape into your VCR. You either have to buy an expensive 8mm VCR, or use the video output jacks on the camcorder to view the playback, or copy the tape on your VHS VCR from the camcorder using the video output jack.

With analog, one is still subject to seeing lines roll down the screen, you may even see the picture jump, or roll. Dropouts are common place, and the quality can be compared to playing back a scratchy record on an old phonograph.

Next, the digital models:

Digital-8 and Mini-DV, are on even par with each other in picture quality and resolution, which tops out at just over 500 lines, which just happens to be the same resolution of BetaSP, which is broadcast quality,and never before available to the general public. (so inexpensively, anyway...)

DVD RAM models are digital, and do have a good picture. However, you should know that these units use MPEG2 video compression, and as such do not have as good a picture as Mini-DV, or Digital 8, which use JPEG video compression. Also, these units have a laser diode that burns the DVD. This laser only has a limited lifespan. They can only burn so many DVD's, and then it's life is over. It is also the most fragile, and picky, of any camcorder I have ever seen.

Full-size Camcorders

Full Size camcorders are no longer available, but there is something that you should know about the full-size VHS camcorders: Durability and quality. Some of the best camcorders are the older ones, Panasonic, GE, RCA, Hitachi, Magnavox, Phillips, to name a few. We still recommend to our customers to have these older unit's fixed, because they are built like tanks and will out last anything you can buy new today.

What's the difference in digital?

As far off as the sunrise is from the sunset, that is how much different the digital camcorders are from previous analog equipment. Yes, the difference is night and day. Firstly you will no longer see 'dropouts', or lines or having the picture jump when playing back a tape. Secondly, the background noise, or 'snow' in the picture is minimized dramatically, because of digital processing. Last but not least, the picture quality blows away anything that analog has to offer. In fact, the resolution of the digital format is at 500 lines of horizontal resolution! A resolution that at one time was only available to broadcasters, with very, very expensive equipment.

Are there different digital formats?

Yes, there are different formats of digital video. The formats for consumer video are: Mini-DV, Digital 8, and DVD-RAM (inferior). There are Professional variations of DV and they are: DV, DVCPro, DVCPro 50 and DVCAM. There are also different media, or different size/ types of cassettes that are used for the recording and playback of digital video. In consumer unit's, you only have these choices: Mini-DV, Digital8 or the inferior DVD-RAM.

Is there a difference in Mini-DV compared to Digital 8?

There is absolutely no difference in the picture quality between the two. They are on even par. However there are some important differences that you should be aware of.

1.) Because Digital-8 uses standard Hi-8mm cassettes, the camcorders themselves can only be miniaturized to a certain point, whereas Mini-DV is available in pocket sized form, albeit expensively.
2.) Mini-DV has no erase heads. As such, the tapes are only supposed to be used ONCE, but no more than 3 times is recommended.
3.) Mini-DV mechanisms are very, very delicate and very, very precise. It doesn't take much physical force to damage these mechanisms, they are fragile, and will not take any drops over 4".
4.) Digital-8 uses the same 'tried and true' mechanisms that Sony has used for years. They are robust and have proven themselves over the many years.
5.) Digital-8 has erase heads, allowing multiple recordings on the same cassette.
6.) Digital-8 is backwards compatible (model dependent), allowing the user to playback standard Hi-8 and 8mm cassettes.

What is Low Lux?

Lux is a measurement of light intensity. The term 'Low Lux' means that the camera can 'see' in very low light. The Lux measurement is usually in candles, foot-candles to be precise. Usually the lower the number the better, but when you start getting in to the decimals, the point is mute.

Years ago, before solid state devices like the CCD were available, pickup tubes were used for the imaging device. Terms such as "saticon, newvicon, plumbicon, vidicon" are used to describe the type of tube used as the imaging device. Each tube has it's characteristics. Some were better in low light, and others, HAD to have lots of light to produce a descent image, hence the Lux value was important.

Suffice it to say that as long as it's 1 Lux or less, you'll be fine. But lets do get real here, how many people do you know that would take their camcorder into a room and shoot video holding a candle in there hands for a light source?

What is Night Vision?

Is it a gimmick?

Sure, you flip a switch and the picture turns green, but does it really work? The answer is YES!, it does work, and quite well. The digital imaging and processing of today really make a huge difference over the cameras and camcorders that were available just a few years ago.

With a camera that has 'night vision', one can easily see into a dark area, which cannot be seen by human eyes. There is not enough light for color information, so it will be in B&W, or should I say, "green and white". If you're going to be doing some shooting at night time, or surveillance work, or in a poorly lighted area, and don't mind not having color, then 'night vision' is a must for you.

Of all the brands that are available, Sony by far has the best night vision.

What is Steady Shot?

What is that? Simply put, it's special electronic circuitry that compensates for the movement, or shaking, of your hands. When you don't have a tripod, and you would like a lot less motion sickness when watching what you have recorded, then steady shot is a definite must. The difference is night and day, really. It is worth the expense.

What is Firewire?

Firewire is an old term employed by Apple. It is also referred to as iLink by Sony. It has been replaced by the term IEEE1394, which is a transmission standard. The term IEEE means, "International Electrical and Electronic Engineers" and 1394 is the standard of transmitting digital information between electronic devices, through cables. Not any ordinary cables mind you, but special, twisted pair cables, similar in design to Cat5 cable.

IEEE1394 allows sharing and communication of digital information between devices that have the special IEEE1394 ports. There are special cards that you can buy at the computer stores that you can insert and configure in your computer, which will allow your computer to communicate directly with a device that supports IEEE1394. If you camcorder is digital, then it WILL have an IEEE1394 Port.

Something else about firewire you won't hear from the manufacturers is something you should take seriously: The firewire cables. It is all too easy to inadvertently insert a 6 pin firewire cable backwards, reaking serious damage to your DV deck. In some cases thousands of dollars worth of damage can be done to equipment in this fashion. This is becoming a serious issue, that has not, and probably will not be addressed, as IEEE1394 IS the standard... Your advised to use caution when inserting the 6 pin cables to standard DV ports on your computer.

Is USB the same thing as IEEE1394 (Firewire, iLink)?

No. They are completely different. USB is for consumer equipment like fax's, scanners, digital still cameras, etc. IEEE1394 is for professional or broadcast use. IEEE1394 has higher bandwidth, and can handle more information than USB, and was designed for video transmission.

I have heard the term 'bad caps', can you explain?

'Bad caps' refers to leaking electrolytic capacitors. Capacitors come in many shapes and sizes, but when one refers to 'bad caps', they are speaking of either electrolytics, or surface mount electrolytic.

Capacitors are used in just about every electronic circuit. They are heat sensitive, and will break down, and leak, over time. Between the years of 1998 - 1995 there were a batch of capacitors that were particularly vulnerable. These capacitors were used in virtually every brand of compact camcorders, and VCR's, including professional video.

When a capacitor begins to physically leak, a caustic substance slowly oozes out, and begins to eat away at the circuit board, and anything else it touches in the surrounding area. If the circuit board has multiple layers, the acid can destroy the circuit board, rendering the unit un-repairable.

It should be noted that EVERY surface mount electrolytic capacitor should be changed. Be weary of shops that only change a few, as they will ALL eventually leak, causing more, but different, problems for you in the future.

Labor to replace these 'bad caps' begins at $300.00 for compact camcorders and $200.00 for Full-size units (that are affected), with the caps costing $1.00 each.

Camcorders that ARE recommended for repair are:

Mini-DV, Digital8, VHS-C, 8mm, Hi-8
1998 - Present
All brands/ models except Sharp analog

Full Size VHS Camcorders
1989-Present
All Brands except Sharp

Camcorders that are NOT recommended for repair are:

All compact camcorders regardless of Brand.
1980 -1996