Professional Camcorders
Professional Camcorders in today’s market come in various formats. Before you purchase, develop a strong awareness of video equipment. Professional camcorders will give the best video and audio quality.
Three main formats in professional camcorders include the DV, DVPRO and DVCAM. These three are generally the most popular formats.
And DV is the most popular of the three. DV compatibility is a hallmark of most equipment manufacturers, mainstream and professional software editing packages. DV format pricing, due to popularity, is generally the most competitive.
Not every manufacturer make the professional formats: DVCAM and DVPRO. DVPRO is found in products from Ikegami, Panasonic and Phillips while Ikegami and Sony make DVCAM. Both formats are comparably professional. True drop frame and non-drop frame are features of both formats. If your videos are planned for theatrical release, these are important considerations. Sampling rate is a significant difference between the two formats.
Deciding on which of the three formats to choose can be helped by considering several factors. Optical lens quality is a prime consideration. Good optical quality (digital zoom is not a consideration) dependent on optical zoom factors along with lens change ability are both important factors. Deciding which to buy depends also on the professional understanding expansion potential, lens and optical specifications and interoperability.
The camcorder chip known as the CCD (charged coupled device) which captures light and converts images into the digital format is a matter of importance. At least three CCDs appear in the better professional camcorders. The end quality of the final video is of prime importance in a decision to buy.
The market place offers a wide variety of professional camcorders today. Name brands are especially important. Branded professional camcorders benefit from strong support and better features. Branded camcorders are also known for longer life.
