Camcorder Controls Articles

• Audio VU Meters
• Center Mark
• Display
• Exposure
• Focus
• Focus
• Gain
• Gain
• Iris
• Record Stop/Start
• Safe Action
• Shutter Speed
• Timecode
• White Balance
• Zebra Patterns
• Zoom

• Color Temperature for Video
  October, 2011
  by Michael Fitzer
  Why is color temperature awareness important in the AV industry? Whether it's setting white balance for iPhone 4 or Nikon D90, your camera needs a starting…
• Videomaker's Annual 2010 Camcorders Buyer's Guide
  December, 2010
  by James Careless
  Price matters when buying a camcorder, but not as much as what you want to use it for!
• Sony NEX-VG10 Camcorder with Interchangeable Lens Reviewed
  November, 2010
  by Mark Holder
  If you're looking for near-prosumer performance on a sub-prosumer budget then you'll want to have a serious look at the Sony NEX-VG10.
• Adjust Shutter Speed for the Best Video Images
  October, 2010
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Your camcorder has many manual settings - focus, white balance, aperture - that can make better images, but why would you want to set your shutter speed?
• Making Your Video Look More Like Film
  July, 2010
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Remember the TV ad raving about a brand of audio tape challanging us to guess whether it was live or tape? Now you go to the movies and wonder, "Is it film or…
• Day for Night
  June, 2010
  by Michael Reff
  Those 3 Words We Love to Hear, Day for Night (DFN). What better three words could a director ask to hear? No huge generators, no freezing temperatures, no&helli…
• The Best camcorders on the Market
  May, 2010
  by John McCabe
  The 2010 model cameras are offering more great features in every price range than ever before. Better, Cheaper, More Advanced!
• Viewfinder: Stand Alone Vs The Cell Phone, Mp3, Camera And Camcorder Combo
  February, 2010
  by Matthew York
  Will the cellphone+Mp3 player+Camera+Camcorder combination hand held devices harm the market for stand alone camcorders?
• 35mm Adapter Buyer's Guide
  December, 2009
  by Nathan Beaman
  In 35mm adapters, the ground glass often moves in order to simulate a film grain look, and to minimize the presence of the ground glass texture in your image.
• Making Video In Low Light Conditions
  September, 2009
  by Jeff Sengstack
  Steps you can take to ensure your video quality is as good as it can be when faced with the challenge of making digital video in low light conditions.
• About Face!
  January, 2009
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Many video cameras now seem to include face detection capabilities. But what exactly is face detection? Our primer explains how it works and how it might stump…
• Focus More on Focus
  November, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Unlike color balance or underexposure, which you can fiddle in post, you get only one shot at getting your focus right. Focus isn't everything, but it's close.…
• Intro to White Balance
  September, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Why would we want to concentrate on white when we shoot in color? Because incandescent, fluorescent and sunlight differ a lot, proving that white isn't always…
• Controlling Exposure
  February, 2008
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Most of the time, you can't just point-and-shoot for great video design; sometimes you need to control the light going into your camcorder to get better…
• Focus on Focus
  October, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  There's more to getting your camera in focus than meets the eye. But what is focus?
• The Difference Between Depth of Field and Depth of Focus
  August, 2007
  by the Editors
  Readers' letters
• What is Multicam Editing?
  July, 2007
  by Morgan Paar
  Shooting performances or group discussions is difficult using one video camera, but it can be a nightmare with several cameras and without good planning.
• Videotaping Sporting Events
  May, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Football, baseball, hockey, tennis. Swimming, cycling, running and lacrosse. Sports shooting is an art unto itself, and every sport has shooting hurdles to…
• Looking for Light
  January, 2007
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Shooting in a low light setting is more than just turning down the lights or opening your camcorder's aperture. You can't take low light shooting lightly.
• Practice Makes Perfect
  November, 2006
  by Kyle Cassidy
  Artists, athletes and entertainers all know that the best way to become the best at what you do is to practice as often as you can. Why shouldn't video…
• Controlling the Color of Light
  September, 2006
  by Dr. Robert G. Nulph
  From yellow to blue, soft to harsh, indoor or out, the "color" of the scene changes with your light setup, and can influence the mood of your video.
• Getting Started: Auto vs. Manual
  March, 1996
  by Jim Stinson
  If better-looking video is your goal, maybe it's time you took control.
• Camera Work: Buttons, Blasted Buttons
  April, 1995
  by Jim Stinson
  Buttons, Blasted Buttons
• Camera Work: Letting in Some Light
  February, 1995
  by Jim Stinson
  Letting in Some Light
• All About Lenses
  December, 1994
  by Jim Stinson
  There's more to a camcorder lens than meets the eye. Learn how the camcorder lens is made, how it works and, most importantly, how it affects your image.
• Curing Camera Shake: Your Guide To Image Stabilization
  November, 1994
  by Jim Stinson
  Explore today's high-tech means for reducing camcorder shake. Electronic or mechanical, the result is steadier video.
• Getting Started: No Respect
  October, 1994
  by Jim Stinson
• Be Sure to Include Manual Zoom in a Buyer's Guide
  May, 1997
  by Donald Keller
  In Box
• Getting Started: The Case of the Missing Controls
  June, 1997
  by Jim Stinson
  Automatic point-and-shoot camcorders are convenient, but manual control of certain functions can do your videos a world of good.
• Getting Started: ZOOM!!
  November, 1997
  by Jim Stinson
  Used skillfully, your camcorder’s zoom lens can set you apart as a savvy shooter.